The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-10-08

moments discussion as to whether 1t
would be better to turn that shorter
circle with smaller speed or take the
larger tactical diameter with faster
speed. 1t was decided that 1t was
very essential to get around quickly,
Is the leading Spanish ship was then
standin gto the westward, and II the
Brooklyn did not stop her she had a
good chance of escaping. So the
helm was put hard aport.
II said would run up on top of the
bridge and look out for the Texas.
AS l was going up I asked the chief
quartermaster If he had seen a tor
pedo boat, and he said he had seen
one blown up by large shell way In
the rear. | said l had not seen any,
as l told tho commodore previously.
The helm, however, wa kept hard
aport. The Brooklyn SWING clear Of
the Texas. and brought around with
helm hard aport until she brought in
sight the leadifg Spanish vessel,
which was then the Viscaya, the
Teresa having fallen off and gone in
shore, seeking berth. AS soon as
we were aroun6 at the proper position
the helm was eased so that we paral.
leled the course of the Viscaya, which
at that time was about 2,400 or $500
yards on our starboard bow. The
Colon was probably on the beam or
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 de-
voted our attention solely to the
Colon and Viscaya.
How Near Was the Texas
Judge Advocate-How near was the
Texas to the Brooklyn when the lat.
ter crossed her bow?
81 suppose it was about $50 to 800
yards"
Have you ever given this estimate
as near or nearer than that?"
"Yes, sir"
what have you given before?"
"One hundred and fifty yards"
"Why do you change it now?"
Because | have read from my notes
written the day after the battle and
from notes | used on the board of
navigators. | concluded from those
that my estimates at the time when
l gave 1t 175 to 250 yards was too
lear. Also, was very much inau.
enced by the thought that the navi-
eating officer of the Texas would not
think it was less than $50 yards"
Just read your entry from your
notes"
me witness (reading)-'We quick.
ly put our helm to port and then
around to starboard, passing well in.
side the Texas That was written by
ne the day after the battle.
"Is there any reference to the dis.
tance you were from the Texas in
those notes?"
mo, SIR"
DO you remember whether any.
thing was said about blanketing the
fire of the Texas at that time?"
When | told the commodore I
thought we would run into the Texas,
think l did say that we might get O
shot from one of her big guns"
Have you ever said that you were
'skittish' about collision with the
Texas at this time?"
well, | was skittish about it. /
thought we were going to have a col,
lision very likely with the Texas"
How was the collision avoided
from what you know of your own
knowledge?"
by our getting around so quick we
passed ahead of her."
"You cannot tell me what was done
aboard the Texas?"
81 have no idea"
Regarding Change of the Log.
"Do you remember any discussion
on board the Brooklyn as to the direC. /
zion that the helm was put when she
made what is known as the loop"
We'll, | think | remember the fact
OF putting an interlineation in this log
because an erasure was made of that
word 'starboard,' and l suggested put
tlng in the explanatory words that we
cleared the Texas" /
DO you remember whether any
change was made in the log book in |
the recording OF the direction in |
which the helm was originally put?"
Il think / remember that erasure.
The word starboard' was erased and
the word port substituted"
DO you remember discussing that
with anyone in the presence of Com.
e odore Schley and Captain Cook?"
81 do not"
DO you regard that as a correct
Hntry in the log book that the helm
was put 10 port in order to bring the .
Starboard battery to bear?"
No, that was not the reason for
which the helm was put to port. II
was put to port to bring the Brooklyn
around as quickly as possible to head
II the Spanish vessel"
Would not the Brooklyn have been
brought around quicker if the helm
rad been put starboard, as 1t was re.
corded in the log book originally"
81 think she would"
These words, swinging clear of the
Ire OF the Texas are they right?"
THAT Is right. That is a point |
hat impressed me. Fortunately we
got around without having one Of the |
Texas guns fired over u.s."
"The words. clear of the fire OF the
Texas are the interlned words, are |