The Washington times., 1901-10-05

change was made In the log book in the
record of the direction in which the helm
A,SWen / think I remember the
erasure and this interlineation and some
discussion about 1T
erased and what was substituted, if any
thing? ~
A.SThe erasure of the word star
board and the word port substituted.
Q.-Can you state when this was done?
CAN you say that it was done on
the day that the log was written?
A.-No; l cannot.
O.-Do you remember discussing that
with anyone in the presence of Commo-
dore Schley and Captain Cook?
Al do not.
Q.-How was this first brought to your
attention that it was entered in the body
o. the log that the helm was put to star
A.-Well, very likely by the watch officer
desiring to make an erasure in the log
after | had examined it
Q.-Do you remember whether II was so
brought to your attention?
Al am not positive as to that l had
a faint recollection of the fact that that
was brought to my attention in that way.
putting in of that interlineation which
Is not usually done in logs.
Q.-Eou say you gave the watch officers
the points on which to write the logs?
remember.
Q.-Do you remember when if at all,
you undertook to check the log as writ
ten to see whether those points were cor
rectly entered in the log book or not2
A.-No; / do not, except that 1t is more
than probable that this was all done be
fore noon of the succeeding day, as the
log was generally submitted to the cap
tain by noon.
Q.-Do you regard that as a correct
entry in the log book that the helm was
put to port in order to bring the star
board battery to bear?
A.-No; that was not the reason for
which the helm was put to port.
Q.-Why was it put to port?
A-Put to port to bring the Brooklyn
around as quickly as possible to head on
the Spanish vessels
The Different Turns.
Q.-I ask you if the Brooklyn would not
have been brought around quicker If the
helm had been put to starboard, as it was
recorded in the log book originally.
Al think she would.
Q.-And through what arc of the cir
Gle, having in mind the direction in
which the ship was heading at the time?
! do not mean the number of degrees or
even the point of the compass. but gen.
orally what arc of the circle would she
have to pass through in either case-with
the helm put astarboard, and second,
with the helm put aDOrt?
A.-Well probably lSO degrees with the
helm astarboard; probably 20 with the
helm aDert.
Q.-Is that what you mean?
A.-Why, yes: ! suppose that is what ]
mean drawing diagraml- Here is an
arc of 1So degrees and there an arc Of 2iO
degrees, II we had gone with the helm a
port. That angle from here to here is $50
degrees TO a parallel course, and this Is
Q-Then she did take the longest road
around, did she not?
Al think so.
Q.-Those words swinging clear of the
fire of the Texas'-is that right? You
have the book before you: Swinging
clear of the fire of the Texas?"
A.-Yes, sir; that is right, because that
was the point that impressed me most
having one of the heavy guns of the
Texas fire over US.
Q.-The words clear of the fre of the
Texas are the worus that are lnteriineu,
are they not?
A-They are.
Odd you give any specific instruc-
tions or make any specific instructions to
the officer who wrote the log with regard
to putting in those words?
Al think it very possible that l did,
because that was the fact that impressed
me as the result Of swinging with the
port helm that / was very thankful that
We cleared the Texas and her fire.
A-When did it impress you-when you
gave him the points on which to write
lne logr OF "len tne 1nteTllnedlloH was
made?
A.-When we got around clear of the
Texas; from the first moment that we got
around clear of the Texas. and all the
time.
Q.-When were those words put in rela-
lively to the change in the log book from
"starboard" to port
Al can't say. | was not at that time
contemplating any such searching investi-
cation as this and consequently ! thought
The log was written with the idea Of Civ
ing a general account and a fair account
of the battle without being brought up
to any such searching scrutiny OF | might
have been much more particular as TO the
exact time and the date.
II was nearly ( o'clock when the wit
ness had gone this far and Judge Advo-
cate Lemly suggested that as the next
step would be a matter which should -
consecutive the Court should adjourn.
and the Court was declared adjourned
until IL o'clock this morning.