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THE VOYAGE OF THE
_OREGON_
FROM SAN FRANCISCO
TO SANTIAGO IN
1898


_AS TOLD BY_
ONE OF THE CREW



_PRIVATELY PRINTED_
THE MERRYMOUNT PRESS
_BOSTON_
1908

[_One hundred and twenty-five copies printed_]




To the Reader


_Almost ten years have passed since the country followed, in scanty
telegram from port to port, the Oregon speeding down one side of a
continent and up the other to Bahia; then came two anxious, silent
weeks when apprehension and fear pictured four Spanish cruisers with a
pack of torpedo boats sailing out into the west athwart the lone ship's
course, the suspense ending only when tidings came of her arrival at
Jupiter Inlet; then off Santiago, after a month of waiting, there is
the outcoming of Cervera's squadron, when this splendid ship, with
steam all the time up, leaps to the front of her sisters of the fleet,
like an unleashed hound, and joins the historic company of the Bon
Homme Richard, the Constitution, the Hartford, in our naval annals.
From the start at the Golden Gate to the beaching of the Colon is a
succession of events full of thrilling merit and vitality which
official bickerings and envyings cannot change or obscure._

_The story has been told from the standpoint of the quarter-deck, the
court room, and the department bureau. Here we have the artless journal
of an unlettered sailor, written between decks, without the least
notion that it would ever be read apart from his own family circle. The
pages of his record give an insight into the mutual regard and
confidence existing between the captain and his crew which made the
voyage the memorable achievement that it was. Admiral Clark would be
made of stolid stuff were he indifferent to the enthusiasm and loyalty
manifest in the narrative in various ways, in none, however, more
hearty and sincere than in the endearing designations of the "old gent"
and "the old man." He was in fact fifty-four years of age when he
became captain of the Oregon. Shortly before, he had been on special
duty in the North Pacific at the head of a fleet of seven men-of-war,
at that time the largest cruising fleet in our navy since the conflict
with the Confederacy. Starting as midshipman at the Naval Academy in_
1860, _he had seen thirty-eight years of active and varied service in
all seas. In the contest with Spain the commanders of the various
warships were his associates at the academy. Sampson had been his
instructor there; Gridley, who opened the battle of Manila, and Cook,
who received the surrender of the Colon, were classmates; and Dayton,
who rendered distinguished service at San Juan, was a relative. In the
transition from wood to iron in naval architecture he has had command
in every type of fighting craft beginning with the wooden Ossipee, when
he took part at Mobile Bay in ramming the ironclad Tennessee, and, as
ensign in charge of the forward guns, was the first to exchange words
with the latter's commander as he came out of the casemate to surrender
his ship, and ending with the Oregon._

_The narrative which follows of the voyage from San Francisco to
Santiago in_ 1898 _was called to light by a communication of Admiral
Clark to the press in the winter of_ 1907 _relating to the Straits of
Magellan. The writer of the narrative, who was a member of the Oregon's
crew, sent it to his sisters through whom in consequence of reading the
Admiral's mention of that ship's passage of the Straits, it came to
him. The Admiral in turn showed it to friends, who insisted that copies
should be printed for private distribution._

JOHN ADAMS AIKEN

_Greenfield, Massachusetts_
_February_ 29, 1908




The Voyage of the OREGON


So we started on the 19th of March and I will try and give you some
idea of our trip on this side of the U.S. Capt McCommick got sick and
had to be releived to go on sick leif. Capt Clark was in comand of the
Monteray at the time and he was a young Capt too. there was no other
one around there at that time, so he was detailed to take comand of the
Oregon and a prowed man he was too, and we wer a prowed crew along with
him. he was glad he got the ship and we wer glad we got him. we knew he
was a good Seaman. any way he called us all aft on the quarter deck and
read out his orders and told us that we wer going towards south
America. I will now try and give you the trip.

