Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-13

ceived the situation and gave the order, Hard aport,' anticipating by a few seconds similar order by the commander of the second squadron. Flag Lieutenant Sears was ordered to hoist signal, Follow the flag which Clark saw, obeyed and repeated.
 'The Brooklyn swung rapidly and continuously around to the westward through little more than half her tactical diameter, to west-southwest, the full tactical diameter being the diameter of the circle she would have turned through if she had returned to the course, northeast by north, from which she was started. The order to port the helm was not given by the commander of the second squadron, though it was the proper military maneuver under the circumstances. 1t met with his approval and saved the day beyond any doubt. But, observing that the Brooklyn's bow was swing ing rapidly to starboard, the inquiry was made of Captain Cook whether the helm was hard aport.' The prox- imity of the Brooklyn at the time of the turn to the second ship, afterward recognized as the Vizcaya, is remenl- bered distinctly from the fact that a number of men were running on her decks between the superstructure and her forward turret and that daylight was observed by the naked eye be- tween their legs as they ran.
 There was no colloquy of any kind or of any character with any one at the time about the turn, and none would have been permitted with any officer. This was one of many flctions that grew up, among others, six or eight months after the fight. Among them was the Texas incident. That ship was never for moment in the least danger from the Brooklyn. During the turn her distance was never nearer than 500 or 600 yards from the Brook lyn.N Some testimony before the court of inquiry, in 1901 placed her at much greater distance. During the turn the starboard side of the Texas was never seen from the Brooklyn at all."
 After completing the account of the pursuit of the Spanish ships he goes on to say:
 '"The fight having ended at 1:15 P. M., natural interest in the vessels fol- lowing prompted survey of the hori- zon with glasses. The masts of two ships and the smoke only of a third were deserted away on the horizon. Later the first two were discovered to be the Texas and the Vixen. The third, whose smoke was visible, proved to be the New York, which arrived on the scene at 2:23 P. M., one hour and a4-. 4S-- If the New York was making at the time the speed of seventeen knots, as Captain Chadwick reported in his letter dated July 20, 1898, to the commander in chief at Guantanamo, then at the | time of the Colon's surrender she could not have been nearer than about nine teen miles, too far to be within seeing distance and too far away to be any where within signal distance when this great battle ended.
 "The grand result of the day was that the Brooklyn and the Oregon. won renown which cannot be impugned by disappointment or mitigated by jeal- ousy or condemned by envy as long as justice holds empire in the reason of our countrymen!'
 "As the New York was approaching the final scene of the tragedy signal was made from the Brooklyn, We have gained a great victory; details will be communicated This signal was kept flying quite half an hour before 1t was answered by the New York, but the omission was thought to arise from the fact that the New York was at too great a distance to read it. When it finally was answered, however, 1t was in the form of an order, Report your casu- alties.' It is to be regretted that no word of congratulation, so much valued by men and officers on such occasions, issued from the flagship Notwithstand- ing this, at 2:15 D. m., while the New l York was still some two miles away, another signal was made from the Btooklyn, This is great day for our country This signal was merely ac- knowledged with an answering pen nant, sbut no answer otherwise was made.
 "At 2:23 D. m. the New York arrived and steamed into position between the Brooklyn and the Colon. Cook had been detained for some time on board the Colon in arranging the surrender 1 When this was concluded he was re- turning as the New York arrived and was ordered on board that ship to make report. AS Cooks orders were given by the commander of the second squad ron, 1t would have relieved the official records of an error if the latter officer l had been able to say that no orders had l been given by him that the Spanish off, cers in surrendering internationally should retain their effects. It would have given the opportunity to state that l the Oregon did not take a front posi- tion in the chase The Oregon's serv- ices on the day of battle were superb. l Her position was always close to the
 Brooklyn from beginning to end, but
 she was at no time ahead. Clark's tes-
 timony at the inquiry, three years aft
 erward, is conclusive upon this point
 and settles for all time the Oregon's DO
 sition as well as the part taken by the