The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-05
WILL CALL SAMPSON
A Difference Over the "Dear
Schley" Letter the Reason.
HODCSOy THE DAYS STAR WITNESS.
lieutenant Commander Of Brooklyn
Relates the Famous "LoOp" Incl
dent and Schley's FOrclble
: Language to Captain Cook.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8. In the
I Seiley court yesterday afternoon the
question as to whether the word in the
"Dear Schleyn -icttcr should be "Santi-
ago" or "Cienfuegos" again came up
on statement by Captain Lemly, who
said he would continue to hold to the
Santiago version.
Mr.. Rayner then said If this was the
ease be would be compelled to summon
Eear Admiral Sampson, the author Of
e the dispatch, as n witness.
The testimony at the morning session
of the Schley court of inquiry was not
exciting. Lieutenant Dyson went into
details regarding the supply Of coal on
the ships of the flying squadron at the
time Of the retrograde movement to
Key West.
. Commander Raymond P. Rodgers,
among other things, testified that the
Massachusetts, and other vessels obey
ed signals from the Brooklyn when the
.Cristobal Colon was bomlarded.
lieutenant Commander Hodgson,
navigator of the Brooklyn, testified
that when the famous loop was
made. at Santiago Commodore Sclley
- replied to the protests of Captain Cook.
''Damn the Texas: let her take care Of
herself He thought the Texas was
$50 or 300 yards away from the Brook
lyn.
Commander Hodgson also told Of the
interlincaton in the Brooklyns log,
when the word port was substituted
for ''starboard' in describing the turn
of that vessel. He thought the change
had been made the next day. He said
It was not correct to say that the helm
was put to port In order to bring the
starboard battery to bear, the real rea-
son for it being to bring the vessel
around as quickly as possible to head
of the Spanish ships. Still he thought
she had made the longest turn.
The court adjourned at ten minutes
10 4, with Commander Hodgson still
under examination by Captain I.emly.
THE SCHLEY HODGSON CORRE-
SPONDENCE.
Copies of correspondence between
lieutenant Hodgson and Admiral
Bchlny during the period from June &,
1899 to Aug 25, 1901, were given to
the press yesterday, with the state
ment that the correspondence will he
submitted to the Schley court of inqu-
Fy by Lieutenant Hodgsol while on the
witness stand. Most of it already has
been published in the newspapers, al
lhough part Of it has not been made
public heretofore. On June 6, 1899. Ad-
sniral Schley wrote Lieutenant Hodg-
BOn. inclOsing an editorial from the
New York Sun alleging that colloquy
hal occurred between Schley and
Hodgson on the bridge of the Brooklyn
Surfing the battle of Santiago in the
course Of which the admiral is reported
10 have said, Damn the Texas; let her
e. hook out for herself" in reply to Hodg-
Son's renonstrance against turning the
ship to starboard. Characterlzing this
rs 'grotesque lie" the admiral asked
Hodgson ito write me your denial Of
thls oft repeated calumny.'
June 8 Hodgson responded in a very
dong letter. dated at the New York
navy yard, denying he authorized the
publication Of any conversation and
making long explanation Of what he
''Days occurred during the battle. He
'Ndded that what was printed "as n
part of n conversation between you and
me Is substantially correct, though not
u as to the manner in which 1t took
place"
Hodgson then tells of the rage with
which the Brooklyn heard the sinister
whisper upon her return to Guantana-
mo bay that they were gun shy and
he says that he gave what he thought
was true explanation of that turn to
many officers of the fleet, none Of
whom failed to agree with him. He ex-
plains that he thought that Admiral
Schley regarded this turn as a strateg-
jcal maneuver "looking to the further
part the Brooklyn was to play in that
Hays battle rather than as an effort to
tavoid interfering with the fire of the
I0ther vessels of the fleet. In fact, l
Thought then, as think now, that the
turn to starboard caused more interfer-
encc.'
Then Hodgson gives his explanation
of the turn. He tells Of the belief that
existed that the Spanish ships outclass-
Ell the Americans In speed and that ln
the absence Of the New York the
BROOKLYN was the only American shin
capa BILE of preventing the escape of the
6paniards should they pass the fire of
lhe battleships. The Spanish torpedo
boats also were to be reckoned with.