Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-30

ment has no constructor near the scene to
supervise the wrecking and repair of the
Oregon. Constructor Hobson is lying i'll
in the hospital at Yokohoma, but Con-
structor Ruhm is nowson his way from this
country to Manila and may arrive in sea-
son to assist at least in the repairs of the
ship if she should get off.
Cost of the Oregon.
The Oregon is not only dear to the Ameri-
can patriot, by reason of her superb his
tory, but she cost a great deal of money,
so Secretary Long viii spare no reasonable
expense in the effort to save her. Her
total cost was S6575 US2. 76 Or this total
the hull and machinery represented $3,-
2,s1O. The ship was put in commission
in San Francisco July 15, 1896, and has
been in commission continuously ever SINCE
an unexampled record IN view of her active
participation in the Spanish war and the
enormous voyages she has successfully
made under critical conditions 1t may be
said that from the facts set out In Capt.
Wildes cablegram the officials are not in
clined to censure him He was under Or
ders to hurry, warranting the assumption
of risk by him. He appears to have OBJ
served all of the usual precautions pos
sibe under such orders. and it is known
that the charts of that section are made
quate. Mr.. WI, the Chinese minister, said
today that this particular spot was a
graveyard of shipping.
The U. 8. 8. Oregon.
As with the fame of the Constitution, so
with the Oregon. The CONSTITUTIONS fame
arose from her successful engagement
The fame OF the Oregon from the fact that
the eyes of the world were focused upon
her in her successful voyage of 14.511 knots
in 1900 hours to assist in the crushing OF
the Spanish fleet off Santiago.
The Oregon was built by the Union iron
works of San Francisco. Cal, and launched
October 26, 1893 from plans prepared by
the Navy Department, under the direction
of Chief Constructor T. d. Wilson, assisted
chief constructor. United States navy. The
Oregon is 34S feet in length, 6S feet . inches
beam. and when fully equipped for sea has
a draft of water of q feet IN inches, with
a displacement of 11,G00 tons. She is twin
screw, with a speed of 1919 knots. with
I'LL indicated horsepower. Her coal ca
pacity is 1854 tons, which will give her
steaming radius at 10knot speed of $500
knots
Her complement Of officers and crew is
494 men. Her armor belt is eighteen inches
thick, and her gun positions are protected
with from six to seven inches of steel, and
her deck plating is three inches thick. Her
battery consists CT four z3-iRch guns, two
in turrets forward and two aft; eight S-inch
guns in turrets broadside, besides four
6-inch rapid fire guns, twenty six-pounder
rapid fire guns two one-pounder rapid fire
and three Colts. She is also equipped with
two Whitehead torpedo tubes.
Her Unprecedented Run.
The chief interest in the Oregon Is in her
unprecedented run from the Pacific to the
Atlantic. She was ordered from the Pa
cific to the gulf before war with Spain was
declared, and leaving Puget sound March
6. 1898, arrived at Jupiter Inet, May 81,
1898 having steamed 1850 miles, stopping
only for coal and not being delayed an
hour anywhere through any arrangements
Of machinery. Stopping at Key West only
long enough to coal, she took her place in
the blockad.ng fleet off Santiago, and was
the day of battle. .,
This alone would have given her an un-
paralleled record among battle ships, but
the elimination came in the great battle of
July 3, when she surpassed herself.
Always ready for action, she speedily at
tanned power greater than that developed
ships in the battle, except the Brooklyn,
which was five knots faster.
Every official report comments on her
wonderful speed, and 1t is generally believ-
bly, two, of the Spanish ships might have
escaped.
Great credit is due the designers, build
ers, commander and engineer force con-
nected with the Oregon for her wonderful
achievements.
After the fight on the Atlantic another
voyage was in store for this indefatigable
ship from New York to Manila, or about
lb.UOO Knots more, ana telegram OIL ad-
miral Dewey received after her arrival
speaks volumes for this remarkable vessel:
The Oregon arrived; ready for any duty"
Signed Dewey.
Such vessels as the Oregon are, so far
as their general features are concerned, Il
type of battle ship advocated by Admiral
Hichborn, and to him IN his capacity as
chief constructor is due 10 marked extent
the fact that the navy of Uncle Sam is
becoming a power among the nations of
the world.
Military Plans Not Disturbed.
Fortunately, the wreck of the Oregon
does not seriously affect the military plans
respecting China. She was ordered to Taku
before the forts fell. There her steel-cad
sides might have been. of great service.
For the duty that remains to her an ordi-
nary cruiser will do as well.