The herald., 1898-05-27
THE OREGON AT ANCHOR
AFTER A LONG CRUISE AROUND
THE HORN
READY FOR AN ENEMY
No Danger Was Incurred Except From
Tropic Heat and Worse Than
Arctic, Cold
Associated Press Special Wire


KEY WEST, May 2s.-The United States
battleship Oregon arrived here this morn
ing from Jupiter and is now at anchor at
Sand Key light.
Captain Charles Clark and other officers
of 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 on March
IA, arrived at Callao on April A, left there
on April Z, and passed Sandy Point on
April 21, arriving at Rio Janeiro on April
80. The ship reached Bahia on May s. and
touched at Barbados May Is. AT the latter
place the warship was quarantined but
she was only detained one day. The bat
tleship arrived off Jupiter light on May
"a and then communicated with Washing
ton.
The Oregon picked up the Marietta and
the dynamite cruiser Nictheroy between
Rio Janeiro and Bahai, but she parted
company with them after few hundred
miles.
Captain Clark said the crew had suffered
much from the heat in passing twice
through the tropics.
"All the way along" he added, 1--WE were
wondering where the Spaniards were and
we never ascertained that fact until we
reached here"
do you know now?"
''Well," he replied, II imagine we can
maka a very accurate guess"
The Oregon will remain here for orders.
The Oregon coaled four times on her
trip, at Callao, Sandy Point, Rio Janeiro
and Barbados, and reached here with
The first news the officers and crew of
the Oregon had of the Manila naval vic
tory was at Rio Janeiro, where Captain
Clark received telegram from Washing
ton.
On leaving the Barbados the Oregon
sailed almost directly north going to the
north of Porto Rico about $50 miles. The
northerly course was continued until the
Bermudas were sighted. when she sailed
for the east coast Of Florida. Captain
Clarke explains that the reason for going to
Jupiter inlet instead of putting in at Key
West was to enable the Oregon to be ready
to go either to Key West or Hampton Roads
in short order after getting information
from Washington.
Captain Clarke had no official knowledge
of the situation after leaving Rio Janeiro
on April 20. During the entire trip the
crew expected momentarily to meet the
Spaniards. Only once however, was there
a call to arms. This was shortly after
midnight on leaving Rio Janeiro. AS the
Oregon was ploughing through the black
equatorial sea dark object was discovered
ahead. The call to quarters was sounded,
the men rolled out of their berths with the
enthusiasm of boys on circus day, and al
most instantly every gun was manned. The
Oregon left her course and circled around
her black pursuer. only to find it harmless
bark, instead of a Spanish warship. Back
to their berths crept the men, with NUT
terings of disappointment and disgust.
At Rio Janeiro, Captain Clarke was told
that the Spanish torpedo boat Temerario
was following him. This report gave new
interest to the trip for a day and night.
but at the next port call he was informed
that the Temerario had gone into drydock
at Rio Janeiro just after the departure of
the Oregon.
The cruise through the Straits of Magel-
Ian was most interesting. 1t was at the
most extreme point of the American hemis-
phere that the crew expected to- receive a
visit from the Spaniards At many places
the channel is very narrow and crooked,
with hidden bays and coves back of them,
and mountains towering into the clouds on
either side. Moreover, they were In the
land of icy winter For more than month
they had been sailing under tropical skies,
and now the blasts of December whistled
among the crags about them, and ice at
night lay on the decks. But the Oregon did
not lag. Captain Clarke had no idea of
giving the Spaniards, if they were there, a
chance of catching him mapping. If the
great battleship were to be caught, 1t would
be catch on the wing. The engines We're
warmed up to their best work, and where
ever 1t was safe and possible the Oregon
bowled along at Is knots an hour. The ma
nhinarN 1rnrl1ad wnll and ON onca Sions tho