Gilpin observer., 1901-10-17
CAPTAIN COOK OF THE BROOKLYN
TELLS STORY OF THE BATTLE

thing was happening.
"When first arrived on the forecas-
tie there We're two in sight The third
one was just inside the entrance and
the fourth appeared Immediately after
ward"
what did they do when they came
out? Which way did they headY
I'VE were to the westward The en-
trance to us was about northeast by
north. The fleet came out south and
turned as they left the entrance to
four points southwest so that they
turned in our direction. When I first
got on deck the helm had been star
boarded, heading little to the north
ward. When l saw the fleet they We're
heading southwest and seemed to be
coming straight for the interval be-
tween the Texas and the Brooklyn.
l went into the coming tower and di-
rected the helmsman. l told him what
l wanted to do was to keep straight
for the fleet. They wavered little.
Sometimes they turned one way and
then another. We shifted helm once
or twice. but very little indeed. and fl
nally, when we were getting mp fairly
close, say between 1900 and 1000
yards, it seemed to me clear that they
wanted to pass between the Texas
and the Brooklyn. The Texas was well
on our starboard and she was headed
to the northward and westward. All
ships We're carrying out the instruc-
tions of the commander-in-chief, and
that was to head in for the entrance.
We were well to the westward and
headed to the northeast.
when l saw that, ported the helm
perhaps half way over. She was
swinging starboard very rapidly. The
Spanish fleet was coming straight for
this interval. l stepped out of the
tower on the port side to get good
look ut this fleet. to see just what they
We're going to do as to our relative po-
stions and l saw they evidently put
helms hard a-port and were turning to
the westward. We We're then turn
ing very rapidly to starboard with port
helm, and we had turned. 1 think. al
most to the east. The Texas was well
on our starboard side. then gave the
order Hard aport' to the helmsman.
and ran through the opening between
the shield and the coming tower on
purpose to see our own fleet and our
relative positions. Quicker than
could tell it the commodore called to
me: Cook, hard aport' or rs your helm
aport? l answered: The helm is hard
aport; turning as rapidly as possible
AS / watched the Texas the bow of
the Brooklyn seemed first to point to
her port bow. / never saw the star
board side of the Texas. and changing
her bearing very rapidly, the bow of
the Brooklyn passed along the port
side of the Texas until there was n
clear opening between us and the stern
of the Texas. We made complete
turn, a very quick turn, with helm
hard until nh
paralleled the fleet on the other side.
As we paralleled the Spanish fleet the
Vizcaya-"
Admiral Dewey: MAY I interrupt?
How near did you pass to the Texas?"
Il never thought of collision. 1t
never entered my head. / never for
a moment had one idea of vicissitude
in that respect. We passed. l judge.
about 400 yards. l had handled the
ship under all circumstances and got
so l could judge pretty correctly and
my impression was that we were
about the distance we sailed from the
squadron.
But collision I never thought Of
She turned perfectly clear of the
Texas. turned around. and then we
had the NiZcaya on our starboard bow
and about abeam was the Oquendo
and then the Colon. At the time l
thought it was the Teresa. but soon
discovered this vessel was dropping
out and heading FOR the beach. That
was about the hottest time of the ac-
tion. 1t was n critical time. There
was not any time for indiscretion
and l do not think there was any. 1
have always felt in my mind. in study
ing the positions, that the chances
would have been for n disaster had
we shifted helm at such time.
However. we got around and we
had those three vessels. looked and
could see nothing but smoke astern
and vessels seemed enveloped in this
smoke. l could not understand 1t. 1
could not understand exactly how we
got there. They were all three firing
on the Brooklyn, when almost immedi-
ately, faster than l could tell II, 1 saw
n large white bone in the water and
through this smoke saw the bow Of
n vessel. l exclaimed Mt the time:
What was thatT The navigator. who
was near me. said 1t was the Mnssa-
chusetts. or something 30 that effect.
said she was away, and he then said
that 1t was the Oregon. felt perfect
ly assured from that moment"
lj'<..-<-s<
more demand than we can supply, ana
II 1t continues. we shall have to take
measures to supply 1t.
This demand Is conclusive evidence
OF the prosperity of the state. Every
where l find the same story, endless
prosperity. The development of Pueb-
10 is something remarkable. The great
Minnequa steel works Is something
that has caused me pleasure and Won
der. My father always said that Pueb-
10 would become some day the Pitts
burg of the West, and l now see that
the prediction has come true. But there
is no reason for singing Pueblo out as
place of prosperity. The whole state
saema m euinv tha enma hlassiuV