The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-10-23
\ arHUR ROPES. General Editor
The Oregon In the Inquiry.


gests, the public would, indeed be
pleased to have, in the Schley inquiry,
the testimony of Captain Clark of the
Oregon. The Republicans comments,
republished elsewhere on this page,
touch matter OF general interest.
Capt. Clark's testimony would have
greater weight and conclusiveuess with
the people of America than that of any
other witness that has testhed-than
all others combined. Hi, judgment,
character, experience, ability to testi-
fly on the events and Incidents of the
b ockade and battle OF Santiago, would
compel belief in what he had to say,
aud if he should tell all he knows of
fact and incident, of siege and conhic,
flood of light might be let in on some
disputed things.
1t is true that Capt. Clark could tell
nothing of Commodore Schley's COM
mand of the flying squadron. He
would, however, be a far more compe-
tent witness, in matters pertaining to
the battle, than was Captain Taylor OF
the Indiana, whom the department
summoned to testify against Commo-
dore Schley; aud if the department
had in this inquiry an honest and dis
interested desire for "the truth, the
VIII ole truth, and nothing but the
TRUTH respecting the matters to be in
vestigated, it should have summoned
Capt. Clark. The Indiana was too re-
mote from the Brooklyn at the begin
ming OF the battle to permit the officers
TO observe with a certainty the move
nents of tlat ship-and she ne yer got
any nearer in the course of the a5tion.
The Oregon, also, was on the east
wing of the blockading fleet, further
out but not quite 30 far to the east as
was the Indiana. But the Oregon's
tres were as perpetual as those the
Vestal Virgins OF Roman mythology
kept burning. They were blazing un-
der all her boilers, steam was perpet-
ually up, and when the eventful mo
nent struck the steaming capacity of
her boilers was not deadened by the
incrustation resulting from the use OF
salt water. Capt. Clark had denied
himself, his fellow officers and crew the
luxury OF unslinted use of fresh water
that the evaporators might keep the
ships boilers supplied with water
free from brine.
The Indiana was ship of the same
displacement, armament and engine
power, as the Oregon, and on her trial
trip made the same speed. The Ore
gon had but recently completed IA 900
mile run at forced speed, had crused
more miles than all her sister battle
ships combined, and the reason why
the Indiana was able to make but from
seven to eight knots against the Ore
CONS sixteen in the pursuit of Ger
vera's swift cruisers was because all
her conditions at the critical moment
were the reverse of those of the O. e.
gon.
The result was that the Oregon, from
position far astern, came into the
forefront of the battle, distancing all
the battleships and developing the
speed OF cruiser, and when big bow
wave announced to the Brooklyn that
the great battleship had come up with
her in the running fight with the Span
iards one may imagine the fervor of
the mute "God bless the Oregon" that
was "wig-wagged" from the flagship.
After the first brush against the emerg-
ing Spanish feet the Brooklyn and the
Oregon were practically alone with the
Spaniards, and the greetings the mon
ster fighting machines exchanged as
the battle progressed were charged
with the spirit of the situation. swell
done, Oregonl" was sent over the
waters to the 'Bull Dog OF the Navy"
when she dropped 13-inch shell amid
ships of the Viscsya and ended the
career Of the third of the Spanish
cruisers, and to the congratulations of
the Brooklyn when the Colon hauled
down her colors and the fight was over
the Oregon answered, "Thank you
more than words can express"
1t is hoped in the interest of full
and righteous knowledge and under
standing OF all the facts and incidents
Of the battle involved in the pending