The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-26

I saw the first vessel in the Spanish line
take a sheer to the westward. leaving
| the Viscaya coming straight on. Then
later she also turned to the eastward.
1t was now apparent that the original
plan of the Spaniards had failed, and
they were now entering upon the sec
ond phase and that their new DISPOSE
course. Captain Cook now gave the Or
der to port the helm. If he had not
done so. should in a minute. and 1
said to him: Is your helm aport? and
he replied: 1T is aport' or hard aport,
I think the latter"
Coming to the turn of the Brooklyn.
Admiral Schley, speaking steadily and
clearly, but never hesitating for a word.
said that he had never seen ship turn
more steadily. 1.-THE turn" he said,
no easing of the helm and I never saw
the starboard side of the Texas. am
sure we were never nearer that vessel
than 600 yards. We were so distant
that never had any thought of danger
in connection with the Texas" He saw
the closest range given was LOO yards.
1--WE were so Close he went on, that
I said we could see men on the Span
ish ships running between superstruc-
ture. 1 could even see the daylight be-
tween their legs.
HODGSON INCIDENT FICTION.
Hodgson, very properly made the OBJ
servation that we should look out for
the Texas. but there never was any
colloQuy between us-never any colo
guy of any character between Hodgson
and myself: first. because he was too
good an officer to have SO transgressed,
and, second if he had undertaken to do
so, I should have reprimanded him.
That incident is fiction: it never oc-
cured
AT this point the admiral said the
leading one of the Spanish ships was
on the Brooklyn's starboard bow. and
that not only all of the enem US ships.
but the forts as we'll, were firing appar-
emily at the Brooklyn; at that moment
and the next five minutes were the most
serious of the combat, he said, and told
how the jets of water were seen on all
sides, and how deafening was the noise
of the guns.
1.-The roar of our projectiles," he said,
was such as can only be heard once.
once heard can never be forgotten. All
four of the Spanish. vessels were firing
on the Brooklyn and none of the Span
ish vessels at that time showed any in
jury. Then the thought passed through
my mind that they might get away and
feared we should have most of the
fight, as I had not thought up to that
time that the battleships would be eff
fective in a chase. 1 said to Cook that
we would stay with this crew."
Telling of the coming up of the Ore
gon during the chase, Admiral Schley
said he had never before realized that
such rapid fire was possible as was
emitted from these two vessels. Both
looked to him, he said, like sheets of
flame.
When the Maria Teresa went ashore
the admiral said he had instructed
Capt. Cook to notify the men below
and to keep them informed of the
progress of events. They can't see
what is being done" he said to Cook,
land they want to know" The captain
had obeyed this injunction and the
messages were received with cheers
from below.
Describing the going ashore of the
Spanish ships in succession. he said he
knew the following American ships
would take care of them and protect
the Spaniards against the insurgents
and the fire on their own ships.
AS the battle proceeded at this time,
the admiral said he was very anxious
about the range, as he did not want
the Teresa and the Viscaya to get be-
yond range. IT feared the ships were
gaining and asked Ellis, who was very
piled, after a use of the instruments,
that we were holding our own.
thought differently at the time"
TRIBUTE TO ELLIS.
At this time the admiral paid his
tribute to Ellis, who he said in the
had lost his life.
His voice lowered as he spoke gently
of the shocking sight when the sailor
was deca pitated by a shell which splat-
tered his brains and blood upon the
deck Some of it reached me- he
said. He saw Lieut.. McCauley and the
doctor pick the body up and carry it to
the side as if to throw it overheard
He called to them not to do so, that
one who had fallen SO calamity de-
served a better burial. Continuing the
story of the fight proper, the admiral
described how the Viscaya had turned
toward the Brooklyn just before she
went ashore. AS she turned he distinct
~ saw the effect of a shot which thcn
entered her bow, whereupon she
wheeled back and headed for the shore
AS she did he saw her raked fore and
aft by big shell, and she listed so
far that he thought she might turn
turtle. II signalled the Texas to look
out for her, but received no answer"
Admiral Schley testified. The Texas
was too far back. probably. I re-
marked at the time. 1T does not mat