The age-herald., 1901-10-15

gave the order Hard aport' to the helms- man, and ran to the other side to see our own fleet and our relative positions. Quicker than I could tell 1t the commo- dore called to me Cook hard aport.'
 "I answered the helm Is hard aport turning as rapidly as possible As watched the Texas the bow of the Brook lyn seemed first to point to her port bow The Texas was changing her bearing rap idly. The bow of the Brooklyn passed along the port side of the Texas until there was a clear opening between us and the Texas. We made a complete turn, a very quick turn. with helm hard aport until we came around and paralleled the fleet on the other side. As we paralleled the Spanish fleet, the vizacaya-"
 Admiral Dewey-May I interrupt; how near did you pass to the Texas?
 No Danger of Collision.
 'I never thought of collision. It never entered my head. never for a moment had one idea in that respect. We passed, I judge about 400 yards, but the collision l never thought of. She turned perfectly clear of the Texas, came around and then we had the Viscaya on our starboard bow and about beam was the Oquendo and then the Colon That was about the hottest time of the action. It was a crit ical time. There was not any time for indiscretion, and do not think there was any. I always felt 1t in mind in studying the position, 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. They were all three firing on the Brooklyn when almost im- mediately, faster than can tell 1t, saw large white bone in the water, and through the smoke I saw the bow of vessel l exclaimed at the time, what was that? the navigator who was near me, said it was the Massachusetts or something to that effect. I said she was away off, and he said. That Is the Ore gon. I felt perfectly assured from that moment. She came up very rapidly. She was making more speed than we were at that time, as she had all of her boilers on."
 "Where was the Oregon in respect to the Brooklyn at that timer
 
 between the Texas an. the Iowa.
 Was the starboard engine of the Brooklyn reverted during that turnT'
 "It was not. because did not want to loose the speed of the ship
 At the time you saw the Oregon conn ing up out of the smoke, was she on your starboard?"
 "Starboard quarter"
 And between you and the Spanish ships?'
 There was never anything between us and the Spanish ships; she was on our starboard quarter"
 You say you heard the commodore 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, but not hard aport My impression is now. although 1t was not at the time. 1t was about as near the same time as has been given. There was perfect understanding between the commodore and myself. There was never question of any kind during the &C., tion."
 q will ask if your recollection is clear as to whether the helm was put hard aport by yourself first, or that you did 1t in obedience to an order from the com modore?"
 T gave the order on my responsibility"
 At what time did you hear any con- versation between the Commodore and the navigatorT'
 T did not"
 Did you see any torpedo boats?'
 T did not"
 Were you afraid of being rammed at the time the turn was being nader
 No. There was something said about