The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-03
TIE OREGON'S CHANCES.
Bnttleship's Old commander Thinks
She Can BE Saved.

She Can BE Saved.
NEW YORK. July Capt. Charles f.
Clark, who commanded the battleship Ore
gon when she made her famous voyage
around the Cape and through the Straits
of Magellan during the war with Spain,
passing through the city this morning, on
his way from Newport to his station at
League Island, expressed himself as con-
iident that the ship would not be lost.
Il think she can be saved, and Will be
saved he said. There is no ground swell
in the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li. and that is great
point in favor of the ship. Storms, OF
course, cause heavy swell in the Gulf
Of Pe-Chi-Li. but the swell goes down as
soon as the blow is over. Therefore, I'M
less a storm should arise the Oregon Is
safe, SO far as the swell is concerned.
Judging from the reports she is in quiet
water now.
Il am inclined to believe, also. from a
study of the chart that she is among sew
eral small islands. This would break the
force of the sea IL storm should rise.
Then there are the tides to be consid
cred. On the bar of Taku the tides run
ten feet, and as the water of the gulf is
poured in every six hours and then out
again, there are very strong currents.
These might be an advantage or they
might not The current setting one way
might drive the ship on the rocks. and
setting the other way it might help to drag
her off.
If then. the tides do not rack and warp
the ship too much. and cause her compart-
ments TO bind, / see no reason why they
should not save her. AS understand from
the dispatches her motive gear is unin-
jured- Apparently she has a number OF
holes in her double bottom and a hole for
ward in her side, above the double bottom.
Now, the holes in the double bottom do
not matter-that is what the double is
for-to be stove in If the ship runs on the
rocks and protect the real bottom. 1t is
the hole above the double bottom that is
serious,
That hole might have been made in one
of two ways-either in such way as to
open four compartments. or SO as to open
only one. l believe that only one COM
partment has been injured. If this is so
there will be no trouble in floating the
ship, provided that the action of the tides
does not bind her so that the water will
leak into the other compartments"
On whom does the responsibility rest?'
Captain Clark was asked.
"On the captain. OF course" Captain
Clark replied. Going to sea is made up
of chances, and any man that goes TO sea
is bound TO meet with a mishap If he
goes long enough. Good judgment ard
watchfulness may keep the mishap off for
long time, but 1t is sure to come sooner
or later. On the other hand the man who
uses the best judgment and the greatest
lie nct hA ErH rt.it
accident. You know what the Duke OF
Wellington said about war-that 1t was
series of mistakes. and the man who made
the, fewest won. Well, that is what going
TO sea is, and the successful man is the
one who makes the fewest mistakes
Captain Wilde made mistake I'M
doubtedly. but the best of men are liable
TO do that. OF one thing I am sure. and
that is that he did everything that could
be done. l know the man, and l know
that he may we'll be regarded, as he is
regarded, as one Of the most competent
men in the navy. He is not only man |
of sound judgment and great carefulacss. |
but thoroughly approachable. He is ready /.
TO take suggestions from anyone. and all (
the subordinate officers feel free TO give |
him advice have not the slightest doubt !
that he was on deck when the accident !
occurred. 500
But, of course. the responsibility rests |
on him. 1t is the captain who decides |
where he shall run the ship. He locks to |
the navigator only for information as to |
where the ship is at any given time The |
navigator may also give advice as 10 the |
best channels, and so forth. 1t should be |
said here that in the place where the |
Oregon is soundings have been taken only |
once in about 300 feet. Captain Wilde |
sent out two boats to take soundiags, and !
they found the least water FIVE and tpe-
half fathoms. That there was a pinnacle
rock there was one Of the chances of |
going to sea-