The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-09-15
THE VOYAGE OF THE OREGON.

IHe luclueut OIL tlllS run Oh 4,UUU kuOtS
was a fire in the port coal bunker.
Tho fire was dug out and quenched.
1t was a terrible ordeal for the men
and period of great anxiety to all on
board. Several acts of real heroism
were displayed in this hazardous fight
with the flames.
"When Sandy Point was left behind
we all realized the possible dangers in
front of u.s." continued Captain Clark.
"The Oregon conveyed the Marietta
to Rio without incident. And in that
harbor the Nictheroy lay at anchor,
about to be added to the American
navy. The Brazilian government was
very courteous. 1t may have been
owing to the fact that the purchase of
the Nictheroy had not been completed.
There was the Telnerariol Detecting
her presence at once, l ordered the
Marietta to guard the harbor mouth
and told her captain to send a boat
on board the Spanish craft and serve
notice upon the Temerario that if she
came within one mile of the Oregon
our guns, big and little, would open
on her without notnce.
"On reaching port 1 had been noti-
fed by our consul that war was on,
and 1 could not afford to take any
chances. I steamed into the harbor
two miles above the usual anchorage
for war vessels, giving to my ship an
Isolated position, so that might be
Justified in regarding the approach Of
any strange craft as a hostile act.
The utmost vigilance was employed
day and night; men We're kept con-
stantly at the rapid fire guns. A
Searchlight and patrol boats watched
Tie water after nightfall. Tie risk
was too great for me to take any
chances, and although the BraZilians
tcted all right and were even generous
In not holding us to the twenty-four
hour rule recognized under interna-
tional law, l could not be sure OF the
utter absence of cranks or Spanish
sympathIzers.
'We sailed from Rio ON May 4.
decided when we had been at sea a lit
tie while. to leave the Buffalo GorIucr-
ly the Nictheroyl and Marietta to
shift for themselves. They were so
slow thatG feared the Oregon might
be late in arriving where she was
most needed. l left these ships off
Cape Frio, 100 miles above Rio, after
signalling them Come to Bahia; or
run ashore IL attacked by overwhelm-
ing force l reached Bahia ON the
hut FOL fn tCoY,A
We sailed next morning, and this run
of ten days to Barbados was the most
thrilling of the entire voyage. We
steamed absolutely without light.
"Indeed, the entire trip from Sandy
Point to Jupiter Inlet was lightless
voyage. In pitch-like darkness We
drove ahead at our highest speed
seeing lights many times, but always
avoiding the ships that bore them.
We were out Of court. We had no
right of way without a light. Even
If we met a vessel on our port we
gave way.
might and day the men stood at
the guns. Not for a single moment
was vigilance relaxed. The strain on
the men was terrible. For four days
at q time hammocks were never
strung. Watch and watch about, the
men lay beside the guns sound asleep,
while the men on duty stood silently
doubled and changed with unusual fire.
quency.
'Barbadoes was reached just before
daylight, May IS, and after rushing
$50 tons of coal aboard we sailed the
same evening. Still the orders read,
Come on!
From our consul learned that Ger.
vera's fleet was at Martinique, Just to
the north of us. This feet had been
mudh extolled for speed and fighting
qualities. l am not Il rash man. 1
was not looking for that fleet The
situation seemed critical. Sailing just
before dark, ] headed northwest, ap-
parently into the heart OF the Carib-
bean sea. This information, have no
doubt was promptly communicated
to Admiral Cervera. Bus as soon as
the darkness of Il moonless night had
thoroughly set In, changed the course
to due south and ran below Barbados
and thence far to the eastward before
I took the Oregon to the northward.
We dhus passed far to sea east of
Martinique, and eventually turned into
the North Atlantic beyond St. Thomas
l carefully avoided the Windward
channel and the shallow waters of the
Bahamas"
"Why did you so to Jupiter InletT
was asked.
Il didn't know where the depart
ment wanted to use me-" was the
prompt reply. II was In the dark as
to the location of the two fleets.
knew one had been at Hampton Roads
and another at Key West, and the
charts told me that Jupiter Inlet was
in telegraphic reach of all points on
the coast. From that place, also, l
had coal enough to make the run
to either of the two fleets. You can
easily understand that had l gone di-