Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/237

 CLARK

CLARK

first informed of the actual existence of war with Spain and of the departure of the Spanish fleet from the Cape Verde islands westward, with authority from the naval department to delay his departure from that port if his leaving should be deemed dangerous. He however completed coaling; dropped his slower consorts the Marietta and the Nictheroy off Cape Frio and pushed the battle-ship at full speed to Bahia, from where, after a council with his officers in which he re- ferred to the tactics of the survivor of the Horatii, he cabled the navy department as follows: ' ' The Oregon could steam fourteen knots for hours, and, in a running fight might beat off and even cripple the Spanish fleet." His plan as well as his rapid advance met the approval of the department, and the official opinion was then expressed that if the Oregon should suddenly encounter the Spanish fleet she would defeat it. Of this telegram Sena- tor Lodge wrote: "And those who read these

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words think of Sir Richard Grenville in the years gone by "; while as to his plan as outlined to the department for fighting the Spanish fleet, and his reference in the council to the survivor of the Horatii, Captain Mahan wrote: "An instructive instance of drawing such support from the very fountain heads of military history in the remote and even legendary past is given by Captain wlark." In the battle of Santiago, July 3, 1898, after the appar3r>tly uninjured Spanish ships had passed to the westward of all the United States battle -ships except the Brooklyn, the Oregon rus'i:d by the other vessels comprising the fleet, and at the close range of 900 yards sought action with the Maria Teresa, then with the Oqnniido and then with the Vizcaya, each in the order named turning from the iron hail of the Oregon and running ashore there to suffer destruction from the effect of the terrible punishment re- ceived from the concentrated fire of the entire fleet. The Oregon in addition to her rapid fire and her secondary battery, discharged thirty -two ot the 13-inch shells. After the three named Spanish battle-ships retired in flames the Oregon and the Brooklyn liurried on in pursuit of the Colon. After nearly two hours of unremitting effort the American ships began to close, and it was a last shell from the Oregon passing over the Colon that compelled her captain to run her

asliore and haul down the flag. This action, a precedent in the annals of naval history, proved an education to the entire world. Captain Clark was married to Maria Louisa, daughter of W. T. Davis of Greenfield, Mass. Of their two daughters,. Mary Louisa was married to Lieut. S. S. Robin- son, U.S.N., and Caroline Russell to Lieut. C. F. Hughes, U.S.N.

CLARK, Charles Nelson, representative, was born in Cortland county, N.Y., Aug. 21, 1827; son of Thomas and Rhoda (Kinney) Clark; grandson of Jonathan and Polly (Atkins) Clark of Barn- stable, Mass., and a descendant of Thomas Clark of England. He was educated at Hamilton, N.Y., and in 1859 removed to Illinois. He helped to raise a cavalry company in 1861, which formed company G, 3d Illinois cavalry. Becoming dis- abled in 1863 he left the service and removed ta Hanniba', Mo. He reclaimed 100,000 acres by building the Sny island levee, 1872-74, and was chairman of the Missouri delegation at the Na- tional convention for the improvement of western waterways, held at Washington, D.C., 1884. He was a Republican representative in the 54th con- gress, 189.5-97.

CLARK, Clarence Don, senator, was born at Sandy Creek, Oswego county, N.Y., April 16, 1851; son of Oratia and Laura (King) Clark. He attended the Iowa state university from 1870 to 1874, and in 1874 was admitted to the bar. He settled in Delaware county, Iowa, teaching school and practising his profession. In 1881 he removed to Evanstown, Uintah county, Wyo., and was a representative in the 51st and 52d congresses, 1889-93. On Jan. 23, 1895, he was elected to the U.S. senate for the term ending March 3, 1899, to fill the vacancy caused by the failure of the legislature to elect in 1892-93. In 1899 he was re-elected to the U.S. senate for the term ending March 3, 1905.

CLARK, Daniel, senator, was born in Strat- ham, N.H., Jan. 2, 1801; son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Wiggin) Clark. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1834, and was admitted to the bar in 1837, practising his profession at Manchester, N.H. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1842, in 1843, in 1846, in 18-54 and in 1855; a U.S. senator 1857-66, being president 2W0 tempore of the senate during part of two sessions. After the close of his term in 1866 he was appointed United States district judge for New Hampshire. He was president of the New Hampshire constitutional convention which met in 1876. He was married June 9, 1840, to Hannah W.. daughter of Maxcy Robbins of Stratham, N.H. She died in 1844, and in 1846 he was mar- ried to Ann W., daughter of Henry Salter of Portsmouth, N.H., and liad two .sons, one of whom. Henry S. Clarl4i^)eca-me a lawyer in New