2
THE VOYAGE OF THE OREGON.
The World-Breaking Record of the American Battle Ship As
Described by Her Gallant Commander.
14,000 MILES
TO WAR.
"And Every Officer and Man Would Have Died at His Post to
Insure Her Safe Arrival,"
' (Julias Chambers In New York World.)_
"What should Cervera have done?"
"He should have stayed In Santiago
harbor forever rather than come out
the way he did," was the solemn re
mark of Capt. Clark lately of the bat
tleship Oregon, recently. "The fleet
was a fortress. With Its guns he could
have driven the United States array
away from shore until such time us It
could have mounted ten-Inch guns to
alnk his ships. He was master of the
situation and should have 'hung on'
until every last member of his ships'
crews had died of absolute starvation!
I ffhen would he have been a real hero—
(jn eternal figure In history!
V "Think of the chances in his favor!
Yellow fever might have come and
decimated the American ranks. A gale
might have broken loose on the Car
ibbean seas that would have scattered
our ships to the four winds of heaven,
after which Cervera could have sailed
away without opposition and returned
to his native land undefeated." ■
The story of a great achievement,
not less great because modestly told,
is that of Captain Charles H. Clark,
recently In command of that wonder
ful fighting machine, the battleship
Oregon.
Cnptaln Clark Is a large, well built
man, 5 feet 9 inches In height, and
tips the scales at 200 pounds. His
face lights up with a cordial smile
whenever he meets anybody he knows
and he is equally affable to strangers.
"The Oregon's voyage doesn't seem
great to me," began Captain Clark,
"though It became memorable because
of its opportune completion just at a
time that the Oregon was needed to
strengthen the North Atlantic squad
ron In order to Impart confidence at
home. That the Oregon should have
sailed 14,000 miles to be present at the
destruction of Admiral Cervera's
fleet, and got there In time, is really
interesting and curious.
"I was appointed to the ship on
March 17, and we sailed two days lat
er. She had l>een on the dry dock at
llrcwcrtoh only a short wbfle before,
and her hull was thoroughly clean.
From stage to stage the coal capacity
of the ship determined the length of
the run. The weather, except in the
straits of Magellan, was excellent. The
run down the Pacific coast need not be
THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURG, PA
dwelt upon. Nine hundred tens of coal
carried us to Collar.. No trouble oc
curred with the engines, and the same
may be said of the entire voyage.
The Incldeut of this run of 1,000 kuots
was a (Ire In the- port coal bunker.
The Are was dug out and quenched.
It was a terrible ordeal for the men
and a period of great anxiety to all on
board. Several acts of real heroism
wore displayed In this hazardous tight
with the flames.
"When Sandy Point was left behind
we all realized the possible dnngers in
front of us," continued Captain Clark.
"The Oregon convoyed the Marietta
to Rio without Incident. And in that
harbor the Nictheroy lay at anchor,
about to be added to the American
navy. The Brazilian government was
very courteous. It may have been
swing to the fact that the purchase of
the Nictheroy had not been completed.
There was the Teinerarlo! Detecting
her presence at once, I ordered the
Marietta to guard the harbor mouth
and told her captain to send a boat
on board the Spanish craft and serve
notice upon the Temerario that if she
came within one mile of the Oregon
our guns, big and little, would open
on her without notnee.
"On reaching port I had been noti
fied by our consul that war was on,
and I could not afford to take any
chances. I steamed Into the harbor
two miles above the usual anchorage
for war vessels, giving to my ship an
Isolated position, so that I might he
justified in regarding the approach of
any strange craft as a hostile act
The utmost vigilance was employed
day and night; men were kept con
stantly at the rapid fire gens. A
searchlight and patrol boats watched
the water after nightfall. The risk
was too great for me to take any
chances, and although the Brazilians
icted all right and were even generous
In not holding us to the twenty-four
liour rule recognized under Interna
tional taw, I could not be sure of the
utter absence of cranlis or Spanish
sympathizers.
"We sailed from Rio on May 4. I
decided when we had been at sea a lit
tie while, to leave the Buffalo (former
ly the Nietheroyi and Marietta to
shift for themselves. They were so
slow feared the Oregon might
be late in arriving wihere she was
most needed. I left these ships off
Capo Frio, 100 miles above Rio, after
signalling them 'Come to Buliiu; or
run ashore If attacked by overwhelm
ing force.' I reached Bahla on the
Bth, bnt we were told to 'Come on!'
We sailed next morning, and this run
of ten days to Barbadoes was t)he most
thrilling of the entire voyage. We
steamed absolutely without a light.
"Indeed, The entire trip from Sandy
Point to Jupiter Inlet was a light less
voyage. In pitch-like darkness we
drove ahead at our highest speed
seeing lights many times, but always
avoiding Che ships that bore them.
We were out of court. We had no
right of way without a light Even
If we met a vessel on our port we
gave way.
