Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-27
OREGON AT KEY WEST.
The Pride of the Novy Goes There to
Await Orders.
tl3y Telegraph


U3y Telegraph)
KEY WEST. May 26-The United
States battleship Oregon arrived here
this morning from Jupiter and is now
at anchor near Sandy Key Light.
Captain Chase Clark and other off,
GERS or 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
there April Z. and passed Sandy Point
April u. arriving at Rio Janeiro April
30 The battleship reached Bahai May
: and touched at Barbados May 49,
AT the latter place the warship was
quarantined. but she was only detained
one day.
On leaving the Barbados the Ore
son sailed almost directly north, going
to the north of Porto Rico about 100
miles. The northerly course was con
tlnurd until the Bermudas was sight
eel. when she headed for the Florida
coast Captain Clarke explains that
the reason for going to Jupited Inlet
instead Of putting In at Key West was
to enable the Oregon to be ready to
go 10 either Key West or Hampton
Roads in short order. after getting Of
fetal information from Washington.
Captain Clarke had no official knoWl-
..idge of the situation after leaving
Rio Janeiro on April 80 During the
entire trip the crew expected momenta-
rily to meet the Spanish. Only once.
however, was there a call to arms.
This was shortly after midnight af-
ter leaving Rio Janeiro. AS the Oregon
was ploughing through the black equa-
torial sen, a dark object was discovered
ahead. apparently giving chase. The
call to general quarters was sounded.
the men rolled out of their berths with
the enthusiasm of boys on circus
day, and almost instantly every gun
was manned. The Oregon left her
course and circled around her black
pursuer, only to find 1t harmless bark
instead of Spanish warship.
Back TO their berths came the men
With mutterings of disappointment
and disgust.
At Rio Janeiro. Captain Clark was
told that the Spanish torpedo boat
Temerario was following him. This re-
port gave new interest to the trip for
a day and night, but at the next port
Of call he was Informed that the Te-
merarlo had gone into dry dock at Rio
Janelro just after the departure OF the
Oregon
The cruise through the Straits Of
Magellan was most interesting. IT
wns at this far southern point OF the
| American hemisphere that the crew
expected q visit from the Spanish. In
many places the channel was very mar
row and crooked, with hidden bays and
cONeS. ana DacR OF theil, MOUNTAINS
| towering into the clouds on either
! side Moreover they We're in the land
| Of icy winter. For more than month
| they had been sailing under tropical
skies and now the cold blasts whis-
| tied 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 Span
iards If they were there. chance to
! catch him mapping. If the great bat
| tie ship was to be caught 1t should be
| caught on the wing. The engines were
warmed up to their best work and
wherever it was safe and possible. the
| oregon bowled along at is knots an
\ hour. The machinery worked well,
and IN occasions the speed was In
Ecreased three knots In a few minutes.