The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-03


the movements of the Oregon at Barbados,
which had never been fully understood from
the printed descriptions of the trip. In re.
ply he said: "In addition to this informa-
ton that 1t was believed Oervera's fleet was
at Martinique, it was also communicated to
me that at least three torpedo boats had
been seen around the island, all laying for
the Oregon The Consul came off in boat
within mailing distance of the Oregon and
told me that kilograms were constantly ar
irving from Spanish authorities at Porto
Rico, and of course they were trying to OBJ
tain information as to the location of the
Oregon. 1 was fearful that they might get
some word to the Spanish admiral in re-
gard to our movements, so, to get them off
their guard / ordered coal, to be loaded that
night. The barges came alongside just be.
fore dark and began to unload, but ~ soon
as darkness came on l weighed anchor, told
the coal merchants they would be paid for
their coal, that they would see US later and
started to the westward with lights set
| toward Martinique AS soon as L got out a
short distance my lights were put out,
made sharp turn and went around the
island leaving them and the Spaniards be-
| hind me-"
The Captain was asked to tell something
more about his experiences at Jupiter Inlet.
II knew the position of Schley,s and Samp-
sons fleets" he continued. Jupiter Inlet
was a point from which 1 could commun.
cate with Washington and could get coal
on board enough to last to Key West or
to Hampton Roads. There 1 had cable
communication with the navy department.
When 1 reached there 1 sent word to the
department 1 had coal enough to reach
Tortugas in thirty-six hours or Hampton
Roads in tifty-two hours. l received this
reply, II ready for service go to Key
West, otherwise to Hampton Roads The
department congratulates you on your safe
arrival from your hazardous voyage, which
has been reported to the PRESIDENT ;" "Had
you been aware, Captain" asked the re-
porter, "of the intense interest that had
been felt by the whole country during your
voyage?" He smilingy replied, 1.-THE te.-
egram 1 received from the department was
the first thing that made me realize the
anxiety Of the country about the Oregon
I supposed all eyes were on Cuba and that
my movements. We were at Jupiter Iulet
May "a, we got to Key West May 81, and
joined the feet at Cuba May 30 We ar
rived at Santiago May 81 aud the big battle
was July g. The Oregon, however, en-
gagged the Spaniards, who manned the
shore batteries June 7. We also made two
other attacks on these batteries before the
battle of July 3 1t is probably not gener-
ally known that the Oregon, with the Mar
blehead, covered the landing of the marines
at Guatanamo the first time the American
forces were landed at Cuba. l mean by
that the first permanent landing, when the
flag went up there never to come down
again"
II suppose when you were at Rio you felt
you were in a friendly port and could get a
breathing spell did you not?" queried the
reporter To this the captain replied: CAL
though we were in neutral port at Rio,
never during the entire trip was I 80
anxious about the safety OF my ship, as
when we were i'll thai harbor. There we
were informed by Americans that the Span.
iards were planning to blow up the Oregon
at Rio. Twenty bombs were found there.
| L DbllbNb III was 6ltutr lulbnubu Uuty should
be put in the coal that we took on there or
at least that il was intended that it should
be reported to us to frighten us that these
bombs were found there. When we reach
ed Rio the department cabled me warn
ing that the Temerario was heading for
Rio. l knew that on their arrival they
might slip torpedo in and destroy us. j
went about two miles above the ordinary
anchorage and anchored. / then sent the
Marietta to the mouth of the harbor with q
, steam launch and search lights with orders
to board the Temerario as soon as she came
in. 1 gave instructions that the captain
should be informed il he came above the
ordinary man-of-war anchorage should re-
gard it as an act of hostility, and that il he
: came within half a mile he would be sunk
AS soon as possible at my request, the
American minister conferred with the Bra
, lillian government which was very friendly
, and he was informed that gunboat would
, be placed at the mouth of the harbor tC
4 keep watch OF the Temerario. So you see
{ that though the Oregon was in a friendly
> and a neutral port at Rio, and among peo
3 pie kindly disposed toward our government
5 there was no time during the voyage wher
| my anxiet, was more acute than it was
Z while was there"
? Captain Clark was asked il during the
, long voyage he expected at any time tC
q meet the Spanish feet His answer con
Q veyed the idea that such thing was never
, out of his mind and that while every pre-
| caution was taken while in any port to pre-
{ vent destruction and disaster by torpedoes
[ he had no fear of the enemy while on thu
open sea. He knew the Oregon and hi
3 knew his men, and the whole Of Cervera'
feet had no terrors for him.
0 Captain Clark would have given an in
3 teresting story of the fight at Santiago, Blu
1 friends were waiting for him in the hote
parlor and the reporter could do no les