The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-02
ADMIRAL EVANS
HAS A LETTER.
(Coptinued from First Page.)

=
duty at the eastern end of the line on
the night of May 20 and had continued
this duty afterward He was about two
miles from the shore, he said and pro-
badly three miles from the mouth OF
the harbor. He said that the entrance
fleet could not be discerned at night,
and that the shore line could only be
discerned as a black mass in the dis
lance.
Mr.. Hanna: Cloud you have seen
vessel undertaking to pass out near
the shore under those conditions?''
Commander Sharp:"If she had shown
no lights and made no noise, do not
believe we could
Did you at any time suppose your
self to have discovered a torpedo boat
attempting to eScape?''
A LIGHT ON SHORE
zone night we sighted light, rum
ming apparently along shore, with a
good deal of speed, and signalled that it
was a torpedo boat escaping. 1t turned
out to be locomotive headlight on the
railroad"
Under those circumstances could
you have seen the train, had no head
light been displayed?"
81 think not. All we saw was the
light
Commander Sharp said that the
Vixen had carried Commodore Schley
from the Brooklyn to the Massachu-
sets on May 81, before the beginning
OIL the commencement OF the CrlSlODdl
Colon, and that when he had asked
what course ne should pursue in the
approaching action, Lieut.. Sears had
replied for the commodore that the
latter had directed that Commander
Sharp keep MS craft clear, as she was
vulnerable, and should not assume any
risks. He thought the commodore had
afterwards spoken to him to the same
effect
Mr.. Hanna: Passing on to the
battle of July S, did you see any por-
ton of the loop made by the Brook
lynn"
.swhen I first saw the Brooklyn 1
think she was headed about south, and
swinging very rapidly under her port
helm
did you at any time have any con-
ence of Commodore Schley, with re-
spect to the direction in which the
Brooklyn turned on that occasion -
"state the circumstances of that
conversation.
THE BROOKLYN LOOP.
.T took on board the Brooklyn a copy
of the notes taken by Lieutenant Har-
low, the executive officer of the Vixen
during the engagement and showed
them to the commodore. The commo-
dore was seated at his desk, as 1 now
remember it, and at various times diff.
dores cabin. Captain Cook was there,
I think, at one time. The navigator of
the Brooklyn, Lieutenant Hodgson,
came in also. I think Commander
Eaton was in at one time and if am
not mistaken, Captain Barker was in.
1 was talking to the commander about
those notes and at one part of the con-
versation of the way the helm of the
Brooklyn had been put to from the
called loop I stated that the helm was
put to port, Lieutenant Hodgson spoke
up and said, No, you are mistaken,
helm was put to starboard.' I said.
No, no; you put your helm to port
He said. 4 can prove it to you. Look
at this chart. I said, I don't want to
see the chart You swung with port
was it conceded finally" asked Cap
tain Lemly. that the helm had been
81 am not positive was the reply,
but it is my impression that it was"
by whom was the concession
made?"
Il do not remember"
Were there any instructions at that
time to the navigator in regard to en-
tries in the Logo"
Not that I remember
Did you see the Texas during the
battle off Santiago?" asked Mr.. Hanna
81 saw the Texas about the first
time I saw the Brooklyn responded
the witness. .sShe was southwark to
westward of the Brooklyn. The Texas
was then apparently lying dead in the
water. remarked to some officer
standing near: The ship will never
start, and those fellows will get away
The Brooklyn was then swinging
around toward the Spanish fleet"
How near was she to the Texas ?"
II could not give an estimate of the
distance"
On cross-examniation Commander
Sharp was questioned a great deal by
Capt Parker in regard to entries in
the log of the Brooklyn for the period
covering the Cuban campaign. He re-
ferred to the entries concerning the
vixen's firing upon a locomotive engine
gunboat He ELECTED from the witness
the Statment that at that time the
Vixen must have been very near the
shore.
BATTLE OF SANTIAGO.
Capt. Parker then questioned Com
N ander Sharp on the notes of the battle
of July 3. This report has occasioned no
little controversy, it being claimed by
some of Admiral Schley's friends that
after copy of the notes was delivered
to the admiral (then commodore) by
Commander Sharp, they were changed
somewhat. The witness said that he
had taken carbon copy to the com
modore after the battle.
DO these notes state the truth of the
battle. as you saw it?" asked Captain
Parker and the witness replied:
These are Lieut.. Harlow's notes. He
took them and I am not prepared to
say yes or no, whether they are abso-
lutely correct in every particular or
not
Haven't you read them over several
times?'
Il have"
Now are you not prepared to say,
to the best of your knowledge and be
lief, they contain a true statement of
what Lieut. Harlow saw"
Il cannot tell what Lieut.. Harlow
saw"
You do not know whether they (the
notes) are true or not from having read
-
own knowledge of the battle ?"
I'm the main essentials, 1 should say
that they are true, but there may be
mistakes and probably are mistakes in
them
did you furnish a copy of these par
ticular notes TO any one else-anY other