The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-06-03
THE OREG0NS TRIP HOME.
Thrilling Account Of the Journey
from Magellan's Straits
to Jupiter, Fla.
CAUTIOUS PASSAGE OF THE STRAITS.
Constantly on the Lookout for the Spanish
Fleet, which Prudence said to Avoid.
but vaior Wished to Eneountsr-Wouid
Have Made Their Destruction = Dear
Victory for Spain.

l.. Clark and other officers of the Ore
gon came ashore at ten o'clock and re-
ported all well on board and the ship
in good condition.
The Oregon left San Francisco on
March 10, arrived at Callao April 4, left
there on April 7. and passed
Sandy Point on April FL. arriving at
Rio Janeiro on April 80. The bat
tleship reached Bahia on May s,
and touched at Barbados on May Is.
AT the latter place the wan ship wa
quarantined. but she was only detained
one day.
The battleship arrived off Jupiter
light on May "a, and then communicated
with Washington.
The Oregon picked up the cruiser
Marietta and the dynamite cruiser
Nictheroy between Rio Janeiro and
Bahia, but she parted company with
them after a few hundred miles.
Capt. Clark said the crew of the Ore
gon had suffered from the heat in pass
ing twice through the tropics.
"All the way along" he added, 1--WE
were wondering where the S%paniards
were, and we never ascertained that
fact until we reached here"
do you know now?" Capt. Clark
was asked.
Well" he replied, II imagine we
can make a very accurate guess"
The Oregon coaled four times on her
trip-at Callao, Sandy Point, Rio Ja-
Metro and Barbadoes-and reached.here
with plenty of coal and water IN board.
The first news the officers and crew
Of the Oregon had of the Manila vic
tory was at Rio Janeiro, where Capt.
Clark received a telegram from Wash.
ington.
On leaving the Barbados the Ore
gon sailed almost directly north, GO
ing TO the north of Porto Rico, about
$50 miles. The northerly course was
continued until the Bermudas were
sighted, when she sailed for the ist
coast of Florida.
Capt. Clark explains that the re.
son for going to Jupiter inlet, instead
of putting In at Key West, was to en-.
able the Oregon to be ready to &C
either TO Key West or Hampton Roads
in short order after getting informa-
ton from Washington. Capt. Clark
had no official knowledge of the situa.
ton after leaving Rio Janeiro, April 20.
During the entire trip the crew ex'
pccted m~omentarily to meet the Span.
iards. Only once, however, was there
a call to arms. This wa shortly after
midnight on leaving Rio Janeiro. As
the Oregon was blowing through the
black equatorial sea a dark object was
discovered ahead. The call TO quarters
was sounded, the men rolled out OF
their berths with the enthusiasm OF
boys ON a circus day, and almost in
stantly every gun was manned.
The Oregon left her course and cir
cled around the black pursuer, only tc
find it a harmless bark, instead of a
Spanish ear ship.
At Rio dc Janeiro Capt. Clark was
told that the Spanish torpedo boa,
Temerario was following him. The
report gave new interest to the trip
for a day and night, but at the next port
of call he was informed that the Tcme'
rario had gone into dry dock at Rio
Janeiro just after the departure of tn,
Oregon.
The cruise through the straits oil
Magellan was most interesting. II
vas at this far southern point OF the
American hemisphere hat the crew
expected to receive a visit from the
Spaniards. In many places the chan
mel is very narrow and crooked, will
hidden bays and coves, and back ol
them mountains towering into the
clouds on either side. Moreover, they
were in the land of icy winter. Fol-
more han "A month they had been sail
ing under tropical skies. and now tn
blasts of December whistled among tn,
crags above them, and ice at nigh. lay
ON the decks.
But the Oregon did not lag. Capt
Clark had no idea of giving the Span
iards, If they were there "a chance L
catch him mapping. If the great bat
tleship were to be caught it should b'
a catch on the wing. The engine
were warmed up to their best work
and wherever it was safe and possible
the Oregon bowled along at 10 knots
an hour. The machinery worked wei
and on occasions the speed was in
creased three knots in "A few minutes
A stop of three days was made
Sandy Point, where oal was taken OF
and other supplies secured.
The Oregon's 25 officers and crew o
AS seamen were well and happy whel
the b~attlcship cast anchor off Sane
Key lighthouse at $3.50 yesterday morn
ing. The vessel is i'm tirst-class shap,
and ready for another cruise as lonl
as the one just ended. The excellen
condition of the men after their q
days Is perhaps even more remarkable
Throughout the entire trip there wer
no cases of serious illness on board.
sPaniards Hoping for an Honorable Wa
TO Secure Peace.
LONDON, May 2..-The Madrid CORE
.nnndnaa - Ala ui.aau $500. ..rrha ln,,