The age-herald., 1901-10-05

turn with the commanders orders, and the Brooklyn swung well clear or Ine Texas"
 And if there had been any danger 1t was at that time"
 Lieutenant Commander Hodeson. When Captain Rodgers was excused he was followed by Lieutenant Commander Albon c. Hodgson He said that he had | been navigator of the Brooklyn during the Spanish war and was on the bridge on the day of the battle of July 5. lie | continued
 q heard the executive officer, Leuten- ant Commander Mason, sing out, Clear | ship for action And the crew immedi- ately dispersed to quarters 1 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 west 1 ward 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 pursue. 1 do not remember his reply exactly to that, because immediately afterwards I told him they were evidently making for us, and he said go for 'em, 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 con- ming tower and that we were already go- ing ahead, and in fact we were going ahead. The commodore took his position on a platform he had built around the coming tower where he could be in easy communication with the commanding of ficer inside, and remained on the bridge.
 Shifted to Port Battery.
 "The executive officer had given prev iously the order to man the starboard batteries. I sang out to him we were going into action with port helm, and he shifted over to the port battery. We were then standing for the enemy, and as soon as the guns were brought to bear Lieu tenant Simpson fired a little off the port bow the first gun from the forward S-inch turret. From that time on, we went con- siderably in toward them. T then went down to where the com modore was standing to get into the con ming tower, when I heard him sing out, Hook out, Cook, they are going to ram you
 "Captain Cook said he would look after that and starboarded the helm little to parallel the course of the large ves- sel, the Maria Teresa, which had made broad sheer to port.
 He had hardly made that sheer, how ever, to port before he fell off again for the reason, apparently, that shot was fired from the Brooklyn's 8-inch gun. The Teresa got abaft our port beam, and helm was ported on the Brooklyn immed- lately after that. We were swinging with port helm. I heard the commodore sing out, hard aport', or words to that affect and Captain Cook sang out, helm Is aport.'
 Said Damn the Texas."
 "I saw at that time the crucial moment had arrived in making the turn, and l said, Commodore, if you go to star board you will run into. .the Texas and he said, damn the Texas. I cannot help that. She must look out for herself. She will take care of that And also said. I do not propose to go in any closer and subject myself to a torpedo attack
 'I suggested that we back the star board engine and he wanted to know why and I said because 1t would give the Texas a wider berth and shorten our turning circle It was decided that 1t was 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 to hard aport.
 "I said would run on top of the bridge and look out for the Texas. As I was going up asked the chief quartermaster if he had seen a torpedo boat and he said he had seen one blown up by large shell. 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 leading Spanish vessel, which was then the Viscaya, the Teresa having fallen of and gone in shore. seeking a berth. As soon as we were around at the proper nnqtfinn holm dn ha ryc paralleled the course of the Viscay;: which at that time was about 2,400 or 2.500 yards on our starboard bow. The Colon was probably on the beam or lit tie forward of the beam, the Oquendo abaft the starboard beam. The oquendo fire and then we devoted our attention solely to the Colon and Viscaya." Only 300 Yards Apart.
 The judge advocate: How near was the Texas to the Brooklyn when the lat
 q suppose it was about 250 to 300 yards.''
 DO you remember whether anything was said about blanketing the fire of the Texas at that timer"
 "When told the Commodore thought we would run into the Texas think I did say that we might get a shot from one of her big guns"
 Have you ever said that you were 'skittish' about collision with the Texas at this timer"
 Well. I was 'skittish' about it. ] thought we were going to have collision very likely with the Texas"
 How was the collision averted from what you know of your knowledge?'
 By our getting around so quick We passed ahead of her."
 The Judge Advocate questioned Com mander Hodgson about changes in the log of the Brooklyn giving the account of the famous loop. The witness said that Lieutenant Doyle had written it. but wit ness had given Doyle all the data for 1t.
 What information did you give him in regard to the direction the helm was put in turning the vessel?
 "I told him the helm was put aport if l mentioned that particular incident"
 Do you remember any discussion on board the Brooklyn as to the direction the helm was put when she made what is known as the 1oopT"
 Put interlineation In Log.
 Well I think I remember the fact of putting an interlineation in this log be- cause an erasure was made of that word 'starboard and I suggested putting in the explanatory words that we cleared the Texas. The word 'starboard' was erased and the word port substituted :"
 Do you regard that as correct entry