"Night and day the men stood at
the guns. Not for a single moment
was vigilance relaxed. The strain on
the men was terrible. For four days
at a time hammocks were never
strung. Watch and watch about, the
men lay beside the guns sound asleep,
while the men on duty stood silently
above tbem. All the lookouts were
doubled and changed with unusual fre
quency.
"Barbadoes was reached Just before
daylight, May IS, aud after rushing
250 tons of coaj aboard we sailed the
same evening. Still the orders read,
'Come on!'
"From our consul I learned that Cer
vera's fleet was at Martinique, just to
the north of us. This fleet had been
mutfh extolled for speed and fighting
qualities. 1 am not a rash man. I
was not looking for tffiat fleet. The
situation seemed critical. Sailing Just
before dark, I headed northwest, ap
parently Into the heart ot the Carib
bean sea. This information, I have no
doubt, was promptly communicated
to Admiral Cervora. But as soon as
the darkness of a moonless night had
thoroughly set in, I changed the course
to due south and ran below Barbadoes
and thence far to the eastward before
I took the Oregon to the northward.
We Alius passed faT to sea east of
Martinique, and eventually turned into
the North Atlantic beyond St. Thomas.
I carefully avoided the Windward
channel and the shallow waters of the
Bahamas."
"Why did you go to Jupiter Inlet?"
was asked.
"I didn't know where the depart
ment wanted to use me," was the
prompt reply. "I was in the dark ns
to the location of the two floets. I
knew one hail been at Hampton Roads
and another at Key West, and the
charts told me that Jupiter Inlet was
in telegraphic reach of all points on
the coast. From that place, also, I
had coal enough to make the run
to either of the two fleets. You can
easily understand that had I gone di
rect to Key West and the Oregon had
been wooited at Hampton Koads, sev
eral days would have to be lost in
coaling. Of course the fact is that
we went to Key West. This was
the end of what may be called a suc
cessful, though not a remarkable voy
age."
"Tell me something about the en
durance of the men," I asked.
"Their suffering from the hent was
beyond description," began Captain
Clark. "Battened under the hatches
for weeks at a time, overy man work
ed with the absolute Individual energy
Continued on page 8.
CSPSTORIA
For Infants and Children.
fcftSTSRjA The Kind You Have
ASfefielablcPOT'arafionfwAs- I
M
M jtlSMtS&liHf! Hl'il \i /(/fll 5
_ Signature /JJu
w -/laJ"
ttessafldHssLGonfalns neither , „f XJf g v r
Opium nor tfineraL Ui #(V#IIT
NOT NAHCOTIC. liVVir
J*iim&OMIkrSffIBZZBIf!BEB. - lyVp'
i \X *
iMift fcfir- I Alj op ■
lib 1 iyr The
ft/ Kind
turn. Sour Stomach .Diarrhoea, I lir
Worms .Convulsions .Feverish- 1 IF* U MIII
ncss and Loss of Sleep, g I Oil mBVu
Tflc'Sitnile Signature of M
45&gg" Ifllwavs Bought.
■K3EI3S3&EK3EIHH H w
—IMCTIIBU
EXACT COPTOFWBAEHEB. ■|j lifll I fo*l
THE CENTAUR COMPANY, NEW YORK CITV.
STOVE NAPTHA, the Cheapest and
Best Fuel on the market. With it you
can run a Vapor Stove for one-hali
cent per hour. Give us a call and be
convinced.
W. O. Holmes, Bloomsßurg, Pa.
Eshleman & Wolf,
L. E. Wharey, "
W. F. Hartman, "
Simple Test of Drinking Water.
Here is a simple test for the pres
ence of sewage water, says the New
York Herald: All drinking water
should be tested in town or country
frequently, as there are other impuri
ties besides sewage which are quite
as deadly, and every cistern ot water
is liable to be a source of blood pois
oning. Mice, rats and other pests,
must have water, and many a case of
typhoid is set up by such as these
falling into the cistern and remaining
there for months in a decomposed
state.
To detect this impure condition is
very simple and 'unfailing. Draw a
tumbler of water from the tap at
night, put a piece of white lump su
gar into it and place it on the kitchen
mantel shelf, or anywhere that the
temperature will not be under 6o de
grees fahrenheit.
In the morning the water, if pure,
will be perfectly clear; if contami
nated with sewage, or other impuri
ties, the water will be milky. This is
a simple and safe test well known in
chemistry.
Working Every Day.
"My father has been troubled with
disordered blood, weak back and that
tired feeling. He tried many different
medicines which gave him no relief.
He has been taking Hood's Sarsapa
rilla and he is now strong and healthy
and is working every day." A. S.
WYKER, South Easton, Pa.
Hood's Pills are the only pills to
take with Hood's Sarsaparilla. Be
sure to get Hood's
Higgins—"You don't hear anything
of Hobson any more." Wigwag—"l
hear he is at the seashore now, but
that he never goes in bathing."
"Why ?" " He's afraid the mermaids
will want to kiss him."
A fine line of new styles in wed
ding invitations just received at THE
COLUMBIAN office. tf.
