The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-05-02
The Captain of the Oregon.


The demand that justice be done
Captain Clark is made from Maine to
California. 1t is growing in frequency
of expression and intensity of purpose
with every day the government delays.
The minor facts and incidents of his
$4,000 mile race against time, of his re-
porting ready for active duty, and in
sistance upon assignment to such duty,
the instant of his arrival at Jupiter In
let, of his sleepless preparedness for
race and a fight on blockade duty off
Santiago de Cuba, of his outstripping
all his comrades and one by one send
ing the Teresa, Oquendo, Viscaya and
Colon to the beach, burning and explod-
ing wrecks, as detailed in the columns
of the JOURNAL, have been repeated
all over the country and across the
seas, and there is a rising storm of in
dignation at the inexcusable treatment
of the gallant Captain. Subjoined is a
communication signed "Sailor," from
the New York Times:
Two years ago the country was ringing
with the praise of Clark's grand work in
the Oregon. He raced her all the way from
San Francisco to Cuba without break
wonderful achievement. The ponderous but
delicate 12,000-ton ship, with the great
rifles, the massive armor, the fifty separate
engines, the torpedoes, and the 500 men,
came flying through the seas in storm and
calm alike, by day and by night, her en-
gnes throbbing incessant as the heart of
the one man who impelled and unified ALL
1t was almost a miracle. 1 question if in
all the worlds navies another ship could
have been found that could have done it,
The Oregon was a superb vessel, built ON
honor by the Pacific coast; but it was not
enough to have perfect ship, II needed
the man who could get her ready and then
inspire the 500 to the unremitting and ter
rible labor Do you not remember how the
officers, in order to save time and hearten
the weary men, took hold and trundled in
coal with their own hands? Or how it was
the effort of the men not to go on the sick
list from exhaustion? 1t was good work
and we knew it-then.
At Santiago the Oregon, though not built
for speed was the racer OF the day, and it
was she who really captured the swift
Colon after that heart-breaking chase OF
sixty miles, with the men working in
sealed fireroom at temperature of 40.
Did we not think we'll Of modest, brilliant
"Charle" Clark then? Every body felt
that he would receive some special reward.
1t was such matter of course that no one
made it his business to attend to it.
| How has it worked out? His sole reward
was leave OF absence on reduced pay,
given that he might restore his health,
ruined by his exertions and exposure.
Just now he is second in command at the
League Island yard. But if he got no re-
ward, he did get some punishment. AS a
result OF the promotions after Manila and
OF the personnel bill, he now stands rela-
lively lower on the list than before the
war. He now finds four men above him
whom he used to rank. 1t is damnable
shame.
"Charlie" Clark will never go begging
and whining to Congress to do him Justice
He is too modest and too proud. He will
continue to be the same simple, sweet
hearted man, always jolly and always be-
loved, and he will quietly go on doing hi 8
duty without complaint until he dies
But this uncommon man has got some
thing out OF it in spite OF fate, something
that no forgetfulness or neglect can take
away. He has "self-approval, which is the
best of ALL" I quote his own words about
another man, written after his fine work
had been done and when he lay waiting in
cheerful pain for strength to do more work.
Rehearsing the story of Captain
Clark's unprecedented services, the
Philadelphia Times says editorially:
Captain Clark's cruise of the Oregon from
San Francisco to Florida stands unexampled
in naval records. He was for many days
in the same waters with the Spanish feet,
liable to meet 1t alone in deadly conflict,
and to tho matchless handling OF his great
battleship at Santiago must be credited the
complete destruction of the Spanish squad
ron. But today he ranks lower in the navy
than he did when he sailed from the Pa
cific shores, by reason of the promotion of
the Manila officers. s+s The failure to
recognize the distinguished services OF
Captain Clark is blistering stain upon the
republic
1t is not credtable to the navy depart.
ment that it is quibbling and schemin
to gain some recognition, against the
judgment Of the country, for single
favorite OF the naval bureau, and that
all promotion OF the heroes OF Santiago
has been halted because neither the Sen.
ate, the House nor the people will assent
to promotions for those who did not fgh,
the battle at the cost OF those who did fgh,
It, The attorney general is called upon &c