Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-17

miral Thatcher when Queen Emma was
carried home to the Sandwich islands,
and 20 the flagship Of Commodore Rodgers
when that officer urged in vain the Eng.
lish admiral to unite with him and pre-.
vent the bombardment of Valparaiso. Chill
Ho witnessed also the severe engagement
between the Spanish fleet and Peruvian
batteries at CaIlao, Peru. He was on
board the United states ship Suanee
when that vessel was lost near the coast
Of British Columbia, July. Z, 1868. and,
when tho larger portion OF the Officers
and crew were taken by Her British Ma.
Jesty's ship. Sparrow-Hawk from Hop,
island, on which they had landed. he re.
manned IN command Of tho party which
was left TO protect from the Indians what
had been saved from the wreck, unit
relieved by a steamer sent for that pur.
pose by Admiral Thatcher. Captain Clark
was on duty at the navy yards at Brook
lyn, N. Y, and Portsmouth, N. H., and
during the year IS70-i-2 ard 3. was in.
structor in the Naval Academy, and as.
sistant to tho commnndant of midship.
man. From ISL" TO 1917 be served ~ the
Hartford, Monocacy and K%carsargc, a,
the Asiatic station. For the next three
years he was on duty at Boston navy
yard. November Is, 1851. he was commits.
stoned commander, and was in charge oi
the training ship New Hampshire. From
1883 to 1856 he made n survey Of the
North Pacific. and served as light house
inspector from 1857 to 1891. From 1891 tc
1859 he vas stationed ut Mare island navy
yard. He was a member If several ex.
an,ining boards until November IS, 1895
when he took of the receiving
shir Indepenoc. Jan "a. 1896. he was pro.
NOTED to he captain and assigned to the
command OF the Monterey.
WORK ON THE OREGON.
1t was on the eve of the war will
Spain. March, 1898, when Admira
Clark was assigned to the command
the Pacific squadron, when he was al.
rected to bring the pride of III
American navy to the waters of the
Atlantic. Tie oregon left San Fran.
cisco March 10. 1898, on it's long ant
perilous journey of $4,000 miles. Sh,
arrived ut Callao April 3: passed tn,
Straits of Magellan April II; reached
Rio Janeiro April so: Bahia May s, ant
arrived at Key West, Fla, Ma,
&c. The time occupied was &c days
including ten days stay in foreign
ports Gu route. She carried a compile.
mcnt of 81 officers and a crew of 43'
men. The actual distance Travelled
was 14,590 sea miles, and 'he greatest
run without stop was 1000 miles. Thu
banner days run was 375 knots. The
firSf ny. 1,anr1 &c tl,o I~-t,-,o. -.
war and of Dewey's victory at Manila
was at Rio. Upon leaving San Fran.
cisco the crew was divided into quar-.
'.er watches and all the guns loadct
for firing every night. The decks
were constantly kept cleared for ac.
ton in anticipation of n sudden sur.
prise. After coaling at Key West
Captain Clark received orders 20 joir
the United States fleet off Santiago
The Oregon arrived in Cuban waters
May 90, and was an important acces'
sion to SIMPSONS fleet
On the morning of July 3, wher
Ccrvera's fleet attempted to escap,
from Santiago harbor, the Oregon wa.
ready for action. As soon as Captain
Clark sighted the Spanish vessels, II,
went ana S'oou on the FORWARD ID
inch turrct. where he could see ever,
move of Cevcra, and headed the Ore,
gon for the nearest vessels, which
were the torpedo boat destroyers.
Tho Oregon treated great havoc among
the Spanish fleet, and. according to tn,
official reports. was a very powerful fac.
tor in destroying it. Captain Clark, h,
his courage, bravery, and quick perception
alone prevented the escape of at leas,
two. If not three, Of the Spanish cruisers
after he had destroyed a destroyer.
Rear Admiral Sampson, in his oficia
report says: This performance of tn,
Oregon adds to the already brilliant rec
ord of this fine battlcship. and speak.
highly &c the skill and care with which
her admirable efficiency has been main
taicd during n service unprecedented il
the history of vessels Of her class"
The physical and mental strain conse
quent upon the safe conduct of the Oregon
to American water and the engagement
at Santiago were such as to necessitate ;
respite from active service of Captait
Clark, and he was granted IA leave of alb
sence in August, 1905. In May, 1899, II,
was assigned to duty in charge Of tn,
League island navy yard at Philadclphi;
and was subsequently made governor o
the nava home in hat city.
In 1902 Clark was made Il rear admiral
being advanced an additional number il
grade.
SAW Mill. RI'RNEn