| Show CAPTAIN CHARLES E CLARK ILL commander of the oregon in home news of his illness will come as a shock to his friends all over the country washington aug 5 capt oharles B dark commander of the battleship oregon now in cuban waters off santiago has been invalided invalid ed home the news of capt clarke illness came ae a shock to hie washington friends in and out of the navy who davs followed with intense his notable trip from aan francisco around alie horn to florida and noted with added abo conduct of the oregon in the battle with admiral cerveria veraa squadron definite information concerning big illness in not obtainable at the navy department secretary long said to that captain clark had been chanted leave of absence oa account of sickness but that he had no knowledge of how sick he was or from what disease be was suffering it is believed at the navy department that capt dark is suffering from some climatic affection induced probably by the tremendous strain under which he has been for months capt dark entered tho navy on the day of september Hep 1869 he was commissioned a captain on the day of june 1896 and took command of tho oregon on the of last march he is a powerful man both physically and mentally he has never known what it is to be sick having scarcely a days sickness sick nesa in his life new york aug 5 the washington correspondent of the tribune telegraphing of capt darks illness saye for some days it had been kno wn that the strain of overwork incidental to the memorable voyage ot his ship around capo horn and the arduous tour of watch duty off santiago culminating in the magnificent dash past the other battleships when admiral cervera attempted to escape had seriously affected capt darks physical strength and that he was on the verge ot breaking down f only a few days ago his t ties were augmented by the selection of the oregon as commodore Sch leys flagship and orders were issued appointing capt dark chief of staff the additional duties imposed by this assignment were of an exhausting and worrying character and they quickly told on him naval officers fear that capt darks active career is ended although in rare instances a period of rest has resulted in the complete recuperation of officers under somewhat similar circumstances notably in the instance of admiral sicard who was compelled to relinquish reli command of the north atlantic ron beveral months ago but has been able to preside over the sessions of the naval war board |
