Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-15

we" ' '"o"oo and then the CO.
ION. Al 'he ''"'e' ! thought it was the
J Teresa. but l soon discovered this vesse,
was dropping out and heading for Tho
beach.
That was about the hottest time If tho
action. 1t was critical time There
was not any time for indecisior and !
do not think there was any have Al
ways felt in my mind. in STUDYING tb. no
sitiOns. that the chances would have
been for "a disaster had We sbif,ed helm
at such time.
| However, We got around and we had
those three vessels. | looked and oou,d
see nothing but smoke astern and vassel.
seemed enveloped in the smoke could
not understand 1t.
Il could not understand exactly how
We got there. Tney We're all threa iripe
on the Brooklyn. when almost immediate
faster IMAM l could tell it. | saw
large white bone in the water and
through TINS smoke | could see the bow
OF vessel. exclaimed at the time
what was that? The navigator who
was near me, said it was the Massachu-
sets or something to that effect. I said
Tat she was away and then said: That
is the Oregon felt perfectly assured
from that moment"
Where was the Oregon with respec. to
the Brooklyn at that tme?' 81 estimat-
| ed 600 yards. She passed in between the
Texas and the Iowa. She got through
mat opening, came to the northward of
the Texas and came out about 800 yards
from US, | mean perpendicular course.
and that would account for lust waht
we maze to the southwark in turning We
| made more than the tactical diameter
because we passed part of that distance
with helm half aport.'
| What is the tactical diameter OF the
! Brooklyn" About go yards
Was it easy to handle the ship under
such circumstances? Il never have seen
one equal to her
Was the starboard engine of the
Brooklyn reversed during that turn?" ut
! was not"
| AT the time you saw the Oregon CON.
| ing up out of the smoke was she ON
your starhoard?" 'Starboard quarter"
And between you and the Spanish
| ships. Never between us and the
Spanish ships"
| Where were the Spanish ships at tina,
time?" There never was anything be-
tween us and the Spanish ships She was
on our starboard quarter"
| Nearer in shore?' Yes"
| Referring back now To certain points
in The story. as | did not care to inter
| rupt you, You state you heard the com.
| modorc say at one time hard aport'
That was after you had begun To- make
| the turn and the helm was hard aport?"
| Yes, the helm was aport bat not hard
| ap0rt, my impression is now. although
| ii was not at the time. There was Il per
| feet understanding between the commo-
| dore and myself. Never Il question of
any kind during the action"
| II Will ask if your recollection Is clear
| as to whether the helm was pat hard
aport by yourself first or that YOU did it
| in obedience Ia an order from the com
| modore?" Il gave the order on my own
responsibility. No question about that
1t was not after having heard the com
modore. He called out to me as | have
stated, which | now think was simply I;
| confirm himself the idea that she was
| turning with hard aport helm"
AT that time did You hear any CONVEX
sation between the commodore ana the
navigator"
! Il uid not"
| Did YOU see any torpedo boats?"
Il did not
| Were you afraid of being rammcd at
the time the turn was bein gamde?''
NO. There was something sand about
it. but | did not give ii a second thought
from the fact that | knew they could
not ram unless they got within my turn
ing circle.
Were you afraid of blanketing the fire
of our fleet by turning one way or the
| other"
I'VE might have done it by turning thu
other way"
Had you turned with a starboard helm
instead Of a port helm would such action
have advanced you 50 FAR to bring you
within the line of movement of the enc
my's ships?
! provided they had taken advantage OF
it; that is to say if they had continued
| on their course southwest straight for
us. and we had turned so as to bring
| them within our turning circle. ii would
have made rammins possible. certainly"
How were they heading when this or
der hard aport was given
They were heading southwest"
Were they then headed 50 had you
gone the other way
And they discovered the movement,
Yes | think they would. The chart dis
lance given at that time was 100 yards.
| estimated 1900 yards and so made ii in
my report In the first place we must
have lost by shifting helm at such a
time. Then if We had turned the other
way we must have gone 100 yards They |
would not have had much distance to run !
to get entirely within our turning circle |
That is all conjecture.
Mir. Hanna-''What was the conduct |
and bearing of Commodore Schley while |
under fire on such occasions that you |
had the opportunity of observing?'
Il always regarded him an enthusi- |
astically brave and patriotic officer. Nev !
er in any other way.
At this point the court took its usual |
recess.
At the afternoon session. Capt. Cook |
continued his testimony.
Mr. Hanna-"At the time the turn of |
the Brooklyn was made. We're you in
such position that you could observe
whether or not the engines of the Texas
were. ba Cked or reVerSed?'