The National tribune., 1903-05-28
THE AMERICAN
SPANISH WAR.
Continued from frst parsJ


from the Cristobal Colon, stated that on
May Il, the Colon had picked up off Cape
ST. Rogue, flour barrel marked "U. $. :.
Oregon" This, of course, was only
sailors ''yarn." No more exciting incl
dents occurred during this portion of the
to her next stopping place. Bridgetown,
on the Island of Barbadoes. where she
arrived at $50 a. m.. May 1S.
1t Lad not been the intention of Capt.
Clark to enter the harbor during the night.
but as 4 number of suspicious lights were
seen in the vicinity of the Island, he de-
cided to go in and anchor. After day
light the health officer visited the ship,
and she was placed in strict quarantine,
having come from an infected port.
Barbados being an English colony the
British declaration of neutrality was
strictly enforced. The Captain was not
allowed TO report the arrival of the ship
or receive any telegraphic communication.
The arrival, however, was reported by our
Consul. The ship was allowed to take coal
and stores enough to reach the nearest
home port. but the Colonial Government
was liberal in the allowance of coal. Only
200 tons were needed, however, and this
was taken in before night. Here it was
learned that the Spanish feet was, or had
been. at Martinique, though it was actual
ly at this time at Curacao. Two Spanish
torpedo boats and n transport had been
seen to pass the harb0r a day or two be-
fore, so the Oregon was evidently in the
vicinity of some Spanish vessels. Little
news of the progress of the war could be
Cleaned from the local papers. The SYM
pathy of the Barbadians was clearly with
MS, and we were constantly advised to go
i'll and whip the Spaniards. The ship at
tractcd great attention, and during our
stay was surrounded by bOatloads of spec
tators. At 9:3O p. III. the Oregon was
again under way. and stood out of the
harbOr to the westward, with her steam
ing lights burning. After proceeding to the
westward a few miles, all lights were ex-
tinguished and the ship headed to the
eastward to make detOur around the
Windward Islands. The strictest kind of
lookout was kept, and it was not until
Martinique had been passed that feeling
of relief was felt, for then it was reason
ably certain that the Oregon was out of
reach of the Spanish fleet. From this
time until arrival at Jupiter Inlet, Florida,
nothing of special Importance occurred,
though the ceaseess vigilance which had
marked the whole trip Was never for a
moment relaxed.
The Oregon arrived at Jupiter Inlet at
8 p. M, May "a. Capt. Clark reported his
arrival, and received the congratulations
of the Department. He was ordered, if
the Oregon needed repairs, to proceed to
Hampton Roads. otherwise to Key West.
As the ship, owing to the constant care
and earnest work of all on board, was
practically in as good condition as when
she left San Francisco, Key West was her
next stopping place, where she arrived on
the morning of May 26.
The total distance Travelled by the Ore
gon during this record-breaking trip was
1892 miles. at an average speed of H.
knots per hour. During the entire jour
ney, the engines were never once slowed
or stopped for repairs The voyage Occu-
pied 6S days, of which 50 days or parts of
days were spent at sea. Such repairs as
were necessary were made by the ships
force. No body of men could have worked
more earnestly under adverse circum-
stances than did the Oregon's crew. Com
fort was out OF the question during the
trip, but not a fnurmur was heard. Such
patriotism speaks for itself. Later on,
the crew showed its capacity for fighting
as well as for work.
Arriving at Key West. the work of coal
ing the ship at once began, and was car
ried on night and day until l a. m. on the
2Sth of May, when the Oregon was once
more under way, to join Commodore Wat
sons bloekading squadron on the north
coast of Cuba. She reached it on beauti-
full Sunday morning. The ship and crew
were dirty, forming a strong contrast to
the other ships, with their crews in Sun
day dress of spotless white. But her re-
ception was none the less hearty, and
amounted TO an ovation. Each ship in
turn cheered the Oregon's crew, and their
bands played welcoming airs, the most
popular apparently being, There New
Coon in Town" and, "There,i Be Hot
The Oregon's stay with Commodore
Watson's fleet was brief. for the next
morning Admiral Sampson arrived from
Key West on the New York. and, in COM
pany with her and the Mayfower, the
ship proceeded around the east end of
Cuba, and on June 1 joined the blOckad-
ing squadron off Santiago de Cuba.
Naval officers at Key West had been
skeptical as to the ability of the Oregon
to make the speed claimed for her, after
her long trip and no repairs. But during
the cruise with the New York she had
maintained speed of 13 Knots without
difficulty, and on the day of her arrival
off Santiago occurred an amusing Incl
dent. which at the same time settled the
question of the Oregon's speed.
Soon after joining the squadron. the
Admiral steamed away on the New York,
without leaving orders for the Oregon.
Capt. Clark asked Commodore Schley by
signal what station would be assigned to
the Oregon. The Commodore replied,
proceed six miles to the southwark and
report names Of strange vessels" mean
ing that this was to be our station. 1t
happened that just at this time smoke was
seen to the south, and in a moment the
Oregon was off in pursuit, and the boilers
put under forced draft. All was excite
ment ON board, for here was the first
prize. Gradually the Oregon increased
her speed to 16 knots. and was clOs!ng1
up on the stranger, which, in the distance,
appeared to be large steamer. The look
out even saw the cargo being thrown over
board and the steamer was evidently do
ing its best to escape. A nearer view
showed the chase to be a large tug, and
when finally a blank charge brought it
around, the United States flag was shown,
and it proved to be newspaper boat,
with a number of correspondents on board,
bound for Port Antonio, Jamaica, with
dispatches. The chase occupied about four
hours, as the tug was making IA knots an
hour. Those correspondents would have
Jared sadly that day had they fallen into
the hands of the firemen of the Oregon.
Seeing the mistake of the Oregon, the
Commodore ordered the Marblehead to
oyertake and order her back, but the Mar
blehead could only meet her on the return
from the fruitless trip, although making
15 knots. The Oregon received hearty
cheer from the MarBlehead, for here was
battleship with cruiser speed. She par
ticipated in all the bombardments of the
forts at Santiago occupied a regular sta
ton on the blockading line. and nightly, In
turn with the Iowa and Massachusetts.
mnynd in close to The entrance of the har-