Evening star., 1901-10-05
TOLD BY HODGSON
Story Of the Naval Fight Of
July 8.
seen FROM TEE BROOKLYE'S BRIDGE
Alleged Colloquy With Commo-
dore SchIey.
IN THE COURT OF INQUIRY

IN THE COURT OF INQUIRY
| In the Schley court of inquiry yesterday
| afternoon Commander Hodgson went on
the stand. He said that he had been navi-
gator Of Commodore Schley's flagship, tie
! Brooklyn, during the war with Spain and
was the bridge the day of the battle OF
July 8. Detailing the particulars of that
engagement he said:
"I heard the executive officer, Lieutenant
| Commander Mason. sing out Clear ship for
action and the crew Immediately dispersed
| to quarters l having sounded the general
alarm previously The commodore shortly
appeared on the bridge. We were at that
time headed about west northwest or to the
westward of northwest. l told him that
| there was nothing doing and he said Go
ahead 1 rang six bells and asked if we
had not better hold her head steady to see
what course the Spaniards proposed to pur-
sue. do not remember his reply exactly
to that, because Immediately afterward L
told him they were evidently making for
us, and he said Go for Them and l rang
four bells and put helm aport.
Captain Cook appeared upon the bridge
at this time, and l told him that everything
was connected up at the coming tower and
that We We're already going ahead, and In
fact we were going ahead The commodore
took his position platform he had
built around the coming tower where he
! could be in easy communication with the
commanding officer inside, and 1 remained
on the bridge
1.-The executive officer had given previous
iy the order to man the starboard batteries.
] sang out to him we were going into ac-
tion with port helm, and he shifted over
to the port battery. We were then stand
ing for the enemy, and as soon as the guns
were brought to bear Lieutenant Simpson
fired a lit off - first
from the forward eight-inch turret. From
that time on We went considerably in to-
ward them.
II then went down to where the comruo-
dore was standing to get into the coming
tower, when I heard him sing out: Look
out. Cook they are going to ram you
Captain Cook said he would Look after
that, and starboarded the helm a little to
parallel the course of the leading vessel.
the Marie Teresa, which had made broad
sheer to port. He had hardly made that
sheer, however, to port before ne fell of
again for the reason, apparently. that
shot was fired from the Brooklyns eight
inch gun. The Teresa got abaft our port
beam and helm was ported on the Brooklyn
Immediately after that. We were swinging
with port helm. l heard the commodore
sing out Hard aport' or words to that ef-
feet, and Captain Cook sang out Helm is
aport.' / saw at that time the crucial mo-
ment had arrived in making the turn, and
1 suggested to the commodore that that
turn would run us into the Texas or very
close to her.
What did you say and what was the re-
ply?" asked the judge advocate.
"As near as l can remember, I said,
Commodore, if you go to starboard you
will run into the Texas and he said.
D the Texas. 1 cannot help that
She must lookout for herself. He will take
care Of that And he also said, I do not
propose to go in any closer and subject
myself to a torpedo attack
Il suggested then that we back the star
board engine, and he wanted to know why,
and 1 said, Because 1t would give the
Texas a wider berth and shorten our turn
ing circle. Capt. Cook objected to this, and
Sd did the commodore, but there was a mo-
ments discussion to whether 1t would
be better to turn that shorter circle with
smaller speed or take the larger tactical
diameter with faster speed. It was de-
cided that it very essential to get
around 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.
Il said 1 would run up on top Of the
bridge and look out for the Texas. AS 1
was going up / asked the chief quarter
master if he had seen a torpedo boat, and
he said he had seen one blown up by a
large shell away In the rear. / said / had
not any, told the commodore pre-
viously. 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 lead
Viscaya, the Teresa having fallen OF and
gone inshore. seeking a berth. AS soon as
we were around at the proper position the
helm was raised so that we paralleled the
course of the Viscaya, which at that time
was about 2, 400 or $500 yards on our star
board bow. The Colon probably on
the beam or a little 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 at
tention solely to the Colon and viscaya."
Proximity to the Texas.
The Judge advocate-"How near was the
Texas to the Brooklyn when the latter
crossed her bow?''
II suppose 1t was about 25O to 300 yards"
"Have you ever given this estimate as
nearer than that?"
'Yes, SIR
What have you given beforer'
"One hundred and fifty yards"
why do you change 1t nowf
Because l have read from my notes
written the day after the battle and from
notes / used on the board of navigators.
I concluded from those that my estimate
at that time, when l gave it 175 to 250
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
% Just read your entry from a @ your notes.
our helm to port and then around to star
beard, passing well inside the Texas That
was written by me the day after the bat
tie"
''Is there any reference as to the distance
you were from the Texas In those notes?'
mo, sir"
do you remember whether anything was
said about blanketing the fire Of the Texas
at that timer"
"When I told the commodore / thought
we would run into the Texas 1 think l did
say that we might get shot from one Of
her big guns"
Have Won ever said that Won were .skft-
tish' about collision with the Texas at
this timer
well, was skittish about 1t. I thought
we were going to have collision very
likely with the Texas"
How was the collision avoided from what
you know of your own knowledge?"