_March_ 19. 1898 Up anchor at 8 A.M. in San Francisco Bay. I had the 8
to 12 watch and we past through the Golden Gate at 9.15 A.M. and left
the Fairwell Bouy at 10.5 A.M. and shaped our course for Callao, Peru,
it being S.E. 1/2 E, and at the same time we drop over the Patent Log
in the Briny. the Capt gave orders to give 75 turns and that brought
her out about 11.5 knots. Every thing is runing smooth and all Hunk.

_March_ 20. Sliding along at 11.8 knots gate. Every thing working
beautyfull. nothing of interest going on, except the fine Wether.

_March_ 21. Changed course at 10. A.M. to S.E. Will not put down any
thing for some time to come as there is nothing unusal going on, But I
wonder if we will get there to catch up with the Band Wagon.

_April_ 4. Arived at Callao, Peru, 5.30 A.M., very pleasant trip all
the way down the coast, we are doing quick work so far. started to coal
ship at 8 A.M. and as soon as we get enough on board we will pull right
out for the straights of Magellan and there join the Marietta, our
little Gun Boat, which will scout the straights for us in case there is
a Spanish Torpedo Boat in one of the Many Coves. She can go in shallow
water as she is a light draft boat and at the same time order coal for
us.

We have allready made one of the grandest runs on record. Just think of
it, a First Class Battle Ship making 4800 miles in just 16 days and
used 900 Tons of Coal, That being the longest trip on record for a
First Class Battle Ship.

_April_ 5. We are now laying over an old city in Peru. they say when
some of the ships hoist there anchor they some times rais some of the
old houses or part of them with the anchor. This old place is some 109
years old, the Old Callao, I mean. 109 years ago they had an Earthquake
and Tidle Wave hear togather and did up the city. The public hear speak
nothing but Spanish and the Capt thinks there might be som sympathizers
amongst Them, so we are keeping the strickest Kind of watch on the
ship. We have two steam cutters pattroling the ship all night and men
station in the fighting tops as sharp shooters. the steam cutters are
armed with two automatic 22 m.m. Rifles, so that would more than be a
match for a ordinary Torpedo Boat, and while all the Post on Deck were
Double we consider our selves pretty safe. They are puting coal on
board as fast as they can, working night and day to get it all on. we
are going to take a big lot this time.

_April_ 6. Pay day today. put on Sea stors today along with the coal,
it all gos togather. But what is the diferance, this is War times and
we are trying to get in it and I think we will if we get a show. I
bought a nice pair of shoes today for 3.50 in U.S. Gold. there is no
liberty to any one hear so we have to buy something that is some good
to us. Expect to coal ship all night so as to pull out to morrow.

_April_ 7. Got all the coal on this morning at 4 A.M. there is about
1750 tons on now, never had so much on before. got 100 tons on deck in
sacks. we are knocking some of the coal dust off the sides. She is a
very dirty ship now and expect to remain so for a long time to come.
There is some talk of a Spanish Gun Boat or a Torpedo Boat in the
Straights waiting for us. But I think that will be all right when the
Marietta gets there to patrole the place for us. We expect to go out to
night some time. 7 P.M. left Port. The Capt dont know wether to go
round the Horn or not. But if we go, as the Dutchman says By the Horn
around, we will get a shaking up. But every body seems to think we can
take care of our selves where ever we go. Capt Clark is all right, we
dont think he is afraid of the whole Spanish Navy. the wether is very
fogy. Expect it to lift when we get a little ways.

                     *      *      *      *      *

_April_ 9. Alls Well, every thing doing fine.

_April_ 10. Just came on watch; have all four boilers on now and we are
peging along at a 13.7 and a 14 knot gate. you dont know you are at sea
in this ship if you would stop between Decks. guess there is not much
doing to day, so I will steal forward for a while the old gent sleeps a
little. I forgot to speak of having a little practis with the 6
pounders. They threw over Boxes and barrels and as we would get away
from them we would fire on them for Torpedo Boats. we did some good
shooting. All the Marines Man the seccondary Battry. The Capt got the
chief engineer to fix the 8 inch turets to turn in Board 9 more degrees
so as to shoot over the stern of the ship. So that would bring to bear
on one point 2, 13 inch Guns 4, 8 inch Guns 2, 6 inch Guns and six 6
Pounders aft, and the same forward. We could shoot for a Broad side 4,
13 inch 4, 8 inch 2, 6 inch and about 12, 6 Pounders on either side.

