The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-19
TRIBUTE TO CAPT. CLARK.
Story of the Destruction of Cervera
From a Man Behind One of the
OregOn's Guns.

OfeSO0'S OunSs
Correspondence of the Army and Navy
Journal
On Board the U. s. S. Oregon, off Sanh
ago, Cuba, July 6.-I suppose you know all
about our glorious victory over Admiral
Cerveras fleet and the very prominent part
this ship took in te action, so it will not
be any use my writing about it, although,
being at the port battery, 1 was a specta-
tor until after two ships and the torpedo
fleet were destroyed, when we relieved the
starboard gun crews, so I saw nearly all
the movements made.
1 suppose the papers will make up every
thing about Capt Clark, all his love cases,
etc, la Dewey, but there is one thing
they do not know, and only the men who
were with him on July know what kind
OF man he is in the heat of battle
always what we call good captain in
the navy, none of us thought him as good
as we found him to be that glorious Sd.
AS soon as the enemy was sighted he
went and stood on the forward 13-inch tur-
ret. where he conld see every move Of
Cervera, and headed the Oregon for the
nearest vessels, which were the torpedo
boat destroyers.
After a few shots our 6-inch knocked
one destroyer in two; the other headed for
the beach We did not stop to shell
fallen foe, but stood on after the Maria
Teresa. We crossed the bows of the
Iowa, which for some reason was head
ing off shore, with her stern to the enc
my, and engaged the Maria Teresa. After
a few minutes the Spanish vessel caught
fire and ran ashore. Then the captain
ordered us to fire on the Oquendo, which
we did, and with the help of the Texas
only, we set her on fire and she headed
for the beach.
Then an officer said: NOW, captain, is
out time TO give it to her.
The captain replied: Never mind her;
there are TWO ships ahead"
Next we commenced a continual rain of
she'll for nearly an hour on the Vizcaya,
with very little help from any one, as The
| only snip then ahead of us was the Brook
Ign, and we left the Texas far astern, but
after an hours run the Vizcaya followed
her sister ships ashore on fire.
Then commenced the greatest run of the
day The Cristobal Colon was about 5000
yards ahead on our starboard bow, the
Brooklyn about 300 yards ahead and about
1000 yards on our port bow.
We fired 13-inch occasionally, Lieut..
Eberle making the finest shots it has ever
been my pleasure to see in the many years
/ have been in the service. We gained
gradually unJlk We cOltlQ get our O-pOutlu~
ers to work. Then she struck.
All honor to Capt. Clark. He never
struck an enemy after he ran ashore, al
though they did not strike their flag until
after we passed them, and the only thing
that seemed to bother him was the safety
of his men consistent with putting his ship
as near the enemy as possible. He said
several times during the fight to men who
were fearless enough to expose themselves
to see what was being done, Get under
cover. children; 1 do not want any one of
you hurt. MIR. Coggswell, keep my children
under cover. DO not let any of them get
hurt"
phone and said Il suppose the men are
doing their best?" The engineer said they
were. Then the captain said: That's all
any man can do Them he said to the
men around him Now, children, go and
get something to eat, if 1t Is only little
bread and butter"
W. were then chasing the Colon. The
cooks were al their guns and the fires
were out
This is a pen picture as near as my poor
talents can make it Of the cool, smiling
man VINO, by his bravery and quick per-
ception alone, prevented me escape OF at
least two. if not three, of the Spanish
cruisers, after he had destroyed one cruiser
and a destroyer.
To saw that the crew Of the Oregon wor-
ship him is below the mark, as they all
recognize The fact that il was all due to
Cant Clark as they know that our sea-
going 17-knot batteship Iowa could have
beaten the oregon IL she had been as hard
pressed.
I would write more but for the fact that
there is no writing paper on board the
ship. and we have no chance TO buy any.
In fact. ] do not know where l shah get
an envelope to put this into. 5.
What we need in this country-us jour
nalists-is a dead head pass TO the saloons.
Why should an editor have to pay for his
ticker when he can ride free on rail-
road2 our face ought 70 be good for the
drinks in any high-toned. elegant. first
.tare fotpf II we cir 20 the legislature