The marriageable young ladies ot
a western town held a meeting and
resolved : " That we will not marry
anyone who is not a patron of his
home paper, for it is only a strong ev
idence of want of intelligence, and
he will probably prove too stingy to
provide for his family, educate his
children and encourage institutions of
learning in The community."
OA.STORXA.
Bean the /i ThB Kind You Han Always Bought
Here and There- /
Much of the experience a man gets
comes too late to benefit him.
To the victors belong the privilege
of fighting over the spoils.
Down in front—a young man's first
attempt at mustache culture.
No man enjoys drinking in a con
versation of the extra dry brand.
When the acts are long drawn out
its quite a distance between drinks.
Some clubs cause scolding wives
and some scolding wives cause clubs.
The unsalaried office always nas to
seek the man.
An old hen never fears opposition
from the egg-plant.
Some men never respect the things
they are unable to understand.
The judgment of Solomon was great
but he never tried to umpire a base
ball game.
Man a boy who runs away to join a
circus is only too glad to .walk back
home again.
The gas meter's claim to the cham
pion liar medal is disputed by the bi
cycle cyclometer.
Before marriage a man declares
himself unworthy of his sweetheart's
love, and after marriage he spends
about two-thirds of his time in prov
ing it.
No woman is ever as young as she
expects others to think she looks.
The man who chews cloves is never
quite free from the breath of suspicion.
The less energy a man has the
easier it is for him to drift into matri
mony.
The life of a chorus girl can't be so
very wearing, judgtng from her ap
parel.
It isn't pride that makes the gallery
gods look down on the rest of the au
dience.
A justice of the peace is the only
peace connected with some matrimo
nial experiments.
The only way a man can find out
just what a woman really thinks of
him is to make her angry.
The peacemaker is all right, but he
is never appreciated by the man who
is getting the best of it.
Ice cream may be unhealthy, but
the motive of the young man who
tries to prove it to his girl friends is
apt to be misconstrued.
CASTOR IA
For Infants and Children.
Tbe Kind You Have Always Bought
Signature of
Fine PHOTO
GRAPHS and
CRAYONS at
R. B. GROTZ,
Bloomsburg.
The best are
the cheapest
TID-BITS FOR MA f HONEY!
and tender little juicelets for the chil
dren, aic all right, but papa and "the
boys" want a good, big, juicy steak,
roast or chop wnen business or school
duties are over, and we can cater to
them all. Our stock of prime meats is
unexcelled for quality, and we send
them home in fine shape.
J. E. KCIFKR.
THE MARKETS.
BLOOMSBURG MARKETS.
CORBBCTEI) WEEKLY. RETAIL FBIOII.
Butter per lb $ ,22
Eggs per dozen .16
Lard per lb .08
Ham per pound .10
Pork, whole, per pound ,06
Beef, quarter, per pound.... .07
Wheat per bushel .80
Oats " " 35
Rye " " .50
Wheat flour per bbl 4.80
Hay per ton 9 to sro
Potatoes per bushel .80
Turnips " " .35
Onions " " 100
Sweet potatoes per peck .35
Tallow per lb .05
Shoulder " " .09
Side meat .08
Vinegar, per qt ;.., ,05
Dried apples per lb .05
Dried cherries, pitted. ' .is
Raspberries .13
Cow Hides per lb ,1
Steer " " " .05
CalfSkin .80
Sheep pelts .75
Shelled corn per bus .60
Corn meal, cwt 1.35
Bran, " .*OS
Chop " .ge
Middlings " ,gj
Chickens per lb new , 1 a
" " "old 10
Turkeys " " lt i
Geese " "
Ducks " " , c g
COAL.
No. 6, delivered 3.60
" 4 and s " 3.85
" 6 at yard 3.35
" 4 and s at yard 3. h0
Thi Leading Consenratory of Amw ioa_—. —
Caul Fabltbn, Director.
Founded I n 18S8 by tflW
* jiving full information.
rank W. Hals, General Manager.
THE j
TRAINED NURSE
Bciladcmaa Planter
PATENTS
Caveats and Trade Marks obtained, and all
Patent business conducted lor .Mo DERATE
FEES.
OUlt OFFICE IS OPPOSITE THE i'. M. PAT
ENT OFFICE. We Uuve no sub-agencies, al
business direct, hence can transu, patent busl
ness In less time and at Less Cost 1 ban those re
inoto from Washington.
Send model, drawing or photo, with deocrlp
tton. We advise It patentable or not, free ot
charge. Our lee not due till patent Is secured
A book, "llow to obtain Patents," with reter
Cnees to actual clients in your state, County, o
town sent free. Address
. C. A. RNO W & CO,, Washington, D. C
(Opposite U. S. Patent Offlce.)
HAIR R B ALSAM
Olmdimi and beautifies the hate.
Promote® a luxuriant prowth.
Mover Faila to Beatore Qraj
Hair to ita Youthful Color.
?H-4t.<L
SUBSCRIBE FOR
THE COLUMBIAN