The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-15

before on tlc Nta she e9ald not have
tn, The witness then, in response + dues-
of the flying squadron toward Key West
beginning May 26. He said his first IN
formation that shch a movement was to
be undertaken was when he received or
ders to move. He had, he said, informed
Commodore Schley on the evening of the
9th that he thought the sea had be-
come calm enough to coal, and had
found that the commodore had also
reached the same conclusion.
Replying to questions concerning the
blockade of Santiago, Capt. Cook said
that Commodore Schley's constant idea
supplied with coal, and kept moving con-
stsntly, as his theory was that the Span
ish fleet would come out of the harbor.
Why was the circular blockade mot
adopted" Mr.. Hanna asked.
There are many forms of blockade,
and l have nothing but praise for the
circular blockade replied witness, but
the idea was to get the Spaniards to come
out and to have our ships moving and
ready for action"
What were your orders or battle from
May 10 to June /?
ALWAYS READY.
eve did not have any The fleet was
always in condition for action
DO you call that a battle order?"
1t is possible to have an order for bat
are going to meet. The idea with us was
to be able to fight the Spanish fleet Wher-
ever we should meet it. / think that was
understood by all. L certainly under
stood it,
IF the fleet had come out of the har-
Dor previous to June l. what would you
have done?"
I'VE would have obeyed the orders of
the commanding officers
Were the fighting ships always in or
der for battle?'
Brooklyn was always in excellent or
DER
General interest was manifested
throughout the. court room when Mr..
battle of July Sd. He asked:
Were you on deck when the fleet came
out of Santiago harbor on July 8? When
We're they first sighted?"
The reply was in the negative Capt
Cook said he had at that time been in
the cabin. The first question was:
oor How did q; you first learn the fleet was
II heard the executive officer call out,
Clear ship for action and as I had
given directions to have the ship ready
for inspection at o'clock unless some
thing happened, / went on deck
Had You any intimation the night be-
fore that the fleet was coming out?''
No turned in the night before
about midnight feeling rather the other
way. all hope of their coming out hav-
ing been given up
When you came on deck where were
the Spanish vessels?" What were they
doing?"
When first arrived on the forecastle
there were two in sight. The third one
was just outside the entrance and the
fourth appeared Immediately afterward.''
CERvERA'S SORTIE
What did they do when they first
came out? Which way did they head?''
we We're to the westward of the en-
IN 1~<1,
by north. The fleet came out south and
turned as they left the entrance to four
points southwest, SO that they turned in
our our erection When I first got on deck
little to the northward. When / saw
the fleet were heading southwest and
seemed to be coming straight for the
interval between the Texas and the
Brooklyn, I went in the coming tower
and directed the helmsman I told him
what wanted to do was to keep straight
for the Meet. 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 we We're zg getting up fairly close, say
me clear that they wanted to pass be-
tween the Texas and the Brooklyn The
IeXas was well on our starboard hand
and she was headed to the northward
and westward. All ships were carrying
out the instructions Of the commander
1n-chief, and that was to head in for the
entrance. We were well to the west
ward and headed to the northeast. When
half way over. She was swinging star
board very rapidly. The Spanish fleet
was coming straight for this interval
/ stepped out of the tower on the mort
side to get a good look at this fleet, to
see just what they were going to do as
to our relative positions, and | saw they
evidently put helms hard port and were
turning to the westward. We were then
turning very rapidly to starboard with
port helm, and we had turned, I think.
almost to the east. The Texas was well
on our starboard side. [ then gave the
order Hard port to the helmsman,
ran through the opening between the
shle!d and the coming tower to the 9TH
er slde on purpose to see our own fleet
l could tell it the commodore called 70
me, Cook, hard port, or, "Is your helm
a port? L answered The helm is hard
a port. turning as rapidly, as possible
brooklyn seemed first to point to- her
port bow. l never saw the bow of the
Iexas, and changing her bearing very
rapidly. the bow of the Brooklyn passed
along the port side of the Texas until
there was clear opening between us and
the stern of the Texas We made a com
plete turn, very, quick turn, with helm
hard port, until we came around and
PARALLEL the fleet on the other side AS
we paralleled the Spanish fleet the Wis.,
caya-'
@ANAihii al DOWSy-Nndy interrupt! How
near did you pass to the Texas?
NO THOUGHT OF COLLISION.
L never thought of collision. It never
entered my mind. 1 never for mo-
ment had one idea of vicissitude in that
respect. We passed. I judge, about 400
yards. had handled the ship under ali
circumstances. and got so I could Judge
pretty correctly, and my impression was
that we were about the distance we sail
ed In squadron. But a collision / never
thought of. She turned perfectly clear of
the Texas. came around, and then we
had the Viscaya on our starboard bow
and about abeam was the Oqeundo and
then the Colon. At the time I thought it
was the Teresa. but 7 soon discovered
this vessel was dropping out and heading
for the beach. That was about the hot
test time of the action. 1t was a critical
sfE wrote Dr. EsEspGe regard
Efsg sssy Case and received
a prompt Sseply, free."
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