Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-10-07
THE BROOKLYN MADE
A BRAVE FIGHT
For Time She Alone Fought the Maria
Theresa, the Colon and the 0quendo in
the Battle Of Santiago.
COMMANDER HODGSON'S TESTIMONY

Washington, Oct. THE Schley
court of inquiry today entered upon
the third straight week of the investi-
cation of Admiral Schleys conduct in
the Spanish war. The crowd in atten-
dance was as large as at any pre-
vious time, indicating that interest is
unabated. When the court openaa to-
day, Captain Lemly's list of Witnesses
still contained almost a dozen.
Commander Hodgson was again
called to the stand, and said in reply
to questions that he had seen lights on
the shore of Cienfuegos, which were
afterward determined to be signals,
but he supposed they were signals
between different branches of the
Spanish forces on shore. When Cap
tain McCalla arrived with information
as to the meaning Of the signals, he
Immediately dispatched vessel to
shore to communicate with the insur-
gents'
the naval battle of July 8, said: "The
Brooklyn did all she could. She got in
to action just as quick as steam could
carry her there. We commenced fir
ing as soon as the first gun on the
the port bow would bar, and kept the
port battery firing until it turned with
a port helm through the arc, using the
aft guns until we got all starboard
guns to bear. We got around quickly
as we could with the port helm until
on an almost parallel course with the
leading Spanish vessel when the
helm was eased and the ship was
steered parallel with the Viscaya,
which was then the leading vessel, al
though the Maria Teresa was probably
farther westward than the Viscaya
The smoke was so dense that nothing
could be seen of anything in the rear
of us. The three Spanish vessels we
were then engaged with were the Wis.,
caya, Colon, and Oquendo. The Wis
caya was about $500 yards on our
starboard bow; the Colon probably a
little forward of our starboard beam:
the Oquendo abaft our starboard
BEAM We continued in that direction,
when I remarked to Captain Cook that
it seemed rather lonely for us out
there.
Witness said that Schleys bearing
and manner were naturally those of a
ommander-in-chief of a naval force
during the battle. He occupied the
platform around the coming tower a
position Of danger and in full view of
the enemys ships.
"It had been stated here" said Ray
ner, that the Brooklyn ran 1000 yards
from the enemy's ships in making the
loop"
The witness replied: "Any witness |
who made that statement, although he |
hay have stated what he thoug'i1 oc-
Cured, is absolutely mistaken. IT must |
have gone about 600 yards southwark,
about the tactical diameter OF the
Brooklyn at that speed. 1t con:in ID
It's fire from tie aft turret."
Rayner questioned the witness at
ength concerning the reported COLO
luy with Admiral Schley during the
battle off Santiago in which tNc COM
modore is reported to have said:
Damn the Texas" The said dia-
ogue as reported is fictitious and he
lenied the verbal accuracy, while not
1enying the truth Of It.
Commander Hodgson was excused
and Captain W. M. Folger, who COM
manded the cruiser New Orleans dur
ing the Spanish war, was called. He
detailed his part of the campaign. The
court asked Captain Folger whether
Commodore Schley's blockade of the
harbor of Santiago had been suffi-
GENTLY effective to prevent the es-
cape of the Spanish fleet. The reply |
was: Had the weather been persist
entity clear, yes. If rainy or misty, |
no." He said in reply to another ques-
ton that the weather generally was
rainy. Captain Folger was excused
and Lieutenant Dyson was recalled.
His testimony related to the coal sup
ply.
At 3:35 Lieutenant Dyson was still
on the, stand, and the court adjourned
until tomorrow.