The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-11-01
FOUR AT A TINE.
This Is what Gap. CLARK Of the
Oregon 9ays
TIE BROOKLYN FOUGHT
When Tho epanish Fiess Was
Destroyed by schley a.
tho Battle ef
aanaisgo.

Gallant Captain CLARK, Of tho Oio.
gon, testified before the Sohloy Court
of Enquiry on Thursday. The largo
audionoo manifested signs Of interest as
tho captain Of tho Oregon approached d
the witness stand. Ho proved to be u
msn Of good]y proportions with brown
mustacho and dark complexion. Ad-
miral Dewey smiled as he walked
around to tho oud Of tho table to cd
minister the osth. Uspt. CLARK at first
spoke In an undortono and was two or
threo times requested to raiuc his voico.
This he did as he progressed and was
soon distinctly hoard in tho vicinity Of
tho cours.
Oapt, CLARK dcsoribod the ohauo after
tho Spanioh ships on July 5 and said
he was afraid at one time the Oregon
would haYo TO sustain tho concentrated
fire Of sovolal Spanish ships. Just
tbon tho smoke lifted and ho saw the
Rrnnklvn.
"Sho WAS we'll forward Of our port
beam" he said, ''ald broadsido to tho
onemy's feet. The two vessels retained
thoir relative positions approx ina toly
TO tho ond Of tho battlo, tho Brooklyn
stoaming near straight ahead, should
judge, and engaging any and all Of the
Spanish ships, tho Oregon endeavoring
to como to oloso action with tho storm
most ono, and whom sho WAS driven out
of action wo kept on after the next
ono."
MIR. Raynot: "Did you get any Dig
mails from tho Brooklyn on the day If
battle?"
''Yos, sir"
Can you recall what thoy were 9'
"On my own knowledge and remem-
brsncc tho aignals that impressed
themselves upon me at tho time Were
Follow tho flag had repeated to
the vosseis following, thinking that
thoy might not 500 the Brooklyn, and
might soc VI. remt mber another Gig
nal. One Of my compartments filled
with water. rocolleot il because it
perplexod mo li,tlo. was fearful
that tho Brooklyn might have to haul
out of action and run in shore and I
concluded that it was given to me 30
q warning in case she did haul out that
l would be prepared to look out for the
Chase alono and not to pay any a.ten
tion to her, aud that she would look
out for hersolf. also romembor sig
nal because did not understand il ut
first, The enemy's ship appeara to have
beon built in Italy. 10 which told
tho signal officer to answor. 'Sho will
and on the coast of Cuba also fo-
mombor q signal, 'Congrabulations over
the grand victory and thsnks for your
splendid assistance.
Capt. Clark described an incident in
the cabin Of tho Now York after tho
battle Of July 3, saying: IA Spanish
battleship was reported by Capt. Ea.
ton OF the Rssoluto. She had arrived
off Santiago and | think he said ho had
been pursued by her. The admiral did
not seom to BIO impressed by that. He
soomsd inoredulons, but remarked
that it must be Camara's feet, that
thcy had arrived thoro to form CON
junction with Oervera'a Asot, but they
mad arrived too late. The admiral did
not assent. Finally ho said 'Woll,
Clark, YOU will have to 20 after that
ship and believing as did that thore
Waa really aSpanish vessel therc, I
baid Admiral, IN war we ought to
overpowor tho onomy il possible. Why
could not tho Brooklyn 90 alopg?"
''Ho turned aud said, "Oertainly,
Schloy you 60 also thon folt that I
had perhaps assumed too much in
speaking to an aamival and suggesting
that commodore also accompany me.
TUNED to the commodore and said
Commodore, we have knocked out sev.
eral ,vessols this morning. We can
knock out another, can't we?' Ho said,
Certainly we oan. Como on. Ho
thon startod ovor tho side and started
after him for my boat Oh the other side.
What IMPRESSED Mo waa his ohoery
mannor Of approving Of my having
mentioned his going and that no had
no feellng sgalnst mo for mentioning
it as o senior aud was rather approving
in his manner"
On oroas examination the witness
| said that tho order under which he
olosod in was a gtanding order, as was
the order to attack at onoe in case the
enemy appeared.
II think" ho said, "that everybody
StRCtSu IN Wn6n tNo onomy'B V6Bg0lA
appeared in sight, it WAS their duty to
attack, aud | remember that I had d
feeling Of satisfaction at that time that
thero was o standing ordor to close in
because Of tho possibility Of accident in
executing that movement"
Capt. CLARK said the Brooklyn had
at ono timc during tho engagement on.
gagged four difforont vcssels, sayinf
that sho was alongside all four Of the
enomy's ships, and in response to ,
question from Mr.. Hanna as to wheth
or there were not other American vos
SOLE engaged OF tho same timo no said
Tho Oregon vas firing as fast as she
'ould with hor bow guns"
Did you fire tho 13.inch gun in par
suanoe of signal from the Brooklyn?'
Mr.. Henna asked, and the witnass re-
piled: mo; tho IS inoh guns were hrod
aflor conference with officers or
board the Oregon. II any signal wat
mado from tho Brooklyn, I did not set
1t and it was not reported to me"
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