The New York herald., 1872-12-11
SALE OF UNITED STATES SHIPS OF WAR.
The Albany and Guerriere To Be Disposed Of AZ
Auction Next Thursday-sad Fate Of
Observation-Disclosures
Of the War Of 1912.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
BuRkAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND RLpAII

WASHINGTON, Nov II, 1874
Sn s, At ins United states Yard New YORK " on the
states ns ssassp 81 Dasqmes @ II Ssock the limited
and the United States steamship Albany Of 1000 tons
any 1e TINES a,es and s their & be examined
o the Yard @ '"''"" on appn'"'0n 70 'ns
poeS whoe m & amount Of the purchase must be de-
IN he rdaoNsa da rom the Navy Yard within two weeks
vessels on sn reserve; the right to whraw the
oner which conaersa naaeaaase ans " reject any 0d or
Inc united States steamers Guerriere, 2,4OO
TONS, tWehty-one guns, ana the Albany, 1000 tons,
fifteen guns, win be sold at auction at the Brook
lyn Navy Yard next Thursday, the 18th inst. Both
are screw vessels and are classed in the navy list
rs second rates. Some time since the government
ordered Board OF Survey to examine into the
seaworthiness OF several vessels or the ships built
during the war; including those which were CON-
menced then and have been finished since ITS close,
many were designed for special service and are
not of character suitable to our present needs;
almost all were constructed hastily OF unseasoneH
white oak timber and several OF these cannot be
repaired to any advantage. The Secretary Of the
Navy has declared that to spend money In the con-
stant endeav0r to keep these ships afioat is the
most expensive way Of maintaining navy, since
constantly increasing expenditure is answered by
constantly decreasing results OF good. The House
OF Representatives has acted upon his recon-
mendatons, by authorizing the construction OF
six active cruisers, better adapted to the duties
and means OF our navy The two vessels above-
named have, with Others been condemned az
unseaworthy, and are to be disposed OF as stated.
QUARANTINE SHIPS.
The Albany with the Delaware have been for
some time used as hospital ships at Quarantine.
Joint resolution OF Congress, approved March "a,
1856, authorized the Secretary oil the Navy place
gratuitously at the disposal or the Commissioners
OF Quarantine or proper authorities OF any port
In the United States to be for quarantine pur-
poses such vessels or hulks belonging to the United
States, as were not required for other purposes
The sloopsOf-war Saratoga and Portsmouth were
turned over to the New York Commissioners Of
Health, under this resolution and were returned
In September, same year, being no longer re-
quired. subsequently the Albany was loaned to
the Board.
THE sLooP.oF-wAR ALBANY
There is a sad history connected with the name
of Albany in the United states Navy sailing
sloop-ofwar OF this name, carrying twenty-five
guns was built and launched IN New York during
the year 1915. She was the victim OF one OF those
ocean disasters which has left her exact fate q
mystery up to the present hour. This sloop was
one OF class that proved useful and economical
in their day, but they have been thrown aside as
her way from Mare Island, Cal, to Norfolk Va, IS
one OF the remaining ships OF this description. The
Albany was attached to the home squadron in
1854 She had visited the fishing grounds in a
case OF emergency, and had also visited
She sailed from Aspinwall September 90 1854, for
New York, since which time nothing has been ever
heard OF her. TIE most painful anxiety was
perienced concerning her fate for months, and
several vessels We're sent TO search, but no trace
Of the missing vessel could be found. severe
from Aspinwall, and it is believed she Ioundered
during It with all on board. The Albany had
crew OF 125 men and the following officers, whose
names appear IN the list OF deaths in the Navy
Register for 1s55:-Commander, J. I. Gerry; Lieu
tenants, William II Blcecker, Montgomery Hunt,
j. q Adams and Henry Rodgers: surgeon, $. A.
McCreery; Assistant surgeon, Richard D. Cowman;
Midshipman, Benet J. Riley.
THE CONSTITUTION AND GUERRERO
There are also associations connected with tho
name OF Guerrero. but oi very different nature
from those Of the sloop Albany. The first impor-
tant battle 0fthe war oils2 was fought between the
guns, and the United States ship Constitution. Com
m0dore Hull, forty-our guns. In which the latter,
alter an action OF thirty minutes compelled nus an
between the Essex and the English frgatc Alert
had similar result, but The victory OF Commodore
Hull was the first to establish the superiority Of
American pluck and skill over the British at sea on
equal terms The engagement took place oil the
American coast August 20, 1872, on the route now
taken by steamers running between New York and
Liverpool. The vessels fought at half pistol shot
distance A prize was placed on board the
captured ship and next day 1t was found that the
Guerrero had six feet OF water In her hold. She
set on fire and abandoned. Commodore
nun, III HIS IcpoIt says tHdt ~ huc snip, SVM-
manded by an able and experienced offlcer, had
been totally dismasted and otherwise cut to pieces
so as to make her not worth towing into port in
the short space o thirty minutcs,' was matter OF
praise to the country. To perpetuate the memory
OF the victory fine iorty-lour gun frigate. chris
tened the Gnerrlere was built in Philadelphia and
launched in 1914. She lay for many years in ordi-
nary at Norfolk and was nnally broken up The
Albany, which is TO be sold next Thursday, was
built towards the close OF the war and was last en-
ployed in the North Atlantic neet; the Guerriere
wae also built towards the end OF the war. She
the 1agship OF thAsouth Atlantic nect in 1867,
and was sent to the European station in 1870. Her
last cruise was rather unfortunate, having gone
ashore several times in the Mediterranean. 1t Is
said she VIII be purchased for Henry Meggs tho