The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-10-06

durance of machinery and human
effort-and without failure in
either. The lofty spirit mani
tested by Captain Clark was re-
fected in every man of his crew,
and each one conducted himself
as though the safety of the ship
(and none could tell what mighty
interests dependent upon it,
were in his individual keeping.
Captain Clark had to this time
given splendid exhibition of his
capabilities as a sailor, and he
was now to display Incompatible
gallantry in action. Joining
Simpsons fleet off Santiago, the
Oregon" and "Marblehead'' en-
gagged the shore batteries at
Guantanamo, covering the land
ing of a party of forty marines
from the former named vessel,
and this was the first landing in
force by Americans on the shores
of Cuba, and the first warranted
raising of the United States flag
upon it's soil. July Sd, the Span
ish fleet essayed it's passage out
of the harbor of Santiago. The
Oregon" took position at the
head of the United States line of
battleships, Captain Clark on the
forward turret whence he could
command an unobstructed view.
and engaged each one of the
enemy's vessels until they were
destroyed. Treating a couple of
torpedo destroyers to a passing
fire, the Oregon" stood for the
Maria Teresa" Admiral Ger
vera's flagship, which caught fire
and was run ashore. He then en-
gagged the "Almirante Oquendo,"
and, aided by the Texas" drove
her to the beach. For nearly an
hour the Oregon" was engaged
against the "Vizcaya," which also
ran ashore. Sinking the "Furor"
with six-inch shell, the "Ore-
gon" then engaged the "Cristobel
Colon" the last of the Spanish
fleet, which was driven ashore at
the mouth of the Rio Torquino,
forty-eight miles west of Santi-
ago. From the time when she
fired the first shot from her for
ward 6-pounder until the Girls
tobel Colon" headed for the shore,
the Oregon" fired 1,776 shots.
The Spanish officers declare it was
the fire from her secondary bat
teries that mainly drove their
men from their guns and forced
their ships to beach, and afford
ed ample confirmation of the
truth of Captain Clark's asser-
ton, contained in his official re-
port: II am persuaded that but
for the officers and men of the
Oregon" who steamed and steer
ed the ship and fought and sup
piled her batteries, the "Cristo-
bel Colon" and perhaps the "Viz-
caya" would have escaped"
On July 7th a squadron was de-
tached from Simpsons fleet to
cruise after the fleet of Admiral
Camara, and this was placed un-
der the command of Commodore
Watson. Captain Clark was ap-
pointed by Commodore Watson
as his chief-of-staff, at the same
time being left in command of
his vessel. Commodore Watson's
squadron was disbanded after Ad-
miral Camara's fleet had return
ed to Spain, and shortly after
wards Captain Clark was granted
leave of absence in order to res
tore his health, which was much
impaired through his many
months of phenomenal service
with it's tremendous responsible
tiles and consequent severe strain
upon his physical and mental
systems. He returned to duty in
March, 1899, and was appointed
to the command of the League
Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia,
Pa, and was subsequently ap-
pointed Governor of the Naval
Home, near the same city.
Captain Clark was married, in
1869, to Miss Mary Louisa, daugh-
ter of William Davis of Green
field, Mass, and two daughters
have been born of this marriage.