The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-05-19
ADMIRAL
CLARK
RESPONDS
Gratefully Acknowledges
Receipt of Sword

Because OF the Illness OF Rear-Ad-
mlral G. r. Clark. who commanded
the b~attleship oregon during the
Spanish-AmeriCan war. he was unable
20 accompany Pr .sident Roosevelt up
on the our OF the Pacific states. and.
therefore. IL wGs necessary 10 send
the beautiful sword which vas pur.
chased by contributions OF the people
OF Oregon 20 him at the United States
naval home. at Philadelphia. accom-
panied by a letter Of presentation
from OregOn's governor.
Yesterday Governor Chamberlain
received a reply from Admiral CLARK.
acknowledging the receipt OF the
sword. in the following language:
~. s Naval Home.
Philadelphia. p, May II. 1903.
Hon. Geo. T. Chamberlain, Governor
Of the State OF Oregon:
Dear Sir: Your very kind letter.
which affected me deeply by lis allu-
sions 20 my service and To the feeling
OF the people Of Oregon towards me.
came duly, and the sword arrived to-
day
Il wish | could express 20 you. 20
the presentation committee. TO the
contributors and 10 the people OF Ore.
gOn. the gratitude I feel for the beau
tiful sword that has been presented 10
me, and for the great honor thereby
conferred. IL is deepened by the
thought that In all this. and through
me. the services OF my companions.
the officers and men OF the Oregon.
have been signally recognized.
AS a tribute 10 the people who
must have an abiding affection for
the name OF their state. | will add.
that neither tropic heat. where great.
or hardships were welcomed II the
supply OF fresh water for the boilers
could be maintained. nor the Official
notification OF a superior force that
should be avoided. o the permission
authorizing delay In Brazilian ports.
checked the full speed progress OF
the Oregon, for Il seemed more than
probable that the Spanish feet was
bound for the vest Indies. and that
the need OF the Oregon in nome
waters could be so great that the risk
OF an encounter on the way should be
run.
AT the battle OF Santiago. after the
hercely attacked and severely nun.
ished ships had broken through our
line, and passed TO the westward OF all
but the Brooklyn. the Oregon rushed
past the other b~attleships and sought
close action, first with the Maria Ter.
esa, then with the Oquendo. then with
the Nizcaya and finally with the Co
Ion, and as each In succession turned
from her to the beach. pushed ON Ia
engage the rest ahead. until an We're
destroyed.
"On the 10th OF June. 1898. the Ore.
gon and the cruiser Marbelhead COW
the landing at Guantanamo. the
first point seized and held in Cuba
The headland then occupied Is now
regarded as the key OF the naval
stronghold about to be established nv
our country in the West Indies.
1T seems fitting 20 recall the great
peril In which the Oregon was placed
on the coast OF China, when the sec. |
Rotary OF the navy In his %cablegram Ia
the commanding officer called her mel
Constitution OF the Modern Navy al.
so the facts that tho American nor.
ton OF the garrison In the long siege
OF Pekin was mainly drawn from the
marine guard Of the Oregon. and thai
Il has been reserved for her 10 late
ly prove that an American battleshin
can encounter and survive a hurri-
cane
With genuine pride in the thought
OF the friends | have made. as weI a.
those l have known in Oregon. and
with the highest esteem, am. Sir
very respectfully yours.
&C T. CLARK.
Rear Admiral U. S. NJ
1
a Temporary License. |