Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-14
The OREGON.
rhc Important Part Taken by Her in tn.
Destruction of the spanish Fleet.

Later accounts of The naval battle Of
July Sd emphasize the Importance of the
work done that day by Captain Clark and
his splendid ship, the oregon. A dcscrip-
ton of the fight by an officer of the ST.
Louis says:
While the Iowa got in the first shot at
the Spanish fleet, as it came dashing by.
the Oregon was the first American vessel
outside of the Brooklyn in motion. She
gathered headway SO fast that she cut in
between the Iowa and the fleet, and
pumped u good l3-inCh shell at the Colon
before she had gone by. The oregon was
there fore in IA most excellent position to
meet the Vizcaya when She came along,
end with the help of the Texas the two
tackled the Spaniard SO lierccly that she
was on fire in II few minutes and had
headed for the beach. While the Oregon's :
whole forward starboard battery was
banging at the Nizcaya, the after guns
had swung around and were plumpin Z
shells into the Oquendo, which also had
been tackled by the Iowa, which, in The
meantime had disposed of the Teresa.
The wreck of the three Spaniards was
accomplished in about - or % minutes,
and by this time the Oregon had attained
her maximum speed. With her forced
draught on and every pound of steam up.
the big Pacific coast battleship ploughrd
through the water as she never did before
except, perhaps, on her speed trial, three
years ago.
Leaving the Texas and the Iowa to COM
piete the destruction of the rest of the
Spaniards ana the rescue of the unfortu-
nate sailors, Capt. Clark headed the Ore
gon after the Colon. The Bros klyn by
this time had taken her wide sweep off
shore and was headed in for the Colon,
opening up on that vessel with her port
bloadsde As the Colon ran by the
Brooklyn she gave the latter the benefit
of her big guns and no less than 30 shots
| took effect ON the Brooklyn's port side,
and II number of them passed clear
through the Yankee cruiser.
As the Colon won't by the Brooklyn the
latter turned her starboard guns on the
Spaniards. In the run up the coast the
Brooklyn was hit Il dozen times on her
starboard side, while all three of her tall
smokestaCkS show the effects of the Co
Ions stern Chasers. The superior speed
Of the Brooklyn and the oregon sealed the
fate Of tho Colon and after a run of A.
miles Admiral Cervera ordered the flag
ship to be headed for the shore.
ADMIRAL CERVERA JUMPED OVER
BOARD.
/ The Colon struck about one hundred and
fifty yards from the beach and as soon as
she had grounded Admiral Cervera order
ed every enc to jump overheard and
plunged into the sea himself followed by
all of his officers.
The little Gloucester, after destroying
the torpedo boat deStroyers, turned after
the Oregon and made such coed time that
sne was up even with the Coon when she
ran ashore. AS she drew considerable less
/ water than either the oregon or the
Brooklyn. her commander, Lieutenant
Commander WainWrlght was able to run
closc to the stranded Spaniard and the
Gloucester's boats were soon out after the
swimming crew. Admiral Cervera was
picked up Just outside the surf about ten
yards from shore, and after his long swim
was thoroughly exhausted,
I The Colon had just tlrned inshore when
the New York came up after u long ano
quick run of over 90 miles, The flagship
was enabled TO get in a dozen good shots
before the Colons flag came down, so tina,
Admiral Sampson had u hand In the fight
although it was a brief one. 1t will be
seen, therefore, that the Oregon, while the
most easterly of all the American ships
nevertheless was enabled by her superior
speed to have a hand in the destruction OF
all four of the Spanish cruisers, and was
the only one of the fleet that did.