Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-05-26

mirnl Dewey.
Washington, May 20. - Secretary
Long gave out the welcome informa-
ton yesterday that the Battleship Or
egon, the second largest craft in the
American navy. had successfully COM
pleted her long trip from San Francis
co, making the entire circuit Of South
America, and was now safe. Whether
or not she has joined Admiral Samp-
sons fleet the secretary would not say.
The rigid secrecy Of the navy depart
ment was relaxed only enough to
make known the best the navy depart
ment had received since the battle Of
Manila, as it meant not only that the
Oregon was out Of harms way from
an attack on that ship by the Spanish
squadron now in American waters,
but that also her great fighting
strength would be added to Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet in the near future, if,
indeed, 1t had not already augmented
the admira]'s strength. The Oregon
left San Francisco about six weeks
at that time it was not admitted that
she was to join the ships in Atlantic
waters. She stopped at Callao for
dispatches and then went around the
horn and then up the east coast Of
South America. In all, the trip COW
cred more than 1900 miles. The
last stretch, from Bahia to the Wind
ward islands, has been
Followed With Anxiety
by naval officials, for, by Il strange
coincidence the formidable Spanish
squadron of armored cruisers and tor
pedo boats approached the Windward
islands at the very time when the Ore
gon was due there. 1t had been sus-
pected that the Spanish admiral would
try to intercept the battleship with his
superior force, and before leaving
Bahia Capt. Clark, Of the Oregon, was
warned to keep a close lookout for the
Spanish fleet. In reply Capt. Clark
expressed his confidence in being able
to hold his own single-handed with
the Oregon against all the Spanish
cruisers. The only apprehension he
felt was as to the torpedo boats under
the Spanish admiraFs command, for
these are new and practically I'M
known element against the modern
warship. Notwithstanding Capt.
Clark's assurances the navy depart
ment continued to feel a meeting be-
tween the Spanish squadron and the
American battleship on such uneven
terms was Instantaneous and might
bring disastrous results. For this
reason the official information reach
ing the authorities was a source OF
most hearty congratulation. Where
the report came from was not made
known, but the mere fact that Secre-
tary Long regards the Oregon safe
makes it evident that she has passed
we'll to the northward Of the Wind
ward islands. Aside from this bit of
information Secretary Long said at the
close of office hours that there was no
further news to be given out. During
the day the bureau Of navigation is
sued a bulletin summarizing Com
mander McCallas' official report on
The Recent Engagement
at Cienfuegos and adding some minor
features on the prospective exchange
of prisoners. These bulletins are not
proving Of important news value, al
though they are practically all that
come from the navy department with
it's official approval. Late in the day
Secretary Long joined the war board,
which had been in session for some
hours to participate in the discussion
of their plans, which are believed to
have been materially modified by the
news received from the Oregon. The
cruiser Charleston, which started on
her long journey to Admiral Dewey at
Manila, will arrive there in about
twenty-four days, allowing couple OF
DAYS at Honolulu for coal. Nothing
better illustrates the value of the swift
long-range cruisers of the type that
make up the Spanish flying squadron
than the fact that they would he able
to make such a run as this directly
from San Francisco to Manila without
stopping anywhere for coal at rate
of speed about % per cent greater than
the Charleston. Admiral Dewey's
cablegrams chow that he is able to
maintain the ground he hns,gained IN
til reinforcements arrive in the usual
course. so that the Charleston will get
there in time to serve his purpose. Inc
stock of ammunition which the
Charleston carries is DelleNeu W ue lne
great essential just now,
The Fierce Engagement
ut Cayite having consumed a large
part of the American admiraps shot
and shell. Some little disappointment
is felt at the navy department at the
singular accident that happened to the
revenue cutter Gresham, when one sec
tion of the ship was thrown into the
St Lawrence. 1t is said that the treas
ury department is responsible for the
delivery Of the ship into blue water.
The treasury, it appears, however,
His Bond Held Binding.
Bismarck, N. D., May 20. - The
habeas corpus case of John Tolnlinson,
accused of running Il blind pig in