Of corse this is Sunday and we all ought to be good. But we will be as
good as we can By having a Gen feild day and clean up a little, as this
is the first chance we have had to do any scrubing since we left San
Francisco, Cal. I think we will meet the Marietta in the Straights of
Magellan. we have found some grate Bars for her under the coal dust. We
all think Capt Clark is going to be a ring tail snorter for fighting. I
dont think it will be easy to whip him, he seems to be so quick to
catch on to every little thing, he is all over the ship at once and he
talks to every body, stops any one to ask them any thing he wants to
know about the ship. he is very quick to take the advantage of every
little thing.

_April_ 11. Very heavy wether. Wind Blowing Great Guns and a head sea.
But we are Bucking it and making 11.6 knots. the Capt dont think we
will run up against any thing in the shape of a Torpedo Boat in the
Straights. We had some more Practis today with the 6 Pounders and did
some good work. I think we could make it very interesting for a Torpedo
Boat. I dont see how they could get at us, unless it was in the night
and then there would have to be somthing the matter with our search
lights and all hands on Board would have to have the "Buck Feaver."

_April_ 12. We lost a little today on account of the forward 13 inch
Turet, somthing got Jamed. all going well once more, and still bucking
a head sea and making 11.7 knots right along. 4 P.M. Heavy wind has
turned into a gale, but she is like a Duck on a Mill Pond and still
making 10 knots, Gale or no Gale. she has not roled over 10 degrees
since we left Port Orchard, Wash.

_April_ 15. Whooping her up for all she is worth, want to make all she
can. Wether is fine but quite Cold. Making all the way from 14 to 15
knots.

_April_ 16. Everything is still doing well, and still going a mill
tail. Passed Smiths Straights the first part of this morning, early,
and in the fog that has Just come on we are still going it. the fog
raised for a while and showed us the Destination Island, and then we
wer shure we had only 30 miles to go to get in the Straights. Just at
Dark we droped our mud hook in just 45 fathoms of water in the entrence
of the Straights of Magellan. 9.45 P.M. had the 8 to 12 watch and She
more than blew. I thought the ship would drift. But she held on like
grim Deth to a dead <DW65>. The wind Blowed so hard I expected to be
lifted off my feet.

_April_ 17. Making all posable speed to Sandy Point, making about 15
knots ever since we started this morning. 12 O clock Midday, there is
some of the most beautyfull and grandest sights I have ever had the
pleasure to look upon. I am shure if I could only write on the subject
I could make it very interesting. I never seen such beautyfull wild
nature in all my travels; there is mountain after mountain of Glacier
and they seem to have all the colors of the rainbow, it was a little
cold too and the whole Mountains sparkled like diamonds. 6. P.M. drop
anchor in the Harber of Sandy Point, Chili. Had the public bin able to
see us, They would not stop runing for the next week to come, for we
cleard ship for action and had the guns all loaded up and ready for
buisness and to Blaze away at any thing that looked as thoe it wanted
to fight. Capt Clark belives in for warned for armed, and takes no
chances. had the two Steam Cutters patroling the ship as usual.

She made one of the grandest runs on record, for 11 hours making an
average of 15-1/2 knots; it knocks the Worlds record sky high. Just
think of a first Class Battle Ship making 15-1/2 knots for 11 straight
hours on a straight away run, and we all think she could beat that
time. But we had over the bow 2 anchors with the flukes of both in the
water 3 feet. I am sure that held her Back 2 tenths of a knot. And the
Marietta is not hear. the Capt dont know what has becom of her.

_April_ 18. Well the Marietta is hear this morning, she came in at
12.15 this morning. She was in the straights when we past her, she was
laying off in one of the coves waiting for us, the man on lookout
sighted us as we pased her, and told his capt and he said let her go,
we