The San Francisco call., 1901-10-19
Nicholson Called to Testify.

NASAO4SO4 Sd1l6O 10
Lieutenant Commander Nicholson of the
Oregon was then called and began his recital
OF the story of the battle of July 3, which he
had observed as navigator Of the Oregon. He
was, he said, on the deck of his vessel, and
added:
Occupying the position 1 did during the day
OF the engagement, 1 necessarily saw consider
able Of it. The incidents of that day COM
menced about $3.50 five minutes before when
the hrst call TO quarters had been sounded.
Then the Spanish ships were seen coming ont
the whole crew at the same time When the
first ship started to go around the cry went
up There they CO. looked toward the har-
bor and saw the first ship. Her bow was
making turn into the last reach of the harbor
sion by the others 1 went to my station first
on the bridge, then down to the coming tower
and saw that the proper connections were made
In the meantime the signal had been sounded
10 general quarters and by this time steam was
coming UP. all the boilers and blowers were
going tull tilt and a few minutes afterward
Captain Clark came UP. We turned the shin
going slowly at first the speed increasing ali
the time; turned with a starboard helm and
started in toward the enemy. They came out
at full speed apparently much faster than We
were at that time. BY the time we were
Strengthened out well TO the westward they
were all ahead Of us. The Iowa started in she
being TO the westward Of US apparently got in
passed under her stern a few minutes after
that, on our course to the westward we passed
under the stern Of the Texas apparently still
in the water. I called Captain Clark's atten-
ton TO this OF course firing commenced on
both sides at the time the first ship cleared
the mouth Of the harbOr. We returned the fire
at long range. probably from three and a half
10 four miles off at that point. When We
crossed under the Texas stern we the
70 converging course with ours.
"Well Done, Oregon"
II noticed her a little abaft our starboard
beam Captain Clark at the same time noticed
her and called my attention to her and told
me to look out and avoid a collision No col
lsion was very imminent but we did change
our helm and passed on. 1 did not see any
more of the Iowa After the action COM
menced we passed the Texas. The only ship
then ahead Of US was the Brooklyn She was
Wen on her accustomed position, well off 10
the westward. All the Spanish ships had
got out by this time and we were pursuing
them heading for the leading ship. We noticed
the Maria Teresa drop astern at less speed
than at first, saw flames leaping up and ont
from her, which convinced US she was on fire:
few minutes after that the Oquendo appeared
TO be covered with smoke and we concluded
that she also was fire which proved To he
q fact Just about this time the Viscava
which starboarded her helm, seemed to head
on TO the southwark and went toward the
Brooklyn and fell out of line IT then became
evident that the Colon was pulling out of hat
tie and running along the shore but II was
oeveiopeo that she was running away and had
Viscaya headed toward the Brooklvn She ran
that course for some time and then straightened
out again; then turned inshore and in q few
minutes after that ran ashore also Tl,ere is
no doubt about the Viscaya pulling out of the
Spanish line TO the southwark, because a short
ume after this captain Clark turned around
and called my attention tc some ohfecte =,
the water that looked like floating buovs an
Parently three or four feet above the water
We thought they were nets with torpedOes
being probably thrown out to injure the shin
] ported the helm and before l could do az
thing we passed over the spot and found that
We were in the wake Of the Viscaya-''
Commander Nicholson then detailed the chase
OF the Colon. the subsequent going ashore and