Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-15
National ShiUs Lost.

Our navy, as at present organized, dates from
1894, and it is perhaps not little curious that
one Of its first prizes should have been the first
vessel lost without any one being able to say how
abe was lost In 1899, the trigate Constellation,
then under command of Capt. Truxtun, captured
the French frigate dInsurgente, after very gal
liant action. This was during what was called the
quasi war with France caused by the depredations
that were made upon our commerce by the
cruisers of that country, which we very properly
resented. The prize was taken into the navy, and
was first commanded by Captain Murray, who was
succeeded by Captain Fletcher. The latter officer
sailed on cruise in July, 1900, with sort ofrov
ing commission. Some letters we're received from
persons on board Of her, sent in by vessels that
she spoke; but, though she was to have been alb
sent only eight weeks, nothing has ever been seen
Of Der for almost four-aud-ffty years. The Picker
ing, Captain Hillar, a44-gun vessel, which sailed
month later than the lnsurgente, for the West
Indies, never heard from again. The Sa,a-
toga, Of 16 guns, wasiost in the same way in 1907.
One of the finest vessels that ever sailed from
this country was the sloop of-war Wasp, which left
Portsmouth On. II. in 1874 under the command
Of Captain Blakely. On the oath of June she cap
tured and destroyed the soop-of.war Reindeer,
and on the LIST of September the Avon, a vessel of
the same class. One of her prizes was taken on
the 2lst Of September and sent to America, under
the command of Mr.. Geisinger, and no direct in
telligence was ever afterwards received from her.
She was spoken by Swedish brig on the 9th Of 0c-
tober out Of which she took two American officers
who had belonged to the figate Essex, and were
passengers in the Swede from Rio de Janeiro. This
was the last time that she was seen and known.
Various stories TO her fate current for years
Mr. Cooper says:
"Thsre Is only one rumor In reference to this
vessel that has any appearance of probability. II
is said that two English frigates chased an Amer
lean sloop-ofwar off the southern coast about the
time the Wasp ought to have arrived, and that the
three ships were struck with a heavy squat, in
which the sloop-ofwar suddenly disappeared"
The Wasp was uncommony well manned and
Differed, and her loss was severe one 10 the
navy Captain Blakey was an admirable comman-
der, and the gentlemen under him were of high
merit Two Of the Geutenants, Mr. Reilly and
Mr. Baury, had taken part in the capture Of the
Guerrero and the Java, and another, Mr.. Tilling
hast, was an officer on board the Enterprise when
she took the Boxer.
The Epervier brig eighteen guns, sailed from
the Mediterranean for the United States, in 1915,
and was never heard from after she passed the
Straits Of Gibraltar. She had been taken from the
English, in 1914, by the Peacock, Captain War
rinQton We believe that at the time Of her loss
she was commanded by one Of the Shubricks, an
historical name In our navy.
The most remarkable instance Of the loss Of n
national ship, since the close of the last war with
England, was that Of the Hornet, which is sup
posed to have foundered in "norther," in the
Gulf or Mexico, about quarter Of a century ago
Nothing was heard Of her. If we remember, after
she left Tampco, some time in the year 1880.
The Hornet was one Of the "lucky ships" Of the
navy, and great hvorite both with the service
and with the country, and was distinguished for
the part which she took in the war OF 1912, cap.
turing everything with which she fought and es-
Gaping from superior vessels. In 1918, when com
handed by Captain Lawrence, she took the British
brig Peacock, after short but very warm action
Of fifteen minutes, the Peacock being sunk. At
tached TO Commodore Decaturs squadron, a few
months later, she was compelled to take refuge in
New London, when that squadron fell In with a
greatly superior British force, where she was
blockaded for a long timo. Escaping from New
London she went TO sea in January, 1915, under
command ofCaptain Biddle. On the 23d Of March
she engaged and captured the Penguin, British
vessel of about her own force, and with picked
crew. Subsequently she was chased for two or
three days by British scventy-four, and narrow
" escaped being captured.
The recent losses Of the Albany and the Por.
poise have revived the interest that used TO be felt
In the losses that we have mentioned above. II
will be seen that Il is thing in our navy for
vessels to disappear leaving trace Of their fate
and the same remark applies TO all nsvies.
a..