Savannah morning news., 1886-04-21
SHE SANK THE OREGON.
1t is Past Doubt Now That the Chas.
III. Morse was the Unrecognixed School,

From tho NeiO York Sun.
1t is now pretty certain that the school,
ner Chas. H. Morse sank the steamship
Oregon. The Morse was a coaster OF 535
tons, built in Bath in 1880 by her owners,
Morse d Co. OF so South street, this city.
She was loaded in Baltimore with Cum
berland coal, which was to be delivered in
Boston. On Feb. l6 she sailed from Bal-
tImOre, and in due time reached Hampton
Roads, where contrary winds detained
her until March IL. Meantime seventy
three-masted schoOners gathered there
besides other vessels awaiting favorable
weather. When the wind shifted this
great feet put 20 sea in company, nearly
half of them heading up the coast for
Northern ports. COasting SchoOners are
much alike in their sailing qualities, so
that on Saturday, March 10, at sunset,
this fleet was off Barnegat Light, with a
light fav0ring wind carrying the vessels
on their way. The Morse was in the
fleet
When the wind is fair coasting schoOn-
ers bound to Eastern ports head across
from Barneget Light to Fire Island. Ii
it is adverse they come in by Sandy Hook
and 20 through the Sound With the
wind northwesteIy the feet on that Satur-
day night headed across for Fire Island.
Soon after O'Clock the eneXtmorning the
chief officer of the Oregon saw n fash
light on her port bow. A moment later
the big sales of schooner loomed up
alongside. Almost instantly a crash fol-
lowed, as the schooner struck the side of
the big ship. The Oregon swent on, prac-
tically beyond control, in five times her
length, or about half a mile. When her
officer looked around, there was no
schooner in sight, he says. The story OF
what followed on the Oregon IS well
known. 1t is also known that every one
of that fleet that sailed out Of Hampton
Roads and up the coast. except the Morse.
had reached port, and that no other
schooner that could nave been anywhere
near that locality at the time of the col
lision mas been lost. The schooner
Charles II. Morse sank the Oregon, and
was swept under water and out of sight
by the swift-running steamer.
The talk that schooner could not sink
an iron ship is idle. The momentum of
S05 tons Of coal in a schooner weighing
hundreds OF tons more, and moving at
four or five miles an hour, would crush
through double the thickness Of the best
steel, let alone the pot metal of which
British ships are often constructed.
On board the Morse were nine men, all
of whom were Americans. OF these the
names of five are known, as follows: A
f. MduSOus dIs, n l. w llueof Hus NUN a.
han, Mr.. Holland and Mr.. Blaisdell
There were in addition four men before
the mast. all of whom lived in Maine.
The officers of the Oregon said that they
saw no side lights on the schooner. This
is commonly said by officers of ships thai
have been In collision. The fact thai
there was only nominal amount of in.
surance on the Oregon, scarce a sixteenth
of her value, leads to the inference thai
her officers would exercise unusual vigi
lance.
The Morse was fitted with the best o
curing her safety and that Of her crew. i
is unjust TO the memory. of these men Il
say that they were asleep at their post,
or negligent in their duty. They had the
right of way, and had right to suppose
that the steamer would keep clear o
them.