The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-15
Surprise Expressed that Mrs. Cleveland. in
Granting the Right to Sell Her Photo
graphs, Did Not Ask for Royalty.
1t Is Rumored that the President Said
All Newspaper Men We're Liars.
Colonel Wilson Anxious to Get to Work at
Doing Up the White House, but Much
Afraid the Money Will Not Hold Out.
SOMETHING ABOUT DEREL1crs.

Interesting Facts Learned from tho Monthly
Chart of the photographic Office.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WAsHINGToN, Aug. 14-Very few people have
any idea of the character of the work performed
by the photographic Office Of the Navy Depart
ment. 1t is understood in general manner that
this Office has something to do with mapping the
surface of the ocean in order that the depths OF
water, location of shoals, ETC., may be known to
mariners. Each month this Office issues chart
which is known as the pilot chart for the month.
giving the direction of the prevailing winds, the
location of ice reported and such other data
as only seamen are interested in. This chart
although very dry subject frequently contains
the material out of which Mayne Reid, q
Clarke Russell or Captain Marryat might weave
very interesting romance of the ocean. Among
other things which this chart contains are tho
reports received from passing vessels each week,
giving the location Of derelcts. Derelicts are
vessels which have been wrecked and abandoned
and are thenceforth, until they sink, far more
dangerous to the sailor than the Flying Dutch
man or the phantom schooner of Phillip Wander
decken. They are usually lumber laden vessels
from place place without sail or rudder. and
which form serious impediments to the success
full and safe navigation of the ocean, Last year
this chart contained from month to month the
course reported Of the schooner Maggie Rivers
which was abandoned off Cape Hatteras in Feb
ruary, and picked np-after traversing the ocean
in a most unaccountable manner half way across
TO Europe and back-off the coast of the Ber-
mudas. Later the c. B. Stillman, lumber
laden vessel, was wrecked off the United States
coast, and, after starting in the gulf stream
across the track of transatlantic steamers,
changed her course and also drifted to the Ber-
mudas, where she was towed in, her cargo re-
moved, and the fact demonstrated that
ner officers and crew scuttled her for the
purpose of obtaining the insurance. The cap
tain.was recently tried in Baltimore for the
crime, and the pilotchart was brought in in evil
dencc, and served as valuable aid to justice in
bringing the scoundrel to JAIL
On tho 24th of March, 1885, Che schooner
Twenty-on Friends was abandoned about 800
miles east of Norfolk. She began drifting in in
an almost straight line, and in northerly drec-
ton, and within thirty days had floated nearly
thousand miles. All this time she was in the
Gulf-stream. Then, for some unaccountable
reason, her course was more northerly. and was
directly in the line of vessels sail
ing between England and the United States.
She was reported by passing vessels on
April 4, IA and 20; May 16 and %; June 9, 22and
80; July 8, 18 and 81 Aug. 8, 25 and 27; Sept. Is
and 20; Oct IL. and finally. on Dec 4 AfteThav-
ing made nearly twenty degrees IN latitude 10 the
northward, she finally brought up off the coast
of Spain. in the Bay of Biscay, and only ten de-
grees north in latitude of the parallel on which
she was first abandoned. She was taken into
port by some Spanish sailors, and her valuable
cargo of lumber, although greatly damaged was
saved by them.
The pilot chart just issued seems to upset the
prevailing theory as to the direction of the gulf
stream current The schooner Ida M. Francis,
the bark Roland Hill, and the brieantne A. L.
Palmer. which were abandoned respectively
March E6, February % and March IL, have been
reported from time to time jumping around from
one place to another in the ocean in q most un-
accountable manner. One of them, the Roland
Hill, was abandoned on the parallel of New
York, directly in the gulf stream, and, after
drifting nearly two thousand miles in q south
easterly direction, has shifted her course from
time to time, and was last reported less than
sixty miles east of the place where she
was first abandoned, and only about two
hundred miles south. The Atlantis
is by this chart shown to be full of wrecks.
Somewhere about twenty are drifting around in
various parts Of the ocean. endangering naviga-
tion and creating disturbance wherever found.
They are far more dangerous than cebergs and
there should be some international agreement
by which they would be removed. The hydro
graphic Office is now preparing a plan for the
division of the ocean into sections, each maat-<
time nation to be charged with the care of ser
tain section, and to blow up and destroy all
wrecks reported within its own territory. II
this proposed plan can be successfully carried
ont. it will prove godsend to mariners and
will undoubtedly prevent the loss Of many ves-
sells in the future.
MRS. CLEvELAND'S PHOTOGRAPHS.