The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-10-17

that the Spanish feet was in Santiago,
but" he said, II was not greatly I'M
pressed with that fact as had heard
II before" He was, however, told that
this information was more positive
than any which had yet been brought.
The commodore, he said, had told him
that the Hawk had brought orders to
the effect that the squadron should
proceed to Santiago If he (the commo-
dore) was satisfied that the Spaniards
were not at Cienfuegos, but, he said
Commodore Schley had said, 81 am not
satisfied that they are not here. !
still believe they are here"
"If satisfied that the Spaniards were
at Cienfuegos, why did you leave
there?" asked Mr.. Hanna.
Because of McCalla's reports from
the insurgents on shore"
THAT, then, made it clear that the
Spaniards were not 'there?"
Entirely"
Replying to questions concerning
the blockade of Santiago, Captain
Cook said that Commodore Schley's
constant idea was that the vessels
should be kept we'll supplied with coal
and kept moving constantly as his
would come out of the harbor.
"Why was the circular blockade not
adopted?" Mr.. Hanna asked.
"There are many forms of blockade,
and I have nothing but praise for the
circular blockade" replied the wit
ness. "but the idea was to get the
Spaniards to come out to have our
ships moving and ready for action.
The Battle Of July 3.
General interest was manifested
throughout the courtroom when Mr..
Hanna began his inquiries about the
battle of July 8. He asked:
Were you on deck when the fleet
came out OF Santiago harbor on July
3? When were they first sighted?"
The reply was in the negative. Cap
tain Cook said he had at that time
been in the cabin. The first question
was:
How did you first learn the fleet
was coming out?"
81 heard the executive officer call
out, Clear ship for action and as
had given directions to have the ship
ready for inspection at o'clock, un-
less something happened, went on
deck"
when you came on deck where
were the Spanish vessels? What were
they doing?"
when I first arrived on the forecas-
tie there were two in. sight. The third
one was just outside the entrance and
the fourth appeared Immediately
afterward."
What did they do when they came
out? Which way did they head?'
I'VE were to the westward OF the
entrance. The feet came out south and
turned as they left the entrance to
four points southwest so that they
turned in our direction. When l hrst
got on deck the helm had been star
boarded, heading a little to the north
weird When 1 saw the fleet were
heading southwest and seemed to be
coming straight for the interval De-
tween the Texas and the Brooklyn, l
went in the coming tower and direct
ed the nelmsman. l 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
finally when we were getting up fair
ly close, say between 1900 and 1000
yards, it seemed to me clear that they
wanted to pass between the Texas and
Brooklyn The Texas was we'll on our
starboard hand and she was headed
to the northward and westward.
Describes the Famous "Loop."
GAIL ships were carrying out the in,
structions Of the commandments
and that was to head in for the en-
trance. We were we'll to the westward
and headed to the northeast. When
saw that I ported the helm perhaps
| half way over. She was swinging star
board very rapidly. The Spanish fleet
| was coming straight for this interval
I stepped out of the tower on the port
! side to get a good look at this feet
to see just what they were going to dc
as to our relative positions, and l saw
! they evidently put helms hard apor1
and were turning to the westward
We were then turning very rapidly tt
starboard with port helm and we hac
turned. I think, almost to the east
The Texas was we'll on our starboarc
side. I then gave the order, Hare
ABORT to the helmsman, ran through
the opening between the shield anC
the coming tower to the other side OF
purpose to see our own fleet and oul
| relative positions. Quicker than
could tell it the commodore called tt
me, Cook, hard aport,' or is your helm
aport.' 1 replied, The helm is hare
aport, turning as rapidly as possible
AS 1 watched the Texas, the bow o
the Brooklyn seemed first to point t.
! her port bow. I never saw the star
board bow of the Texas and, changing
her bearings very rapidly, the bow o
the Brooklyn passed along the por
side of the Texas until there was clea
opening between us and the stern o
the Texas. We made complete turn
very quick turn, with helm har'
aport until we came around and pal
alleled the fleet on the other side. A
we paralleled the Spanish feet tn
Viscaya-"
Admiral Dewey-"May I interrupt
How near did you pass to the Texas
81 never thought Of collision.
never entered my head. never for
moment had one idea Of a vicissitud
in that respect. We passed, judge
- =