Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-27
OREGON AT KEY WEST
THE BATTLEsHIP's INTERESTING
VOYAGE AROUND THE HORN.
CONSTANT LOOKOUT FOR SPANISH.
Only One Call to Arms, However,
and That Responded to With
Eagerness-Tho ship I'm First
Class shape.
Glass shape.

KEY WEST. FLA, May 26.-The United
States battleship Oregon arrived here this
morning from Jupiter, and 5 now at
anchor near sand Key Light
Captain Chase Clarke aud other Of
ficers of the oregon came ashore at 10
o'clock, and reported all well on board
and the ship In good condition.
The Oregon left San Francisco March
18th. arrived at Callao April 4th, left
there April 7th, and passed Sandy Point
April 2st, arriving at Rio Janeiro April
3Oth The battleship reached Bahia May
Sth. and touched at Barbados May 18TH
At the latter place the warship was
auarantined, but she was only detained
one day. On leaving Barbados the Ore
gon sailed almost directly north, going
to the north of Porto Rico. about $50
miles. The northerly course was con-
tinued until the Bernudas were sighted,
when she headed for the Florida coast.
Captain Clarke explains that the rea-
son for going 10 Jupiter Inlet instead
of putting in at Key West was TO enable
the Oregon to be ready to go either to
Key West or Hampton Roads in short
order, after getting official information
from Washington.
Captain Clarke had no official know
ledge of the situation after leaving Rio
Janeiro April BOTH During the entire
trip the crew expected momentariiy 10
meet the Spanish. only once, however
was there a call to arms. This was
shortly after midnight on leaving Rio
.Janeiro. AS the oregon was ploughlng
through the black equatorial sea a dark
object was discovered ahead, apparently
giving chase The caIl to general quar-
tiers was sounded, the men rolled out Oh
their berths with the enthusiasm of boys
on a circus day. and almost Instantly
every gun was manned The oregon left
her course and circled around her black
pursuer. only to find it harmless bark,
instead of a Spanish warship. Back to
their berths then crept the men, with
mutterings of disappointment and dis
gust.
THE TEMERARIO.
At Rio Janeiro Captain Clarke was told
that the Spanish torpedo-boat Temerario
was following him. This report gave new
interest to the trip for day and a night
but at the next port of call he was in
dry-dock at Rio Janeiro just after the
departure of the Oregon.
The cruise through the Straits of Ma
gellan was most interesting. 1t was at
this far southern point Of the American
hemisphere that the crew expected to re-
celvs a visit from the Spaniards. In
many places the channel is very narrow
and crooked, with hidden bays and coves,
and back of them mountains towering
into the clouds on either side. Moreover,
they were in the land of icy winter. For
more than a month they had been sailing
under tropical skies, and now the cold
blasts whistled among the crags above
them, and the ice at night lay on the
decks. But the Oregon did not lag.
Captain Clarke had no idea of giving
the Scariards If they were there.
chance TO catch him mapping. If he was
to be caught IL was to be on the wing.
The engines were warmed up, and with
all the speed possible the Oregon bowled
along at fifteen knots an hour. The
machinery worked we'll and on occasions
the speed was increased three knots in
few minutes. A stop of three days
was made at Sandy Point, where coal
was taken on and other supplies were
secured.
The Oregon has twenty-five officers and
$50 seamen, and they were all happy
when the battleship cast anchor off Sand
Key Lighthouse, at $50 this morning.
SHIP IN FINE SHAPE.
The Oregon is in first-class shape, and
ready for another cruise as long as the
one just ended. The excellent conduct
of the men during the voyage is perhaps
more remarkable than the behavior OF
the ship. There were no cases OF serious
Illness on board and the men are as
eager for immediate activity as if they
had just come from n vacation in the
mountains. The Oregon picked up the
cruiser Marietta and the dynamite-cruiser
Nichteroy between Rio Janeiro and
Bahia, but she parted company with them
after a few hundred miles.
Captain Clarke said the crew of the
Oregon had suffered much from the heat
in passing twice through the tropics.
'All the way long" he added, 1--WE were
wondering where the Spaniards were,
and we never ascertained that fact until
We reached here"
do you know now?" Captain Clarke
was asked
WELL" he replied, II imagine we can
make very accurate guess"
The oregon will remain here for orders.
ALL QUIET ALONG THE BLOCKADE.
The United States gunboat Hornet came
In from the blockade this morning. She
renorts eyervthinp uuipt aionp tho limo