Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-20

ships of that class.
On Duty Near Cuba.
The Oregon at once went on duty
along the northern coast of Cuba,
where it remained until May 80, when
it was ordered to join Schley's equad-
ron off Santiago, where Ceryeras
fleet was at last discovered to have
taken refuge. Performing the block
aiding and reconnaissance duty in that
vicinity and participating in the sew
eral bombardments of MORO Castle
and Santiago it was occupied until
July 8, when the Spanish fleet made
its disastrous attempt to escape from
the hartor at Santiago.
The story of the battle that follow
ed is too fresh to be repeated here in
detail. Suffice it to say that the Ore
gon added greatly to the glory of the
navy.But for the Oregons presence
the Christobal Colon and the Viscaya,
| the fleetest ships of the Spanish navy,
would have made their escape There
was no other American vessel pres
ent that could match their speed ex-
cept the cruiser Brooklyn and the
Brooklyn could hardly have hoped to
fight the two, one of them battleship.
Attracted Attention.
Going north at the close of the war
the Oregon was the chief attraction in
the great naval parade at New York in
the latter part of September, 1898, be-
| ing greeted with the widest enthusi-
asm.
Soon after the Oregon was ordered
to the Pacific, under easy steam. 1t
sailed on October s and on December
! xx,if hn nd oh
was again at Punta Arenas, in the
Straits of Magellan Calling at Val
paraiso on October II the fleet made
Callao on October 26 and on the next
day was presented with a service of
Fran there the Oregon sailed for Ma
Mia.
The Oregon spent eleven months on
duty along the western coast of Luzon,
Ipatrolling and conveying, and on one
or two occasions throwing few shells
to help landing party. In February,
1900, it was ordered north and reached
Yokohama on the goth. Sailing again
by way of Kobe and Nagasaki, the
Oregon arrived at Hong Kong on May
81, remaining there until ordered to
the scene of trouble in China.
Inc VESSEL HSTou1Q.
The Oregon left Hong Kong on June
%, and on the 2Sth, entering the Gulf
of Pechili, on the way to Taku, the
battleship struck on submerged rocks
known as the Pinnacle Rocks"
twelve miles south of Hankai light on
Miautau islands. The night was calm,
but heavy fog had settled down and
it was proceeding very slowly. Sud
denly the ship WAS caught by a cross
tide and crashed on the rocks. Had
the Oregon been going at any speed
it would never have moved from the
spot, which is commonly known as the
graveyard of vessels"
4 Wreckers from Chilu arrived the
next day, and on July / the Oregon
was hauled off the one pinnacle only
to strike on another. Here the ship
Estayed, despite the efforts of the
wreckers and the strong pulling of the
British cruiser Endymoin, until July
Is, when all at once it floated off on its
own motion.
Temporary stops were gotten over
the rents in the side and the battleship
was taken, by the courtesy of the Mi
kados government, to the naval dock
at Kure, Japan, where it arrived on
July IL. In the course OF month the
Oregon was ready for sea again and
sailed on August 20 for Nagasaki and
Shanghai, arriving at the latter place
on September 8. On February 19 the
battleship arrived at Hong Kong,
: where it remained until April 13,when
the homeward journey was begun. 1t
sailed by way of Shanghai for Yoko-
hama, arriving there May II.
Two of the men who left San Fran
cisco on the Oregon are still on board.
Captain G. E. Clark, who commanded
the Oregon on the long voyage around
the Horn and fought the battleship at
Santiago, retired on account of i'll
health August 6, 1898, when he was
succeeded by Captain A. S. Barker,
who took the ship over to Manila.
Captain F. F. Wilde was in command
on the trip to Pechili and was succeed
ed by Captain G. M Thomas, who
i brought the Oregon home.