Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-03
REAR ADMIRAL CLARK
(From the Boston Globe.)

Tardy justice has been done to that hero
of the war with Spain who did his duty
splendidly when the enemy under the yell
low flag threatened our shores, the man
who engaged in no land controversies at
ter the guns had ceased to thunder upon
the sea-Charles E. Clark, the commander
Of the Oregon.
The President has nominated him to be
rear admiral and the nomination has
been confirmed promptly by the Senate
The increase in pay which accompanies
the promotion is doubtless as welcome to
the gallant son of Vermont as the honors
conferred If he desires he can he re-
tired and even then draw from the treas
ury S. 625 per annum.
The nation has not forgotten how Cap
tain Clark as he was then. steamed out of
the harbor of San Francisco on March 10,
1898. The Oregon was needed Sorely then
to strengthen the North Atlantic Squadron
and to impart confidence to the inhabit
ants of the great cities on the eastern coast
where there was more or less fear OF an
attack by hostile warships. Fourteen
thousands miles of water lay between the
point of departure and the destination,
but hearts were stout.
Down to the Horn and around and up
he drove his mighty craft, by daylight and
in darkness, in sunshine in storm. Every
minute the men were at the guns during the
last half of the voyage. Hammocks We're
never swung for sleep. The commander
was under tremendous strain. knowing
that by accident he might go straight INTO
the midst of the wandering, undiscovered
Spanish fleet that torpedo boats might
surround him and send the Oregon and
crew to the bottom in half a mile of brine,
Captain Clark was not rash. He was
not seeking an encounter with the four
cruisers of the enemy, but he was prepared
to try to whip the lot of them il worst
came to worst.
Well is remembered the thrill OF exulta-
ton that ran through every hamlet and
town and city in New England, as else
where in all this broad land, on that day
when the Oregon had been sighted off
Florida, safe and sound, At for battle and
In time for the fray.
Captain Clark had done much. He was
to do more On that Sunday morning In
the following July, 1t was his good ship,
together with the Brooklyn, that prevent
ed the escape of other vessels of the enemy
and forced to the beach the last defender
Of Spanish sovereignty In the new world
Why shouldn't the commander OF the
Oregon be made rear admiral?
There is an interesting tale as to how
Captain Clark happened to be assigned 10
the big battleship during the war. He had
been in charge OF the gunboat Bennington,
Wnlcn was frequently StauOntO III the Day
at San Francisco His favorite rendez
vous on shore was the social room OF the
mercantile library club of the California
metropolis. lie was wont to defeat the
most adroit chess players who assembled
in the quarters. and he always engaged
In the game with great intensity, Pers-
piration bathed his face and invitations
to refreshments were unheedcd. This trait
of doing thoroughly whatever he set out
to accomplish was the talk of the time
and finally the fatterng gossip reached
the navy department at Washington.
When a man was wanted for the critical
work of doubling n continent with war
| In progress. the officer who was known
| to engage In even a social game as II his
| life depended upon the outcome was
| strongly recommended.
IF any man." exclaimed an admirer
| at the national capital. "can speed that
battleship safely through the Pacific and
bring 1t promptly into action in Atlantic
waters. it's Clark.
A few hours later the Vermonter had
| his orders to command the Oregon.
| He shouldered the responsibility cheer
fully and confidently and steamed away
on the most marvellous voyage OF its kind
In recorded history inspired by thoughts
Of the march Of the sixth corps to Gettys,
burgh under the lamented Sedgwick. whose
order was Put the Vermonters at the
head and tell the rest to keep up" ano
by the memory of Warmers Green Noun
tain boys hurrying to save the day al
| Bennington