The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-03
THE OREGON IN DANGER.
Story Of Spanish American War Is
Told for the First Time.
From Master, Mate and PilotD

(From Master, Mate and PilOtD
Lieut.. B. B. McG." tells how the
United states supply ship Resoluto
commanded by the late Rear Admiral
Joseph G. Eaton and loaded with ex-
plosives, narrowly missed ramming
and blowing up the battleship Oregon
at the time of the Spanish-American
War. The account says, in part
The recent death Of Rear-Admiral
Joseph G. Eaton, L. S. n. (retired),
unseals the lips of those of us who
served under him when he was COM
mander of the United States ship Res
olute, during the Spanish American
War, and permits the relating of one
of the most extraordinary incidents
in which a ship ever figured.
at was on June 5, only a few days
after the Oregon anchored off San
tiago and her memorable voyage had
become history, that the Resolute,
carrying mail for the feet, hove i'm
sight. In our fOrepeak and against
the fore bulkhead were piled 40
mines, each containing 500 pounds of
guncotton Twenty charges for the
dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, containing
10000 pounds Of guncotton, were on
the deck below.
Just aft of this was 800 pounds of
gunpowder for the great guns Of the
Meet. Sull further aft were thous-
ands Of rounds OF rapid-hre ammu-
milton for siX-pounders and four and
six inch guns, while on the upper
ueck, In one of the cabins, was %
pounds of dry guncottOn and detona-
tors for the war heads Of torpedoes-
the full complement OF rs battleships.
I'VE steamed down the line of
blockading ships and delivered orders
and mail to the vessels of the squad
ron. Arriving at the western end of
the line we came about and steamed
back TO the eastward toward Guanta-
namo, which was our station. The
Oregon at this time was near the CEN
tre Of the line, about opposite the har-
Dor entrance, lying with her bow to-
ward the shore and rolling heavily in
the swell raised by monsoon. We
steamed full speed toward her, point
! ing for her about amidships.
off
standing aft, near the engine room
hatch. Near me Passed Assistant En-
gineer Lotus l.. Bernier was leaning
against the rail gazing ahead Of the
Oregon. 1t looked as if we would
pass her very close If we sheered off
at once, but we held straight on our
course, heading right at her.
Lieutenant Bernier had been chief
engineer OF the Resolute-she was for
merly the Yorktown-for many wears.
so he knew to an inch what she could
and would do under any condition.
Il saw him look hard ahead, then
Jump for the engine room hatch and
disappear. But a moment or two
elapsed; We were rapily nearing the
oregon and still we held straight to-
ward her. Then suddenly the whole
ship trembled convulsively as the en-
gines reversed at full power.
IAN instant later from the bridge
came the signal Full speed astern.
With helm hard over we swung past
the stern of the Oregon so close that
l could have tossed biscuit aboard
the battleship, which looked like a
vast tide rock awash in the waves.
The men who lined the rail on the
oregon apparently thought nothing of
the closeness OF our passage, as il they
deemed no unarmored craft could do
her any harm, but the white-faced Of
ficers on our bridge heaved one great
sigh Of relief. They had faced anni-
hilatiOn, utter, absolute.
Until now this remarkable story
has never been made public. Com
mander Eaton may have reported the
incident to the War Department, but
! II he did so his officers were not so
informed. Naturally, we were care
! ful to forget all about it,"
Not Included.