Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10
Preliminary Work That Made the
Feat Possible.
DUE TO TIE ENERGY OF ONE MAN
Laboring Day and Night to Make
the Vessel Ready.
RACE AROUND THE HORN

1t will be many long year before the
people lose interest in the Oregon forget
the story of her long race almost around
this hemisphere to participate in the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet off Santiago.
When she is no longer of service she will
live on like the old Constitution, to inspire
poets and enliven romance.
But there are not many who know how
near the Oregon came to never making that
wonderful run, and that, but for the per-
sistency of one man in the Navy Depart
ment she would not have been al Santiago
and the story of that naval fight might not
have been altogether as it few
months before the war with Spain broke
out the Oregon lay off the Pacific coast
with foul bottom, in need of bilge keels and
otherwise out of order. 1t had originally
been designed that she should have bilge
keels. but they We're omitted in the con-
struction to facilitate docking. After she
was launched it was found that the bilge
keels We're needed to render the vessel
steady for gun platform. The same thing
had been found as to the Massachusetts
and the Indiana, and the keels had been
promptly supplied. But the dock at Mare
Island yard was not large enough to ac-
commodate the Oregon, and there was no
dock then on the Pacific coast except that
at Bremerton, on Puget sound, large
enough. She was locked there for prelim-
tended that she should be locked again for
the completion of the work in July Au-
gust Delays prevented this and caused a
postponement until January !, 1898. Then
in November it was declared that on ac-
count of the shortneSs of the days al that
latitude in winter and the location of the
dock among the hills, the work could not
be done before the following spring. The
diplomatic relations between the United
States and Spain had then become serious
ly strained, and there was felt to be need
for the vessel to be in Serviceable condition,
but it was reported to the department that
there We're no facilities for doing the work
and 1t should not be undertaken at that
time.
Then Chief Constructor Hichborn, who
does not believe in letting difficulties stand
in the way of what should be done, realiz-
ing that war might come any day, dis
approved the recommendation of postpone
ment by wire and ordered the vessel to be
relieved of all weight possible, and put
into the dry dock without delay. 1t was
protested that to remove the coal from
her bunkers would be expensive and that
she should not be locked until this coal
was consumed 1t was also complained
that work could not be done in the dark,
and that the days We're too short. This was
a serious obstacle, but Hichborn had way
TO overcome it and was determined that
the work should be done. In advance of
any requisition. he took the matter IN his
own hands and had entire electric light
ing outfit shipped to the Puget sound dock
and put up. He then had the Oregon dock
ed getting her in January t. 1888, and had
a roof shed built around her to protect the
Workmen, and the electric lights We're
started. and the work pressed forward
night and day with all possible dispatch.
Material stores, workmen and everything
necessary had to be sent there but all were
assembled at Bremerton by the time the
vessel was in the dock, and by February
Is the work was completed. The vessel
had her bilge keels, her bottom had been
smooth as a piano top, and she was as
trim a racing shell.
About that time the Secretary sent for
Admiral Hichborn and asked what was the
shortest possible time in which the oregon
could be got ready for sea. The reply was
that she would be ready the next day.
On the 10Th of the following month she
left San Francisco on her famous race
around to the Atlantic. her progress
watched almost breath}essly by the whole
world and every American heart throbbing
with mingled pride. hope and anxiety. on
the Sd of July-memorabl day-she was in
the thick Of the fight off the Cuban coast,
and her presence probably at least prevent
ed the escape of one of the Inflated Spanish
cruisers. Had the difficulties in the way
of her preparation been yielded and less
foresight and determination been shown by
the chief constructor, in oVerruling AL OBJ
jections. the Oregon would either have
been in dry dock on Puget sound when
that famous naval engagement occurred,
or else would have heen in such Il conii-
ton that she could not have made the run
and would have been of little service, if
any at all, during the war.
There is a lesson in this that the navy
people will not soon forget, and it is hoped
that Congress will cUnStrue it to an adVan-
tage. The chance of an official taking grave
responsibilities and overcoming such diff
culties; to do what should be done is too
slender reliance for the possible fate Of
the nation in battle to be balanced upon.