The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-15

l. WV In DULL.
when I first arrived onSthe forecastle
there We're two in sight. The third one
was just outside the entrance and The
fourth appeared Immediately afterward.'
(Which way did they head?'''
eve were to the westward The en-
trance to US was about northeast by
north; the fleet came out south and
turned they left the entrance to four
points southwest, so that they turned in
our direction. When l first got on deck
the helm had been star5oarded. heading
a little to the northward When l saw
the fleet they were heading southwest and
seemed to be coming straight for the in
terval between the Texas and Brooklyn.
I went in the coming tower and directed
the helsman. l told him what l wanted
to do was to keep straight for the fleet.
THEY WAVERED.
They wavered a little. Sometimes they
turned one way and then another. We
shifted helm once or twice but very lit
tie indeed, and finally, when We We're get
ting up rather close, say 1,50o to 200
yards, it seemed to me clear that they
wanted to pass between the Texas and
the Brooklyn. The Texas was we'll on
our starboard hand and she was headed
to the northward and westward. All ships
We're carrying out the instructions of the
cornmander-in-chi and that was to head
in for the entrance. We were well TIC
the westward and headed to the north
east. When l saw that, l ported the
helm perhaps half way over She was
swinging starboard very rapidly. The
Spanish fleet was coming straight for this
interval. stepped out OF the tower on
the port 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 to
port and were turning to the westward
We were then turning very rapidly to
starboard with port helm, and we had
turned, think, almos- to the cast. The
Texas was well on our starboard SIDE.
| then gave the order Hard aport to the
helmsman, ran through the opening be-
tween the shield and the coming tower
to the other side on purpose to see our
own fleet and our relative positions.
Quicker than I could tell it. the Commo-
dQre called to me. Cook hard aport or
Is You helm apoct?' l answered. The
helm is hard aport; turning as rapidly
as possible.
CLEAR OPENING.
LAS ] watched the Texas the bow of the
Brooklyn seemed first to point to her
port bow. 1 never saw the starboard bow
of the Texas, and changing her bearing
very rapidly, the bow of the Brooklyn
passed along the port side of the Texas
US and the stern OF the Texas. We made
q complete turn very quick, with helm
aport until we came around and had the
feet on the other side. AS we paraleled
the Spanish fleet, the Niscaya-'
Admiral Dewey-"How near did you
pass To- ;ha Texas?'
II never thought OF a collision. It new.
er entered my head. l never, for a mo-
ment. had one idea or fear in that respect.
We passed. 1 Judge. about 400 yards. I
had handled the ship under all circuul-
stances. and got SO I could judge pretty
correctly, and my impression was that
we We're about the distance we sailed
in squadron. But a collision I 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 OQuendo. and
then the Colon. At the time l thought it
was the Teresa. but | soon saw this YES
sci was dropping out anG --eading for
the beach.
HOTTEST TIME.
THAT was about the hattest time of
the action. It was a critical time There
was not any time for INDIGESTION, and I do
not think there was any. | have always
felt in my mind, in studying the posi-
tons, that the chances would have been
for a disaster had we shifted helm at such
a, time. However, we got. around and we
had those three vessels. I looked and
could see nothing but smoke Stern and
vessels seemed enveloped in this smoke.
I could not understand it I could not
understand exactly now we got there.
They were all three firing on the Brook
lyn, when almosa Immediately, faster
than I could tell it, I saw a large white
bone in the water and through this smoke
saw the bow OF Il vessel. exclaimed
q 1.-THE time: What was ,hat?' The navi-
gator. who was near me. said it was the
clnlnSettS nr, snrnntllino that nf