The San Francisco call., 1901-10-05
SCHLEYS ATTORNEY DEMANDS TIE PRESENCE OF SAMPSON
TO SETTLE A CONTROVERSY OVER THE TEXT OF AlETTE
Interesting Mistake Was Made by the Commando Chief When
Names Chief Flying

rest without summoning the author of that re-
When the col1oquy in regard to Admiral
SIMPSONS dispatch closed for the time Com
mander Hodgson took the oath. He said he
flagship, the Brooklyn, during the war with
Spain and was on the bridge on the day of
tn the battle of July g.. Detailing the particulars
OF the engagement, he said: Il heard the ex-
ecutiye officer, Lieutenant Commander Mason
sing out: Clear ship for action. and the crew
Immediately dispersed to quarters 1 having
sounded the general alarm previously. The
commodore shortly appeared on the bridge We
were at that time headed about west-northwest
told him that there was nothing doing and
he said Go ahead 1 rang six bells and asked
II he had not better hold her head steady to
see what course the Spaniards proposed to pur-
sue. l do not remember his reply exactly to
that. because Immediately afterward told
MIN they were evidently making for us and
he said: Go for Them and 1 rang four bells
and put the helm aport
Commodore on Deck.
Captain Cook appeared on the bridge at this
time and l told him that everything was con-
nected up at the coming tower and that we
were ready to go ahead, and in fact we were
going ahead. The commodore took his nosi-
ton on a platform he had had built around
the coming tower where he could be in easy
communication with the commanding officer
inside. and 1 remained on the bridge
the order to man the starboarS eb p[eyaously
sang out to him we were going into action'
with port helm, and he shifted over to the
port battery. We were then standing for the
enemy, and as the guns were brought to bear
Lieutenant Simpson fired a little off the port
turrct. From that time on we went consiJsri
ably in toward them
II went down to where the commodore was
standing to get into the coming tower when
l heard him sing out, Look out Cook, they. are
going to ram you'
Captain Cook said he would look after .h,+
and starboarded the helm a little to parallel
the course of the leading vessel the Maria
He had hardly made that sneer. however 70
port before ne fell on again, for the reason
apparently apparently, that a shot was fired from the
al abaft t. our & port beam and the helm was ported
sswinging with port helm. l heard the commo-
dore sing out: Hard aport,' or words 10 that
effect and Captain Cook sang out Helm ia
ment had e9e in nl mafnE tine ane tT Crucial mo-
suggested to the commodore that that turn
would run US into the Texas or close to her -
What did you say and what was the re-
ply?' asked the Judge advocate
AS near as l can recall said Commodore
the Texas and he said Damn the Texas,
cannot help that. She must look out for her
self. He will take care of that and he also
said I don't propose to go in any closer and
subject myself to torpedo attack
board engine, and he wanted to know why
and l said because 1t would give the Texas a
wider berth and shorten our turning circle ;
Captain Cook objected to this and so did the
commodore. but there was a moments discus
sion as to whether it would be better to turn
a smaller circle with less speed or take the
larger tactical diameter with faster speed II
was decided that it was very essential to get
around quickly, the leading Spanish s6iD
was then standing to the westward and if the
Brooklyn did not stop her she had a good
chance Of escaping. So the helm was put hard
aport.
Chase of the Enemy.
IT said I would run up on top of the brfd1e
and look out for the Texas. As 1 was going
up asked the chief quartermaster II he had
seen torpedo-boat and he said he had seen
one blown up by large shell way in the
rear said had not seen any as told the
was kept hard aport The BROOKLYN swnns
clear of the Texas and brought around with
helm hard aport until she brought in SIGHT
the leading Spanish vessel the Viscaya, the
Teresa having fallen off and gone inshore
seeking a berth.
'As soon as we were around at the proper no.
stion the helm was eased so that we parel-
leled the course of the vizcaya, which az
that time was about 2400 25OO yards on our
starboard bow. The Colon probably on
the beam or a little forward or the BEAM the
Oquendo abaft the starboard BEAM The
Oquendo very soon fell out and ran inshore
afire and then we devoted attention solely
to the Colon and Vizcaya.'
Judge Advocate-How near was the Texas to
the Brooklyn when the latter cruiser crossed
her bows?
II suppose It was about $50 or 300 yards"