Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-24

battle of July 8, Mr.. Hill said:
Il heard Commodore Schley say Port
and ship started to swing TO starboard.
The helm was put over hard aport, and
she swung around ON her heel. The fire
from our batteries never ceased from the
time we started to turn until the end of
the battle, when the Colon went ashore
The Texas was on our starboard hand,
and she was fully a. third of a mile from
us. There was never any question in my
mind about striking her. We did not
cross her bow. We were slightly ahead of
her. and turned in that way entirely clear
of her. After swinging around we lined
up parallel with the Spanish fleet. In a
few minutes the Teresa went ashore on
fire. Soon after the Oquendo followed,
and we sided up with the Viscaya and
kept with her for ten or twelve miles. At
to be seen except the oregon, and
she was about a half mile
from USE On this run with the Viscaya
Ellis was killed. There were fourteen or
fifteen of us standing together"
Continuing the witness said:
''The commodore asked in matter OF
fact tone, What is the ranger Ellis
raised the stadimeter to his eye and as
he did so a shell took his head off. AS
he fell to the deck, dead, young McCauley
said: Let's throw 1t overheard. The
commodore said, No, don't throw that
body overheard. He died like brave
man and I am going to bury him like
one He directed me to look out for the
body. I had 1t wrapped In blankets, laid
in the shade and that evening it was got
ten ready for burial. The Viscaya was
putting up the best fight of any Of the
ships there. She fought well and the big
shells were going over US and a great
many of US ducbed. These shells sounded
like half dozen railroad trains under
~. arA rOfVa hrnf oh
the air down would go heads, but Com
modore Schley's head never bent"
There was a great outburst Of applause
in the court room as in a dramatic way
the witness recited this incident.
Admiral Dewey, for the first time dur
ing the sessions of the court, found it
necessary to pound his gayel on the table
and admonish the audience against such
demonstrations. Continuing, he said:
HE was as calm, cool and collected as
he is at this moment. His only thought
was for his men. He was constantly, as
the different events occurred, saying: DO
the bullies know this; do they know that
ship is gone ashore and that ship has
gone ashoreT His whole idea seemed to
be that he wanted the people below to
know as much about 1t as those of us
on deck"
Continuing his account of the battle Mr.
Hill said that before the Viscaya went
ashore she had made a turn to ram the
BROOKLYN. He was proceeding to say that
he knew this to be the case because an Of
fcer of the Spanish ship had told him so.
but this testimony was ruled out The
witness then said that he himself knew
that to be her purpose.
Speaking of the OREGON he said that dur
ing the chase Of the Spanish vessels that
vessel could always be seen and was the
only American vessel that could be- She
was, he said, from one quarter to one
half mile in shore.
later in the chase OF the Colon he said
Captain Cook had put his head out of the
coming tower and said to the commodore:
Don't you think we'd better close in
a Httle?"
And" said the witness, parenthetically,
ct thought so myself. But he went on; the
commodore replied; No. Don't you see
that point ahead? Just as soon as that fell
low starts to come out I'm going to head
him off. I'll get him yet. Damn him, I'll
follow him to Spain If 1 have to.
This testimony was, like a previous
statement, received with a burst of APP
plause, but the demonstration was quickly
suppressed by Admiral Dewey.
Admiral Dewey rose and said:
"Stopi Stop! Let's have none of that"
GIVE US the facts, simply" said Mr.
Rayner.
"These are the facts" replied the wit
ness.
Taking the witness. Captain Lemley
cross-examined him about all the parts
covered by his testimony. In response to
one OF his questions Mr.. Hill said that
he had not heard any conversation be-
tween Commodore Schley and Lieutenant
Commander Hodgson about the Brook
lyn's helm or the Texas during the en-
gagement Of July g.