The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-05


closed for the time and Commander
Hodgson took the oath. He said he
had been navigator Of Commodore
schley's flagship. the Brooklyn, during
the war with Spain and was on the
bridge the day OF the battle Of July .
Detailing the particulars of the engage
ment, he said: = heard the executive
officer. Lieutenant Commander Mason,
sing out: Clean ship for action and
the crew Immediately dispersed 10 quar-
ters. I having sounded the general alrn
previously. The commodore shortly ap-
peared on the bridge. We were at that
time headed about west northwest or 10
the westward OF northwest. I told him
there was nothing doing and he said. go
ahead. 1 rang six bells and asked If he
had not better hold her head steady to
see what coarse the Spaniards proposed
to pursue. 1 do not remember his reply
exactly 10 that, because Immediately
afterward ! told him they were evidently
making fer US and he said: Go for them
ana 1 rang four bells and put the helm
aport-
Captain Cook appeared on the bridge
at this time and 1 told him that every
thing was connected up at the coming
tower and that we were already 10 go
ahead and in fact we were going ahead.
The commodore took his position on 4
platform he had had built around the
coming tower where he could be in easy
communication wit hthe commanding Of
ficer inside and I remained on the bridge.
The executive officer had given previous
ly the order 70 man the starboard bat
teries. I sang out 20 him we were going
into action with port helm and he shift
ed over TO the port battery. We were
then standing for the enemy and as soon
as the guns were brought TO bear Lieu
tenant Simpson fired a little OF the port
bow the first gun from the forward eight
inch turret. From that time on, we
went considerably in toward them.
I then went down to where the COM
modore was standing 70 get into the
coming tower. when 1 heard him sing
out. Look out. Cook. they are going TO
ram you. Captain Cook said he would
look after that and starboarded the helm
little TO parallel the course OF the lead
ing vessel. the Maria Teresa. which had
made a broad sheer to port. He had
hardly made that sheer however. 10 port.
before he fell off again for the reason,
Z
the Brooklyn's eight-inch gun The Te-
resa go abaft our port beam and helm
was ported on the Brooklyn Immediately
after that. We were swinging with port
helm. I heard the commodore sing out,
Hard aport,' or words to that effect
and Captain Cook sang out Helm is
aport.' 1 saw at that time the crucial
moment had come in making the turn.
and I suggested to the commodore that
that turn would run Us into the Texas
or close to her"
What did you say and what was the
reply?" asked the judge advocate.
'As near as I can recall. said: Com
modore. If you go TO starboard. you viii
run into the Texas, and he said, Damn
the Texas. I cannot help that; she must
look out for herself He will taOke care
of that and also he said. I don't propose
to go in any closer and subject myself 70
a torpedo attack. I suggested then that
we back the starboard engine. and he
wanted TO know why, and said Be
cause it would give the Texas a wider
berth and shorten our turning circle.
Captain Cook objected 10 this and 50
did the commodore. but there was
moments discussion as TO whether il
would be better TO turn that shorter
with smaller speed or take the larger
tactical diameter with faster speed. 1t
was decided that it was yer yessential
to get around quickly. as the leading
I Spanish ship was then standing TO the
westward, and if the Brooklyn did not
stop her she had good chance of es-
/ Gaping. So the helm was put hard aport 20
4 81
( bridge and look out for the Texas. AS 1
was going up, I asked the chief quarter
master if he had seen a torpedo boat
and he said he had seen one blown up
+ a large shell way IN the rear. 1 said 1
had not sen any. as told the conmsdore
previously The helm, however. was kept
/ hard aport. The Brooklyn swung clear Of
( the Texas and brought around with helm
hard aport until she brought I'm sight
/ the leading Spanish vessel. which was
then the Viscaya, the Teresa having
fallen off and gone in shore, seeking a
berth As soon as We were around at
/ the proper position, the helm was eased
{ so that we parsIieled the course OF the
Viscaya. which at that time was about
I , 400 or 2500 Gyards on our starboard bow.
/ The Colon was probably on the beam or
! a little forward Of the beam. The Oquen-
/ do abaft the starboar4 beam. The OQuen-
/ DO very soon fell out and ran ashore on
fire and then re devoted our attention
solely 70 the Colon and Niscaya-
Judge Advocate. How near was the
( Texas 10 the Brooklyn when the latter
/ crossed her bows?'
Il suppose it was about go or 30
yards.
Have you ever given this estimate as
( nearer than that?'
Yes. sir
what have you given it before?'
I zone hundred and fifty yards"
.sWhy do you change It new
( Because I have read from nay notes
written the day after the battle and from
! notes used on the board Of navigators-
I concluded from those that ms estimate
al that tine when I gave il as l75 % 80
yards was too near. Also. was very
much Influenced Dy She thought that
the navigating ofscer % the Texas would
not think IT less than 10 Yards
Just read your entry from your notes.
The witness (readinEl we quickly
/ unt our helm 20 port ard thor around ihe
: starboard passing well inside the Texas
That was written hy ne the day after
the battle.
ITS there auy reference 20 she distance
you were srorn the Texas iu those notes
NO SIR
DO you REMEMBER whether anythllE
was said about .8anke.ing the fre ~
BODY-RESTORER