The Holly chieftain., 1901-10-18

| sAihS was hApicAihS-
When 1 first arrived on the forecas-
tie there were two in sight The third
one was Just inside the entrance and
| tie fourth appeared Immediately after
ward"
| What did they do when they came
out? Which way did they head?"
| I'VE were to the westward. The en-
trance to US was about northeast by
north. The fleet came out south and
turned as they left the entrance to
four points southwest, 50 that they
turned In our direction. When first
| got on deck the helm hsd been star
boarded. heading little to the north
ward. When saw the feet they were
heading southwest and seemed to be
coming straight for the interval be-
| tween the Texas and the Brooklyn.
went into the coming tower and d.
| rected the helmsman. told him what
| l wanted to do was to keep straight
for the fleet. They wavered little.
Sometimes they turned one way and
then another. We shifted helm once
or twice. but very little indeed, and g.
nAlly, when we were getting up fairly
close, Say between 500 and 1900
yards, 1t seemed to me clear that they
wanted to pass between the Texas
and the Brooklyn. The Texas was well
| on our starboard and she was headed
to the northward and westward. All
ships were carrying out the instruc-
tions Of the cOmmander-in-chief, and
that was to head In for the entrance.
We were well to the westward and
headed to the northeast.
"When I saw that, ported the helm
perhaps half way over. She was
swinging starboard very rapidly. The
Spanish feet was coming straight for
this interval. IL stepped out of the
tower on the port side to get a good
look at this fleet. to see Just what they
were going to do as to our relative po
sitions, and l saw they evidently put
helms hard a-port and were turning to
the westward. We were then turn
ing very rapidly to starboard with port
helm, and We had turned, think. al
most to the east. The Texas was well
on our starboard side. l then gave the
order Hard aport' to the belmsman.y
and ran through the opening between
the shield and the coming tower on
purpose to see our own feet and our
relative positions. Quicker than 1
could tell it the commodore called to
me: Cook, hard aport' or Is your helm
apOrt? l answered: The helm is hard
aport; turning as rapidly as possible
AS l watched the Texas the how OF.
the Brooklyn seemed first to point to
her port bow. l never saw the star-
board side of the Texas. and changing
her bearing very rapidly, the bow OF
the Brooklyn passed along the port
side of the Texas untll there was a
clear opening between us and the stern
of the Texas. We made complete
turn. very quick turn, with helm
hard aport until we came around and
paralleled the feet on the other side.
AS we paralleled the Spanish feet the
ViZcaya-"
Admiral Dewey: MAY 1 interrupt?
How near did you pass to the Texas?"
II never thought of collision. 1t
never entered my head. l never for
moment had one idea of vicissitude
in that respect. We passed, / judge,
about 400 yards. l had handled the
ship under all circumstances and got
SO could judge pretty correctly and
my impression was that we were
about the distance we sailed from the
squadron.
"But a collision never thought of.
She turned perfectly clear Of the
Texas, turned around, and then we
had the Vizcaya on our starboard bow
and about abeam was the 0quendO
and then the Colon. AT the time l
thought 1t was the Teresa, hut soon
discovered this vessel was dropping
out and heading for the beach. That
was about the hottest time of the ac-
ton. 1t was a critical time. There
was not any time for indiscretion
and do not think there was any.
| have always felt in my mind, in study
ing the positions, that the chances
would have been for disaster had
we shifted helm at such time. ~
However, we got around and we
had those three vessels. looked and
could see nothing but smoke astern
and vessels seemed enyeloped In this
| smoke. ! could not understand 1t. 1
| could not understand exactly how we
got there. They were all three firing
ON the Brooklyn, when almost inmedi-
ately, faster than l could tell 1t, saw
a large white bone in the water and
through this smoke saw the bow of
a vessel. ! exclaimed at the time:
What was thatY The navigator. who
was near me, said II was the Aassa-
chusetts. or something to- that eject
l said she was away, and he then said
that it was the Oregon. lfelt perfect
ly assured from that. noment." ~
<-+<-s-<.t<.t+s.++<.f<+<.s<.s<.t<-s-<-f<
Georgetown. Black Hawk, Silver
Plume and idaho SprTnsa ate thu peih-
cipal points the company pr0posss 10
| reach. An effort will be made to ex7
tend the wires to the Ward and Eldera
mining camps. A texture ofthe dan
Will be that It wiustsAve tn sps1nk