The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-05

| h1u arrived III making the turn, and
| suggested to the commodore that that
turn would run us into the Texas, or
| very close to her,
What did you say and what was the
reply?" asked the judge advocate.
DAMN THE TEXAS"
| 'As near as 1 can remember, I said:
| commodore, If you go to Starboard you
! will run into the Texas and he said,
Damn the Texas. 1 cannot help that.
She must look out for herself. He will
| take care of that And he also said.
1 do not propose to go in any closer
and subject myself to a torpedo attack
L suggested then that we back the
starboard engine, and he wanted to
know why, and said: Because it would
| give the Texas a wider berth and short
| en- our turning circle Capt Cook OBJ
| Jected to this and SO did the commo-
| dore, but there was a moments discus
! sion as to whether it would be better
| TO turn that shorter circle with smaller
speed or take the larger tactical dame
ter with faster speed 1t was decided
that 1t was very essential to get around
quickly, as the leading Spanish ship was
then standing to the westward and if
the Brook yn did not stop her she had
a good chance of escaping. So the
helm was put hard aport
sand would run up on top of the
prloge and look out for the Texas. AS
Was going up l asked the chief quarter
master if he had seen a torpedo boat.
ana ne SAID he had seen one blown up
py large shell way in the rear | said
l had not seen any, as 1 told the com
modore previously. The helm however.
was Kept hard a-port until she brought
IN sight the leading Spanish vessel. which
was then the Vizcaya, the Teresa having
fallen off and gone in shore, seeking a
berth. AS soon as we were around at
ha
so that we paralleled the course of the
Vlzcaya, which at that time was about
z, 400 or 2,5G0 yards on our starboard bow.
Inc Colon was probably on the beam or
a. little forward Of the beam, the Oquendo
ahaft the starboard beam. The Oquendo
very soon fell out and
RAN ASHORE ON FIRE
and then we devoted our attention solely
to the Colon and Vizcaya."
The judge advocate: How near was
the Texas to the Brooklyn. when the
latter crossed her bow?"
Il suppose 1t was about 25O to 300
yards'
Have you ever given this estimate as
nearer than that?"
'Yes, SIR
What have you given before?'
"One hundred and fifty yards"
Why do you change it now?"
Because have read from my notes
the day after the battle and from notes
1 used on the board of navigators. l con-
cluded from these that my estimate at
that time when l gave 1t from $50 to $50
was too near. Also, was very much In
huenced by the thought that the navigat-
ing officer of the Texas would not think
1t was less than $50 yards'
Just read your entry from your notes."
The witness (reading): eve quickly
put our helm to port and then aroun1 to
starboard, passing well inside the Texas
That was written by me the day after the
battle
rs there any reference as to the dis
tance you We're from the Texas in those
notes?''
mo, sir.''
DO you remember whether anything
was said about blanketing the fire of
the Texas at that time?'
"When told the commodore I thought
we would run into the Texas. l think |
did say that we might get shot from
one Of her big guns
Have you ever said you were 'skittish'
about collision with the Texas at that
time?''
We'll, was 'sEittish' about it, 1
thought we were going to have collision
very likely with the Texas"
How was the collision averted from
what you know of your own knowledge?"
BY our getting around so quick we
You cannot tell me what was done
aboard the Texas?'
Il have no idea''
The judge advocate then questioned
Commander Hodgson about
CHANGES IN THE LOG
of the Brooklyn, giving the account of
the famous loop. The witness said that
Lieut.. Doyle had written it, but witness
mad given Doyle all the data for it.
What information did you give him
with regard to the direction in which the
hel1n was put when turning the vesselY'
Il told him helm was a-port, if | mem
toned that particular incident
do you remember whether YOU mon
toned it or not?''
mo, am not sure that mentioned 1t.
except that we turned around to head for
the Spanish ships. 1 may not have men
toned which way the helm was put but
If I mentioned it at ALL 1 mentioned that
turn to starboard."
THAT was very important movement,
was it not?''
Yes, sir; put 1t in my log.'
What do you mean by your log?"
well, the log of the forenoon and
afternoon watch was written up by Lieut..
Doyle and Lieut.. Webster. but as both
those gentlemen had been, one in the
turret and the other on the gun deck
fighting the batteries, I gave them a
number of points that might enable them
to write their deck log correctly. After
they had written UP their logs went to
the captain and told him 1 would like
to put in a little information of my own
to make it more complete, and there was
an addenda written that day by myself,
and I think in that will be found the
way the helm was put
When was that addenda made and put
Before noon of the day following, as
the log was generally copied before
noon"
Do you remember any discussion on
beard the Brooklyn as to the direction
that the helm was put when she made
what is known as the Ioop?'"
''Well, I think remember the fact of