Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-07

was the one responsible for the ship, and
that she was going to toin the fleet off
Cuba.
The part that the Oregon took in the
battle Of July of Santiago has been lost
sieht of in the unfortunate controversy
tf,nt arose Immediately afterward. Being
tho most cnstevlv of all the ships when
| the Spanish feet WIS sighted coming out,
she quickly passed her sister SHIP the
Indiana. and almost as quickly the Iowa,
which was rated q Knot faster, and the
Texas. which was supposed to be three
knots faster and held her own with the
fast cruiser Brooklyn. It 10 known to un-
biased observers that each OF tho Spanish
ships turned for the shore disabled as
the Oregon brought them abeam and
pusred in full brcadsidc. That these
ships were defeated WAS called to Capt.
Clark's attention, and he replied. 1--WE
| will push on for the next. Those behind
can now attend to her"
| That the Oregon vas in such fine con-
dtion at Santiago was a credit 20 oil. on
| the ship, but the brunt of 1t all fell en- the
nptain. The officers protested against
the shor. allowance of fresh water and
requested more for themselves and the
crew. TO have granted this. ealt water
would have to be used in the boilers.
| After full consideration this request was
refused; from leaving San Francisco un-
| I'll after the battle no salt water was
| admitted to the boilers Of the Oregon as
WINS done on other ships of the blockad-
| ing feet ard this. more than Anything
else, accounts for tho speed of the oregon
during the battle. AZ all times on the
blockade fires we're lighted under all the
boilers and when tho time came she
was ready TO Use her full power. During
| the trip around there was friction about
| Of the division of the small amount OF
| ice made on tho ship. Capt. Clark order
Cd that a small amount should 20 TO the
officers, some TO placed in the tank or
drinking water for the men, and that the
rest should go TO the fire-room; that IN
der no circumstances should any go to the
cabin. and that II any man wns FOUND
with ice and stated that is was for the
cartain he should be Immediately placed
under arrest.
I.pon arrival at Rio Janeiro Capt. Clark
was informed that tho Spanish torpedo
gunboat Temerio might make the port
The Marietta was ordered outside TO LOOK
for her md the Oregon was moved away
from the rnan-of-war anchorage ana clear
| Of all merchant vessels; the BRAZILIAN an-
thoritics were then informed that should
the Tcmerio approach within a mile oil
tho Oregon tina. he would consider that
the neutrality Of the port was about to
be violated and the Oregon would open
! fire on her.
It would seem that the services OF capt
Clark were never fully appreciated q!
those in authority. He sought nothing
for himself. three captains were pro-
noted over him for service at Manila
and then by the personnel act OF 1898
two more officers were placed over him,
and as n reward the government pro-
nosed an advancement of six numbers,
thus placing him one number above MS
rosition when the war broke out. Capt.
clark made an official protest against
this to the navy department. saying
that he was fully aware of the service
rendered. that he did not desire any re-
ward. that he did not believe In reward
irg by numbers. as this was at the ex-
ponse of brother officers. and not mt the
expense of the government, and. further,
he protested against any such valuation
being placed upon the services rem
dered by the Oregon and himself, as six
numbers were only one more than was
given to all cartains at Santiago.
In srite of the protest. this so-called
reward was confirmed by tho Senate.
Later President Roosevelt nominated
Cant Clark TO be advanced six numbers
and to be rear-admiral. still an in
ADEQUATE reward, but it is belived that
it was the desire of the President to do
more. but that ne yielded to advice of
those Of whom the least that can he
said Is that they were jealous OF the
captain and Of his record.
For some time after the Spanish war
Capt. clark's record seemed to be against
him. He made application for duty
but all he could obtain WAS the com
paratively unimportant duty of captain
Of the I.eag que island navy yard 1t seemed
to he the desire of tho department
, to get hm out of the country in tho
, same manner they hustled the Orc
, gon out TO Asia. Ho was ut League Island
, for two years and half. and then was
: governor Of the naval home Mt Phila'
delpha for three years. In August. 1904
he was ordedcd to duty president 81
examining and retiring board. and re-
, levcd Of that duty in May of this year
lie has been a number OF the genera
hoard since its organization, and may
so continue after his retirement.
II is generally believed that tho WORK
done by the Oregon has not received suf
fcent official recognition. and that Capt
Clark has not been sufficiently rewarded
1t would seem emincntly proper for Capt
; Clark and the officers and men cf tho
Oregon to be given the thank; Of Con
gross and for the President to recon-
mend that vote be tcricrc1.
Rcar-Admiral Clark will always b'