The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-10-02
ADMIRAL CLARK
HERO Of OREGON
DIED YESTERDAY
Native Of Vermont and Hero Of
Spanish War
OVER so YEARS IN NAVY
Went Back to His Work in Re-
cent War Though Had
Been Retired
OVER so YEARS IN NAVY

Long Beach, Cal. Oct. i.-Rear Ad
mIra Charles Il. Clark. u s. NJ. WHIT
when a captain. commanded the bat
tleshlp Oregon on its famous voyage
from San Francisco to Key West ant
later In the battle OF Santiago, Jul,
3. 1898. IN the Spanish.American war
died at the home OF his daughter here
late today
He was 10 years o'd,
Il was Rear Admiral Charles Il
Clark who gDidcd the batleship Ore
gon on It's race against time on a voy
age equal to half way around the
world without single serious mishap
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 5i years old. He sailed
from San Franciseo on March 10Th.
peween him and his destination was
the continent OF South America. the
gales and turbulent waters Of the
Straits OF Magellan where a Spanish
torpedo boat lurkcd also, and fleet
of formidable Spanish warships cruis.
ing in the Caribbean sea. On the
afternoon OF the 67th day OF sailing
the Oregon steamed into Jupiter In
let on the coast Of Florida unharmed
and ready for battle.
II is the worlds record which prob.
ably will never be equallod-it probab-
ly will never again be attempted, The
Panama Canal removes the necessity.
A modern battle hip could be trans
ferred from San Francisco TO the Flor
ida coast in time OF war through the
Canal In less than 20 days.
Rear Admiral Clark was born In
Bradford. Vermont in lSf3. At the age
OF 10 he had heen ordered to the West
Gulf blockading squadron in the Civil
war before he had finished his second
year at Annapolis. A year later he was
following Farragut over the torpedo
beds and past the forts in the bat
tie of Mobile Bay.
Clark's naval career was varied He
was shipwrecked off the coast of Brit
ish Columbia in 1868 when the Su-
vance foundered. and through the
loss Of his superior officers became
commander of the 80 survivors. He
organized them into defensive party
to hold off 400 hostile Indians until
rescue arrived. He watched the Span
iards, whom he was later to engage in
battle, lombard Valparaiso and Callao;
he served on the Pacific, West Indies
and Asiatic stations; was attached to
the Brooklyn, Mare Island and Ports
mouth navy yards, and instructed a
class at Annapolis He spent three
years in surveying the North Pacific
coast and four years IN inspecting
lighthouses.
He, on board the Oregon, helped
to destroy the Spanish fleet at Santa
30, and was advanced six numbers
in rank for his distinguished services.
At the age of SO he again was advanc-
cd in rank. seven plumbers, and pro
noted to rear admiral.
Admiral Clark rounded out his
career as commander of the League
Island navy yard; as governor for
three years Of the naval home at
Philadelphia and as president Of the
naval examining and retiring board
He was retired from active service In
1906 on his 62nd birthday.
He is survived by his wife and two
daughters The two daughters arc
both married to naval officers who
have risen to the rank of rear admiral
Admrals Robson and Hughes Ad-
miral Clark's only grandchild Is also
married to young naval officer Lieu
tenant Newetz.
Since his retirement from the navy
Admiral Clark has spent much time In
Vermont at the Lake Mansfield Trout
club in Stowe.