Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-10-26
orrr,wo Tme OREGON READY.

rhe s,lendia Battleship Prepared for
Her Voyage RoanA eouth Anerics.
Before the battieship ''Maine" was
sent to the harbor Of Havana, the more
prudent statesmen 1T Washington had
begun to make plans for possible war
with Spain. They had looked over
their maps and books to determine
where the ships Of war should be sta
toned. and ASw they wses - D
brought where needed.
The Oregon" . battlrship Of the
best type, Hike the ''India-I," Iowa
and ''Massachusetts," was known to %
In Puget Sound, at the extreme north
western corner Of the United States;
and It was believed that 1t might be
wise to have her Join the feet In the
Atlantic ocean. The Oregon was the
first battleship built on the Pacinc
coast, and had never been In the At
lantic. She was launched at the Union
Iron Works, San Francisco. In Octo-
Der, 1898, and was ready for service
July 10, 1896. Though the fastest Oh
battleships, and a seaworthy boat II
had been found that she rolled too
much, and to correct this fault she was
sent to the dry-dock In Puget Sound
to have extra keels-''bilge-keels"-
fitted to prevent the rolling motion.
When news came Of the sinking OF
the Maine during the night OF Febru-
ary Is, 1t was at once decided to re-
place her by an even stronger man-of-
war; and next morning, when the Ore
gon left her dry-dock. she was met by
q lighthouse-tender, that brought Or
ders to rush her coaling, and proceed
at once to San Francisco" In three
days after leaving Puget Sound she had
covered the 100 miles. and arrived In
San Francisco on March o.
The sailors worked day and night for
the next ten days. and loaded the Ore
gon with . years provisions and about
l,5OO tons Of coal. BY this time the
captain knew Of the great voyage he
was to make, and everything was done
to put the ship in perfect condition.
Saturday, March 10, at eight In the
morning, the Oregon steamed out Of the
Golden Gate to begin the greatest voy-
age ever made by q battleship. 1t must
be remembered that these vessels are
built for coast defense, and are not
considered adapted for ocean voyages.
Indeed. one of our congressman not
long ago predicted that mo battleship
could ever cross the Atlantic ocean.
Many believed that these heavy iron
monsters would turn turtle"-that Is,
carsize when in n heavy sea.
But IL any men in this world knew
their business, the American navy know
theirs, and every officer and engineer
and sailor and stOker on the Oregon
rejoiced at the long voyage before
them.
While the President was sending word
to Congress that he could do no more
with the Spanish government by peace
full means, and while the commission OF
naval officers was learning that the
Maine was destroyed by n mine placed
below her keel, the Oregon was steam
ing ever southwark through the Pacific.
with V of glistening foam parting at
her white bow. For sixteen days her
twin screws whirled her along, while
the sun grew hotter. and the heat in
the fire-rooms. where her men were
feeding her furnaces full, increased un-
til the thermometer read 161 degrees!
Only one man was Frustrated by the
heat; and no sooner was he revived
than he begged to be allowed to return
to the scorching work. Indeed, Cap
tain Clark says that all the men were
eager to work overtime, and would
never admit they were overcome by
their duties.-St. Nicholas.