ith blood, and my men and officers dying around me, perhaps resentment would have supplied the necessary ingredient, but as it was, the faces of the women and children in far-away Spain, widows and orphans of this July third rose before me so vividly that I had to draw comfort from the thought that a decisive victory is ...more merciful than a prolonged struggle..."
The last of the escaping Spanish vessels was the CRISTOBAL COLON, speeding along the Cuban coast, six miles ahead of Clark's OREGON and Schley's BROOKLYN. After a prolonged chase, when the OREGON had gotten within range of the OREGON's thirteen inch guns, the COLON knew the game was over and ran herself aground.
A little over a month later, the war was over. So was Clark's stay aboard the OREGON. The stress of the race around two continents, blockade duty and the battle combined with the tropical heat had weakened Clark. He was now seriously sick with a tropical fever. Clark was ordered to the ST. LOUIS and home. As he left the vessel in a boat rowed by his officers, his crew paid him a sincere tribute for the outstanding leadership he had provided while in command of their vessel.
Clark did recover, but didn't return to sea. In March of 1899, he was placed in charge of the League Island Navy Base, and then governor of the naval home of Washington DC. In June of 1902, Clark finally became a rear admiral. He served as the head of the Examination and Retirement Board until he himself retired in August of 1905.
Clark lived until the age of 79, dying on October 1, 1922. By this time, his amazing achievements in the Spanish American War were almost entirely forgotten. Clark was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
(As a service to our readers, clicking on title in red will take you to that book on Amazon.com)
Alden, Cmdr. John D., USN (Ret.), American Steel Navy , (Annapolis: United States Naval Institute Press, 1972).
Harris, Brayton, Lt Cmdr., U.S.N, Ret., The Age of the Battleship 1890-1922. (New York: Franklin Watts, Inc., 1965).