The news & observer., 1901-10-16
Leads all North Carolina Daies i'm News and Circulation

chief In thick weather and at night the
distance was less than in fair weather
and in the day time.
The witness said the reconnaissance OF
May 81, had developed the strength of
the land batteries and they had proved
to be stronger than he had supposed they
would Commodore Schley had, he said,
told him that his purpose was to ascer-
tain what the batteries were He said he
had been with Lieutenant Potts on the
Massachusetts on that day and had not
heard any conversation between that
officer and Commodore Schley.
THE GREAT BATTLE DESCRIBED.
The witness described the engagement
of July 8. After stating the preliminary
incidents he said:
81 met the Commodore on the quarter
deck. He directed the signal clear ship
for action followed by the signal to
close in, all of which were made. From
my position l had a good view of the en-
trance Our ship was heading at the
time, / should say, to the westward of
north. not on her regular heading, which
was about northeast by north. he en-
on deck and she was gaining way and
swinging toward the enemy. AS the ships
swung toward the Teresa she swung
slowly around. The Teresa appeared to
not hold an exactly steady course, and
the helm of our ship was eased one way
or the other to keep our ram pointing
toward the Teresa. The Teresa shortly
turned squarely toward the westward. 1t
was my observation that the Brooklyn
was then held up to meet the second ship
approaching OF course, we ported helm
CHASING THE SPANIARDS.
''The second ship passed in the wake
of the first one, and l said to the COM
modore that it looked as if the second
one was going to try and ram US. He, /
think, assented. At any rate the Brook
lyn was held toward her and she appeared
TO me to be uncertain in her course. The
Brooklyn turned after she had passed
to the southwark of the Teresa's wake
and followed her, and then it was gen
orally remarked on the lower bridge that
they were all going to try and escape to
the westward.
Just about the time the Viscaya turn
server with the stadimeter came to me
on the platform and said that his stadi-
meter showed 900 yards to the Viscaya.
| Immediately took an especial look at
the Viscaya with that in mind, and my
judgment confirmed the stadimeter. |
said to- the Commodore, L think we are
about our tactical diameter from that
ship now, and he said, I think so, too
or We are Then the order was hard
aport; l am not positive who gave that
order.
Il think the commodore said, hard
aport' and Captain Cook said: 1t is hard
aport.' The helm was kept hard aport
and the ship swung rapidly in her turn
ing circle. When the order was given
hard aport / looked at the next YES
sci in our fleet--the Texas-and in my
Judgment we were completely clear of
her. After the turn was completed we
found ourselves abreast of perhaps lit
tie abaft the beam of the leading Span
ish ship with a slowly converging'
course toward the leading ship. l saw
the torpedo boats and l sent one of the
Commodores orderlies to the after guns
to notify them that they might lookout.
1T is my impression we held very
straight course The navigator was try
ing to maintain this course to keep our
guns to bear to the best range. After
about ten to twenty minutes we were
very hotly engaged with those three
vessels. The Oregon was astern of us
and the Texas astern of her. The Wis.,
caya began to blaze up, flames would
rise and subside, and she turned in to-
ward the shore. Shortly previous to this
she had made what appeared to us a
change in her helm so as to bring her
out toward the Brooklyn. 1t was taken
by us to mean an attempt to run us.
The Broolllyn's helm was handled to
give the ship a sheer toward her. This
she did, I think, twice. The Viscaya
then resumed her course and we did also.
HAD CONFIDENCE IN PHILIP.
1.-The Commodore spoke of the advis-
ability of signalling through the Ore
gon to the Texas to stay by the Viscaya
when she turned in and insure her sur
render. but after a moments thought
he sadf Philip will know enough to
look out for that and then we proceed
ed While we were engaged on the
beam of the Viscaya the Colon had pass
ed inside of the Viscaya, firing but
gradually drawing away. We were in
creasing our speed as rapidly as the
fires could be forced and after the Wis
caya had gone in we continued the
chase after the Colon.
ORDERS TO THE OREGON.
after we began to gain upon the
Colon the Commodore directed the Ore
gon to try her guns at her. Then the
Oregon and the Brooklyn fired deliber-
ately at the Colon. After our fire she
began to waver in toward the shore.
Her course was unsettled and the COM
modore said he thought she had enough
of it and was looking for soft spot to
lie upon, which proved to be the case.
She fired occasionally at us, rather rap
idly at first, and then it became weaker.
She was close into shore at that time
and at lis hauled down her flag. Cap
tain Cook and Lieutenant Wells were
sent on board the Colon to receive the
surrender"