The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-27
IN SPLENDID CONDITION
THE MEN STOOD THE TRIP WON
DERFULLY WE'LL.
CAPT. CLARK READY FOR THE sPANIARDS
There were no Cases Of Serious Illness Through
out The trip.-The Men are Eager for
Actiyity--The Battleship is
Awaiting Orders.

HWdtpS OIuC'si
Key West Ella, May 26.-The United
States battleship Oregon arrived here
this morning from Jupiter, and is now ut
anchor near Sand Key light.
Captain Chase Clark and other officers
of the Oregon came ashore Mt 10 O'Clock
and reported all well on board and the
shin in good condition. The Oregon left
San Francisco March 10, arrived at Cal
lao April 4, left there April Z, and passed
Sandy Point April 21, arriving at Rio
Janeiro April so. The battleship reach
ed Bahia May s, and touched at Bar
BADGES May IS. At the latter place the
warship was quarantined, but she was
only detained one day.
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
headed for the Florida coast. Captain
Clarke explained that the going TO .Jupi-
ter inlet instead Of going into Key West
was to enable the Oregon to be ready TO
reach either Key West or Hampton
Roads in short order to get official
information from Washington. Captain
Clarke had no official knowledge of the
situation after leaving Rio Janeiro,. on
April 30. During the entire trip the crew
expected momentarily to meet the Span
ish. Only once. however, was there a
call TO arms. This was shortly after
midnight on leaving Rio Janeiro. As the
Oregon was plohghing through the black
equatorial sea, a dark object was dis
covered ahead apparently giving chase.
The call to general quarters was sound
ed, the men rolled out of their berths
with enthusiasm of boys on Il circus day
and almost instantly every gun was
manned The Oregon left her course,
and circled around her black pursuer,
only to find it harmless bark instead Of
Il Spanish warship.
Back to their berths crept the men
with mutterings of disappointment and
disgust.
At Rio Janeiro. Captain Clarke was
told that the Spanish torpedo boat Tenn
erario was following him. This report
gave new interest to the trip for a day
and 4 night, but at the next port Of call
he was informed that the Temerario hal
gone into dry dock at Rio Janeiro just
after the departure of the Oregon.
The cruise through the straits of Mag
elan was most interesting. 1t was at
this far southern point of the American
hemisphere that the crew expected TO
receive visit from the Spaniards In
many places the channel was very mar
row and crooked, with hidden bays and
coves, and back Of them, mountains tow
ering into the clouds on each side. More
over they were in the land of icy winter
For more than n month they had been
sailing under tropical skies, and now the
cold blasts whistled among the crags
above them and the ice at night lay on
the decks.
But the Oregon did not lag. Captain
Clark had no idea of giving the Span
iards. if they were there chance TO
catch him mapping. If the great battle
ship were to be caught it should be a
catch on the wing. The engines were
warmed up to their hest work and
wherever it was safe and possible
the Oregon bowled along at Is knots an
hour. The machinery worked well. and
on this occasion the speed was increased
three knots in a few minutes. A sion
of three days was made ut Sandy
Point. where coal was taken on and |
other supplies secured
The 0regon's twenty-five officers and
her crew Of 425 scamen were well and !
happy when the battleship east anchor
off Sand Key light house at half past six
this morning. The Oregon is in first
class shape and ready for another cruise |
as long as the one just ended. The OK
cellent condition Of the men after their
sixty-siX days voyage. is perhaps even
more remarkable Throughout the entire
trip there were no cases of serious illness
on board. and the men are as eager for
immediate activity as if they had Just
come from a vacation i'm the mountain
The Oregon picked mp the cruiser, Mari |
eta and the dynamite cruiser Nictheroy
between Rio Janeiro and Bahia. but
she parted company with them after Il
few hundred miles.
Captain Clark said the crew Of the
Oregon had suffered much from the heat
in passing twice through the tropics
"All the way along" he added, Eve
were wondering where the Spaniards
were, and we never ascertained that
fact until we reached here"
DO You know nowy' Captain Clark
was asked.
Well, he replied. Il imagine we can
make very accurate guess"
The Oregon will remain here for or
ders.
The United States gunboat Hornet
came in from the blockade this morning.
She reports everything quiet along the
line of the blockade.