The San Francisco call., 1901-10-16
THRILLING STORY OF COMMANDER SEARS
THE FLAG LIEUTENANT OF THE BROOKLYN
q,

from the time the helm put hard aport
until she headed to the westward on course
parallel to that of the Spanish vessels?
Did the Brooklyn turn steadily and rapidly
through all points or did she head longer on
From the time the Vfscaya turned westward
nearer us than the Teresa the turn was COM
plete and the helm was not touched from my
observation. It was a complete turn at the
speed had
What were the relative positions of the Wis
caya and the Brooklyn when the Brooklyn
commenced her turn with ported helm?'
'As l stated before, we were forging ahead
helm being eased and held aport and not hard
aport. The relative positions were 300 yards
apart
Vessels Closed In.
"At what period of the action did the viscaya
change her course. as if>she intended to ram
the Brooklyn?'
developed into very open one at that time.
What were the relative positions OF the
Colon and the Brooklyn when the Brooklyn
haG not to seen snrh the wi{h coloo o0rs
What were the co7hI relative positions of the
that the Colon was 1900 yards distant from
the Brooklyn?
''she was well ahead of US. off our starboard
AT the time the Brooklyn turned to star
board, was her distance from the Texas more
or less than what is known as distance when
ships are in column?
1T was not far from distance
You stated that the Brooklyn's position was
How long and at what speed had the Brooklyn
steamed when Ellis told you she was 800 yards
from one Of the Spanish ships?'
That would be very bare estimate. 1 was
not watching that just then"
Was not signal made May 81 which stated
the object OF the engagement that day?'
II do not recollect it. There is a signal rec
ord book, where careful record is kept"
Have you, as flag lieutenant, any recolec-
tion Of the signal timed II 20 a. m, Massachu-
setts flagship to the SQUADRON?
The witness recalled such signal, which he
read as follows:
1.-The Massachusetts and New Orleans and
Iowa will go in after dinner to a distance OF
1000 yards and fire at the Cristobal Colon, with
8. 12 and 13 inch guns Speed, ten knots
The judge advocate-Do you know which of
the vessels July first hoisted the signal.
Enemy escaping?'
II do not know of my own observation. The
report was the Iowa got it up first
not as an order but as general alarm or
warning to the feet?''
chief"
with regard to clearing ship for action, to
which you refer were not the ships practically
cleared for action all the time they were on
blockade? ?''
Practically; but there were some things left
to be done always"
But it was not like clearing ship for action
under ordinary circumstances 20
1T does not appear before the court as evil
dence that there a signal directing the
Oregon to open fire with 13-inch guns. Can you
point out where record Of that can be
found"
NO unless it is in the Brooklyns signal
book.
Can you state as to the time this signal was
made whether the Oregon had before that
time not used her 13-inch guns?"
II cannot"
DO You recollect the signal at 2:Os p. m,
squadron Don't go in any closer? :"
II do not recall that signal"
DO you know whether the Brooklyn crossed
the bow of the Texas ?"
she did not.
By the court-Did the vessels close up July
in obedience to the signal made from the
Brooklyn, or was there standing order for
them to close up in case the enemy was seen
attempting to escape?
There a standing order that if the enc
my attempted to escape, the squadron must
close in and destroy it, or words to that ef-
feet"
When the court concluded its questions Com
mander Sears was excused and the court ad-
journed for the day.