Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-26
SUBMARINE RAM "RossA.'
;Eer alleged Trip from New Haven to
Sink the Oregon.
ron he Vsto YORK. J0urnd

fran Ire NetD York Journal.
Thatthe steamship Oregon was sunk by
a steam collier or a barge schooner SEEM
ed to he the general opinion on the floor OF
the Maritime Exchange recently. Cool
headed merchants and men familiar with
steamships of the Oregon's calibre so be-
lieyed and their authority was considered
/ good until the divers examination
proved otherwise.
/ At the Office OF the Merritt Wrecking
/ Company the superintendent said:
1--WE have entire charge Of the wreck
/ and are covering the ground thoroughly.
/ our wrecking schooner and lighter are at
! the scene Of the wreck, but unable 10 do
anything on account OF the heavy sea and
strong eastern Winds"
! Mr.. Vernon II. Brown wore philan-
thrOpical smile when he received the re-
! porter in bis private office.
News :" said he; OF ''cOurse we have"
Mr.. Brown then produced a paper from
/ Lieut.. West, of the Fire Island Light
/ house, and read the official report OF his
work in placing buoy near the wreck to
! warn other vessels.
Lieut.. West said that he had placed a
| gas-lIghted buoy 500 feet south of the pro-
iecting masts. He also said that the
wreck lay with her head northwest by
west, the mainmast sticking about 80 feet
out Of water, the miZzenmast % and the
iiggermest II feet. She appeared to be
lying a trife on her starbOaTd side. The
Lieutenant picked up some floating stuff,
including lot OF crepe, pique, silk braid
and a saddle.
The light, he says, will burn two
months. The focal plane is placed at an
elevetion Of 8 ieet above the water. In
view OF the fact that the Cunard Com
pany are expecting the steamship SerVia
to arrive on Sunday shis light OF warning
is a wise procedure.
Mr., Brown said he didn't want the Ser
via TO smash into the OregOn's masts, as
he had had enough trouble already with
passengers who were clamOring for reim-
bursement for losses. If the SerVia should
sink on top of the Oregon he would resign
Immediately.
Late in the day a dispatch from Fire
island said that the rough seas had driv-
en- the wreckers TO seek shelter inside Of
the island.
Some fears were expressed that the
heavy seas might break the Oregon up,
as she has not sunk to any extent in the
sand.
While several shipping agents were dis
GUESSING the Oregon mystery on South
street a dapper little man, not over feet
high. with an air of wisdom and business
ly edged his way ur.
''LOOk here, " said he, solemnly, "there's
no use saying any more about it, for you
are all wrong. My name is Patrick l..
MOloney and am from New Haven, Conn.
/ am Fenian."
Mr. Mol0ney then said that on Saturday
morning last he bid goodbye TO several
members OF his organization in New Ha-
ven. They embarked on the Fenian ram
Rosa, which be says has been lying at the
bottom Of the waters in the harbOr for
over six months.
After his friend had disappeared MIR.
Moloney waited to hear where they would
turn up. He heard the news that the Ore
gon had sunk and knew at once what had
sunk her.
81 knew it was the Rossa," said he.
''and on Sunday night she came back TO
New Haven and anchored again. My
friends say she struck the Oregon such a
blow that they had hard job to get her
out again."
He said that he was the Grand head OF
large Fenian organization. and that four
of bis men were on the Oregon and gave
signals to the ram Rosa, showing we're to
strike.