Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-22

GONE DOWN AT SEA.
THE LOSS OF THE TALLAPOosA.
Official Report OF Commander Merry
Assistant Surgeon C. e. Black and
Landsman Foster Missing.
Commodore English, Acting Secretary Of the
Navy, this morning received the following tele-
gram from Lieut.. Commander Merry, commanding
the Q. S. S. Tallapoosa, dated at Woods Holl, in
regard to the sinking Of that vessel: "Tallapoosa
sunk by collision with schooner James 8. Lowell,
about five miles east OF Vineyard Haven, at l1:1b
fathoms OF water. Schooner struck on our star
1oard 1orerlggng cutting clear through to amid
ships sunk In about five minutes Schooner
damaged about the bow. AS far as ascertained,
Passed Assistant surgeon Clarence E. Black and
George A. Foster. landsman, are missing Came
Fish Hawk gone to scene Of wreck. Please give me
IN Instructions Wreck should be lighted for safety
The Tallapoosa LETT Boston yesterday morning
VIII freight for Newport. She left the Washing
ton navy yard about July 14th with freight Tor
northern yards. Secretary Chandler joined her at
New York with party of ladies, and sailed In her
TO Portsmouth, N H., and vicinity.
THE OFFICERS AND CREW.
Inc following is list OF the officers OF the Talla-
poosa: Lieutenant Commander John f. Merry,
Lieutenant ". II. Everitt, Lieutenant F. E. Beatty,
faSseu Assistant Surgeon c. E. Black, Passed AS
Sistaht PaymaSter o. c. Tiffany, Passed Assistant
Engineer L. P. Toysne, Mates j. W. Baxter. I. ii
GIa1iasner Iai 9 and Hugh Kuhl and Paymasters Clerk
James Bishop jr.
SECRETARY CHANDLER LOSES SOME OF HIS PERSONAL
EFFECTS.
No definite information can be obtained at the
Navy department as to the exact character and ex-
tent OF the freight and stores the Talapoosa at
the time OF the accident She was engaged in
transporting freight and from the different yards
ana what she had left or what she had received at
,,sa bostpn Is not known here Secretary Chandler
"a nod h0 Toll
some OF his personal effects the vessel when
She sank.
Commodore English at once telegraphed to Sec
retary Chandler IN New York notifying him OF the
accident and also teegraphed to Rear Admiral
Luce at Newport. commanding the North Atlantic
station, TO at once dispatch vessel OF hts squad
ron now at Newport to the scene of the wreck and
10 take such steps as the circumstances may re-
qure.
HISTORY OF THE VESSEL.
The Tallapoosa was built in Boston in 1868, and
cost between two and three hundred thousand dol
lars. She was wooden vessel with side wheel,
and her length OF load line was 24O feet. her ex-
irene breadth 3o feet, and her displacement about
1,2I0 tons Her mean draft Of water was about
leel. she was rugged as schooner, and her area
or canvas spread was about 1890 square feet. At
the time she was built the government was turn
ing out from the navy yards large number of YES
sells known as "doube enderS," from the fact that
they could go both ways. She was one OF the best
or these vessels, and was intended as a dispatch
hoat: Soon after she was built she was used on
blockade duty along the southern coast. Since
then she has been employed as freight boat, and
at the time that she was sunk she had cargo OF
the yard in this city. In 1874 She was remodeled
built on deck. since i that time, her her
larged, she has been used frequently in convey
ing sailors and public officials from one point to
another n Secretary Robeson used the Tallapoosa
In his trips and Secretary Thompson, when he
made his tour OF the navy yards, was conveyed by
TINS vessel On account Of the official character OF
up in good style, and her cabins have been the
scene OF many distinguished gathering. 1t was
on board the Tallapoosa that the much-talked-of
scene between Secretary Hunt and Commander
Kellogg occurred. when the former discovered the
wives OF some OF the officers on board after he had
just issued IN order prohibiting 1t. This vessel
was also fitted and held in readiness to convey
the late President Garfield from this city during
MS last illness, but She was never used for this
purpose.
The Tallapoosa has been made the subject OF
considerable COZ ridicule in the newspapers but the
very good boat OF the kind and that her speed was
ten knots an hour. The total cost OF the vessel,
lncludng repairs: up to october 1st, 1881, without
DOESN'T KNOW WHO 1s TO BLAME.
Commodore English. the Acting Secretary Of the
Navy, said to STAR reporter:
81 have received no further Intelligence OF the
disaster than the dispatch which stated probably
an there is to say about it. 1t seems that one
SCI was standing south and the other west, and the
Ialapoosa was struck On the starboard side with
the bowsprits OF the schooner The Tallapoosa
naturally sunk. do not know whose fault 1t was
ana don't expect to receive any further news until
the officers report is received"
NOTHING STRANGE IN IT.
Chief Clerk Hogg, Of the Navy department, was
asked how the collision happened.
"We have received none OF the particulars as
yet" he replied. 81 suppose that the schooner
ran into the Talapoosa"
Isn't 1t rather singular" continued the reporter
"that naval vessel should be sunk by schooner?'
mot at ALL" replied Mr.. Hogg "The schooner
was large one, and probably heavily laden with
coal She struck the TallapOoSa with great force
on the starboard side, and penetrated amidships-
Inc Vessei OF course sank. 1t is the ram principle
IN l war. ana there is nothing surprising in small
STANDING JOKE.
Omcers OF the navy, In their comments upon the
loss OF the Talapoosa recall to mind the fact that
she has run down great many vessels hersel The
reports OF her achievements in this line became SO
frequent that 1t was standing joke In the Navy
department.
ORDERS OF COMMODORE ENGLISH.
Commodore English to-day sent a dispatch to
Commander Merry at Woods Holl. directing him to
allow the officers to return to their homes and to
send the men to Boston or New York, as 1t might
DE the most convenient Commander Merry is to
remain and await further 1nstructions.