The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-27

The battle ship Oregon's share in the
conflict Off Santiago de Cuba with Cervera's
squadron has been graphically described in
the dispatches from the front. Now the home
letters are coming in from the seamen who
fought so bravely for the Stars and Stripes
The crews all speak in highest praise OF
their commanders. Evans, Philip and the
other intrepid captains Of Admiral Samp-
sons fleet have come in for their share Of
admiration and esteem. OF none, however,
been spoken and written than Of Captain
Charles Edgar Clark, of the Oregon.
Captain Clark's official report to Admiral
Sampson of the naval battle did full justice
to the skill and bravery OF his crew. In it
he said:
81 cannot speak in too high terms of the
bearing and conduct OF all on board this
ship. When they found the Oregon had
rushed to the front and was hurrying to a
succession of conflicts with the enemy's
vessels, if they could be overtaken and
would engage, the enthusiasm was intense.
AS these Spanish vessels were so much
more heavily armored than the Brooklyn,
they might have concentrated upon and
overpowered her. Consequently 1 am per-
suaded that but for the officers and men Of
the Oregon, who steamed and steered the
ship and fought and supplied her batteries,
the Cristobsl Colon and perhaps the Viz
caya would have escaped"
That's one side of the picture-the cap
tain's tribute to his crew. Here's the other
side, the story of man behind gun aboard
the Oregon-a hearty tribute to the good
ness and gentleness OF his brave COM
mander-written to the Army and Navy
Journal off Santiago de Cuba:
"Only the men who were with him on
July know what kind of a man he is in
the heat of battle-always what we call a
good captain in the navy; none of us
thought him as good as we found him on
that glorious 3D..
GAS soon as the enemy was sighted he
went and stood on the forward 13inch tur-
Cervera, and headed the Oregon for the
nearest vessels which were the torpedo
boat destroyers. After few shots our
6-inch knocked one destroyer in two; the
other headed for the beach,
Then commenced the greatest run of the
day. The Cristobal Colon was about eight
thousand yards ahead, on our starboard
bow; the Brooklyn about three hundred
yards ahead and about one Thousand yards
on our port bow.
NO HARM TO HIS CHILDREN"
1--WE gained gradually until we could get
our 6.pounder to work. Then she struck.
All honor to Captain Clark. He never
struck an enemy after he ran ashore, al.
though they did not strike their flag until
alter we passed. Inen, anu Une only bnlnR
that seemed to bother him was the safety of
his men, consistent with putting his ship as
near the enemy as possible He said several
times during the fight to men who were
fearless enough to expose themselves to see
what was being done: Get under cover,
children; do not want any Of you hurt.
Mr.. Coggswell, keep my children under
cover. Do not let any Of them get hurt.
HE also walked to the engine room tele-
phone and said, I suppose the men are do
ing their BEST The engineer said they
were. Then the captain said, "That's all
any man can do Then he said to the men
around him, Now, children, 60 and get
something, il it is only little bread and
butter
COOKS WERE AT THE GUNS.
1--WE were then chasing the Colon. The
cooks were at their guns and the fires were
out
'DThis is pen picture as near as my poor
talents can make it of the cool, smiling man
who by his bravery and quick perception
alone prevented the escape of at least two il
not three Of the Spanish cruisers after he
had destroyed one cruiser and a destroyer.
ITO say that the crew of the Oregon wor-