The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-10-12
Death CLAIMS
Rear Admiral

AQm1ral CQaTlSS r. Cldih, y. .. ~.
who, when a captain, commanded the
battleship Oregon on it's famous voy,
age from San Francisco to Key West
and later in the battle of Santiago
July 3, 1897, in the Spanish-Ameri-
can war, died at the home Of his
daughter here late today. He was 79
years old.
It was Rear Admiral Charles E.
Clark who guided the battleship Ore
son in it's race against time on voy-
age equal to half way around the
world without single serious mis-
hap to men or machinery.
This remarkable race occurred dur
ing. the opening days of the Spanish
American war in 1898. Clark, then a
captain, was "a years old. He sailed
from San Francisco on March 19. Be-
tween him and his. destination was
the continent of South America, the
gales and turbulent waters OF the
Straits of Magellan, where Spanish
torpedo boat .lurked also, and a fleet
of formidab BILE Spanish warships cruis-
ing the Caribbean sea. On the after
noon of the 67th day of sailing the
Oregon steamed into Jupiter inlet on
the coast Of Florida unharmed.
1t is the worlds record which prob
ably will never be equalled-it prob
ably will never again be attempted.
The Panama canal removes the neces-
sity. A modern battleship could be
transferred from San Francisco to
the Florida coast in time of war
through the canal in less than 20
days.
An interesting anecdote is told how
Clark came to be placed'i in command
of that difficult and dangerous voy-
age.
tsHas he the stick-to-it-iveness to
take him clear through" asked a
naval authority of one of Clark's
friends who was urging his appoint
ment to the command Of the Oregon,
and ready for battle.
''Did you ever see him play chess?'
the friend replied.
What has that to do with the
case?"
"Everything'', was the answer.
STRATEGY as learned on the chess
board is not bad training as pre-
liminary to naval tactics, and he con-
tinued to outline Clark's character
istic determination, which was notice
able even while playing chess, until
the apopintment was won.
Rear Admiral Clark was born in
Vermont in 1S43. At the age of 20 he
had been ordered to the west gulf
blockading squadron in the Civil war
before he finished his second year at
Annapolis. A year later he was fol-
lowing Farragut over the torpedo
beds and past the forts in the battle
of Mobile bay,
Clark's naval career was varied. He
was shipwrecked off the coast OF Brit
ish Columbia in 1858, when the
Suwanee foundered, and through the
loss of his superior officers became
commander of the 33 survivors. He
organized them into a defensive party
to hold off 400 hostile Indians until
rescue arrived. He watched the
Spaniards. whom he was later to en-
gage in battle, lombard Valparaiso
and Callao; he served on the Pacific,
West Indias and Asiatic stations; was
attached to the Brooklyn, Mare Island
and Portsmouth navy yards, and in
structed a class at Annapolis. He
spent three years in surveying the
north Pacific coast, and four years IN
inspecting light houses.
He, on board the Oregon, helped to
destroy the Spanish Meet at Santlaso'
and was advanced six numbers in
rank for his distinguished services.
At the age Of SO he again was ad-
yanced in rank seven numbers and
promoted to rear admiral.
Admiral Clark rounded out his
career as commander of the League
Island navy yard, as governor for
thre years Of the naval home at
Philadelphia, and as president Of the
naval examining and retiring board.
He was retired from the active serv-
ice in 1905 on his Sind birthday.