The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-09

put helm aport. ~,
bridge at this time, and told him
that everything was connected UP at
the coming tower and that we were
already going ahead and in fact we
were going ahead. The commodore
took his position on platform he had
built around the coming tower where
he could be in easy communication
with the commanding officer inside,
and I remained on the bridge.
WENT TOWARD SPANIARDS.
"The executive officer had given
previously the order to man the star
board batteries. I sang out to him we
were going into action with port helm
and he shifted over to the port bat
tery. We we're then standing for the
enemy and as soon as the guns brought
to bear Lieut.. Simpson fired a little
off the port bow. the first gun from
the forward eight inch turret. From
that time on we went considerably IN
toward them.
- then went down to where the
commodore was standing to get into
the coming tower, when | heard him
sing out: s7Look out, Cook. they are
going to ram you.
Captain Cook said he would look
after that, and ,,starboarded the helm
a little to parallel the course of the
leading vessel, the Maria Teresa, when
mad made broad sheer to port. he
had hardly made that sheer. however,
to port before he fell off again for the
reason, apparently, that a shot was
fred from the Brooklyn's eight-inch
gun. The Teresa got abaft our port
beam and helm was ported on the
BROOKLYN Immediately after that. We
were swinging with port helm: |
heard the commodore sing out Hard
aport. or words to that effect, and Cap
tain Cook sang out, helm is aport. |
saw at that time the crucial moment
had arrived in making the turn and L
suggested to the commodore that that
turn would run US into the Texas or
very close to her"
sfWhat did you say and what was the
reply?'' asked the judge advocate.
&c AS near as I can remember, l SAID,
Commodore, if you go to starboard
Won will run into the Texas, and he
said. Damn the Texas. I cannot help
that. She must look out for herself.
He will take care of that, and ne also
said I do not propose to go IN any
closer and subjects myself to torpedo
attack I Suggested then that we
back the starboard engine, ana ne
wanted to know why, and said, " Be
cause it would give the Texas VIDE!
berth and shorten our turning circle.
Captain Cook objected to this and so
did the commodore, but there was
moments discussion as to whether 1t
would be better to turn that shorter
circle with a smaller speed or take the
larger tactical diameter with faster
speed. It was decided that it was very
essential to get around quickly, as the
leading Spanish ship was then stand
inc to the westward and if the Brook
lyn did not stop her she had a good
chance of escaping. So the helm was
put hard aport.
ct said would run up on top OF
the bridge and look out for the Texas:
AS was going up asked the chief
ouartermaster if he had seen torpedo
boat, and he said he had seen one
blown up by large shell way IN the
rear. I said I had not seen any, as L
told the commodore previously. The
helm, however, was kept hard aport.
The Brooklyn swung clear of the
Texas, and brought around with helm
hard aport until she brought in sight
the leading Spanish vessel, which was
then the Viscaya, the Teresa having
fallen off and gone in shore, seeking
berth. AS soon as we we're around at
the proper position the helm was raised
so that we paralleled the course OF the
Viscaya, which at that time was about
3. 400 or $500 yards on our starboard
bow. The Colon was probably or
the beam CT little forward, the
Oquenda abaft the starboard beam;
The Oquenda very soon fell out and
ran ashore on fire, and then we devot-
ed our attention solely to the Colon
and Viscaya.