The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-02
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER

Lieut. Ogelvie. She sailed from New
York May IA, 1905, to increase our naval
force then engaged in the war with Fri
poll. She returned to this port after be-
ing out for few days and then she
sailed on June 29 the second time. But
she never reached her destination. AL
though nine other boats left au the same
time for the Mediterranean service, and
all reached their points in time, gunboat
No. was lost. and no word was ever
received from any OF her officers or Grew.
The loss of the Wasp followed this dis
aster. The mystery about this handsome
naval fighter ia generally familiar to all
readers of American history. Her exploits
on the water after first launching until
time of her strange disappearance were
SO Brilliant that every school boy knows
about them. Within period of Eve
months the Wasp took fifteen English
merchantmen valued at nearly $3.50, 600,
and fought several stubborn battles with
naval vessels of her own size and
strength On October /. 1914, the Wasp
hailed the Swedish bark Adonis and
took ON board two of the surviving of1o-
ers of the old Essex after her destruction
in Valparaiso harboY, and then passed
on into the dark mystery which has
never been solved. That was the last in
telligenoe ever brought to port by any
ship concerningSthe veteran fighter and
victor. Her fate will ever remain an un-
explained puzzle.
Tho last vessel of the series to be lost at
sea without leaving any sign behind to
explain matters was the brig Epetrviel,
commanded by Lieut.. John Shubrick
When the terms sof the treaty sbetween
the United Statets and Algiers were die
tated to the duy at the point of the can
of the paper wss sent homo
by the Epervier. The brig
passed the Straits of Gibraltar on July
10, 1915, and from that time all trace of
her was lost She sailed out upon the
ocean and was swallowed up by the sea
that has wrecked the hopes and ambition
of so many.
In modern times the loss of naval ves-
sells at sen has been comparatively limit
ed. The United States navy has been
singularly fortunate in this respect dur
ing the past half century, but sthis may
be attributed as much TO the limited
NUN Der of ships in commission as to
any skill or safeguard. The modern
navy is built upon such different lines
from she old class of war vessels that it
is difficult to compare the two, but 1t Is
safe to assume that the cruisers of today
could stand the elements much better
than their prototypes of fifty years ago
The mysterious disappearance of mem
Der OF the white squadron would un-
dou btedly cause more general sorrow and
comment than the less of the Wasp, In
surgent or Saratoga did in their days.
A naval vessel of our modern feet
carries much larger complement of
men, and her cost Ia several times AS
great. The Navy Department probably
exercise more precaution than anyspri
vate company in surrounding the war
feet with every safeguard known &c
science, and 1t Is because of the disci
Dline that our war vessels are SO seldom
lost. The mysterious loss Of only six
war vessels during a period of 100 years
of active national existence is record
| that the navy department. of any nation
might well be proud of, and when it is
remembered that some of The strange
disappearance recorded were only ordin-
AIRY merchant vessels fitted up as wal
ships, the cause for pride is increased.
Great Britain and France have much
| longer list Of warships that have sailed
| upon the ocean to so down before some
| heavy storm without leaving any mes
sage behind. Great Britain leads the lis
| in this respect, which Is only natural
| considering the size of ner navy, ani
France comes second, with Spain fol
lowing as close third. On the nava
lists of each nation there is written ovel
against the name of the unfortunate yes
sci these ominous words: "Never heard
from. 1@