The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-05
SU M MONS SAMPSON,
CRIES Mr.. RAYNER
Continued from First Page.)

"What did you say and what was the
repIy?" asked the Judge Advocate.
las near as l can remember, l said
Commodore, if you go to starboard you
will run into the Texas, and he said
Damn the Texas. I cannot help that.
She must lookout for herself. He will
take care of that. And he also said, L
do not propose to go in any closer and
subject myself to a torpedo attack
TURNING TO CHASE THE sPANIARD.
Il suggested then that we back the
starboard engine and be wanted to know
why, and | said because it would give
the Texas a wider berth. and shorten our
returning in circle. Captain Cook OBJ
jected to this and so did the Commodore
but there was moments discussion as
to whether it would be better to turn that
shorter circle with smaller speed or take
the large tactical diameter with faster
speed. 1t was decided that it was very
essential to get round quickly as the
leading Spanish ship was then standing
to the westward and if the Brooklyn did
not stop her she had a good chance of
escaping. So the helm was put hard
aport.
81 said | would run up on top of the
bridge and look out for the Texas AS
l was going up / asked the chief quar-
tarmaster if he had seen a torpedo boat,
and he said he had seen one blown up
by large shell way in the rear. l said
/ had not seen any az told the Commo-
dcre 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
in sight the leading Spanish vessel, which
was then the Viscaya, the Teresa having
fallen off and gone in shore, seeking
berth. AS soon as we were around at the
proper position the helm was altered so
that we parallelled the course of the Wis
caya, which at that time was about 2,400
or $500 yards on our starboard bow. The
Colcn was probably on the beam or lit
tie forward of the beam; the Oquendo
abaft the starboard beam. The Oquendo
very soon fell out and ran ashore on
fire, and then we devoted our attention
solely to the Colon and Viscaya."
DISTANCE FROM THE TEXAS.
The Judge Advocate: How near was
the Texas TO the Brooklyn when the lat
ter crossed her bow ~
Il suppose it was about $50 to 800 yards.
Have you ever given this estimate
as nearer than that"
'.Ycs, sir
What have you given before?'
$50 yards
why do you change it now?"
Because l have read from my notes
written the day after the battle and
from notes / used on the GARD of sNavi
gators. concluded from those that my
estimate at that time when / gave it
175 TO $50 yards was too near. Also,
/ was very much influenced by the
thought that the navigating officer of
the Texas would not think it was less
than $50 yards"
do you remember whether anything
was said about blanketing the fire Of
the Texas at that time?''
when / told the Commodore l
thought we would run into the Texas 1
think I did say that we might get a
shot from one of her big guns" r.
Have you ever said that you were
'slxittish' about a collision with the
Texas at this timer"
well. I was skittish about it,
thought we were going to have COLI
sion very likely with the Texas
HOW COLLISION WAS AVOIDED.
"Hcw was the collision avoided from
what you know of your own knowl-
edge?"
by our getting around SO quick we
passed ahead of her.
Commander Hodgson also told of the
interlineation in the Brooklyn's log
when the word port was substituted
for "starboard' in describing the turn
Of that vessel. He thought the change
had been made the next day. He said
it was not correct to say that the helm
was put to port in order to bring the
starboard battery to bear, the real rea-
son for it being to bring the vessel
around as quickly as possible to head off
the Spanish ships. Still he thought she
had made the longest turn.
With Commander Hodgson on the
stand the court adjourned