The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-08-19
NAVAL SHIPS LOST AT SEA.
Six American Vessels That We're "Neyer
Heard From"
Detroit Free PreSs.

SO Cldu Gle UTlUl dCCCuuGS VI blA I'LL
ferent ones summed up tersely in
these words Never heard from.
This laconic expression is familiar to
all sea followers, and it contains a
world of meaning if rightly under
stood. There have been ships that
have gone down in battle with the
flags flying de6antly at the masthead
and others that have battled bravely
against the adverse elements until
waterlogged, they have sunk within
sight of land but to be lost at sea,
with no mention of the disaster, be.
cause of lack of all detail, is to meet a
fate hardly deserved.
Early in the history Of our navy
such mystery closed about one of the
first vessels flying the new Stars and
Stripes. The ill-fated Saratoga, an 18.
gun ship, after performing a brilliant
service on the high seas, sailed forth
upon the great ocean and disappeared
forever from all human knowledge.
What we know of her is briefly sum,
med up in a few sentences. After
capturing three English prizes she
was intercepted on her way to Phila-
delphia with them by the British a.
gun ship of the line Intrepid, and af-
ter long fight she escaped from her
heavier adversary. No further word
from the Saratoga was ever received,
and no signs of her wreckage were
ever discovered. She probably foun-
dered at sea in a gale, but she never
left any one behind to tell the tale.
This was in 1880, and the next loss
of similar character occurred 20 years
later. The 36-gun frigate Insurgent,
commanded by Capt. Patrick Fletcher,
was originally under the French flag,
but after she was captured by the
Constellation off the island of Nevis
she sailed under the American flag un-
til the end of her short career. She
had sealed orders to sail from the
Chesapeake capes out to sea, but af-
ter she sailed on her easterly course
no word from any ship brought tidings
of the Insurgent. She disappeared
completely. No one on board of her
was ever saved to give official confr-
nation Of the story of her loss.
The fourteen-gun brig Pickering
met with a similar fate. She was
cruising off Guadalupe, with Master
Commandant Benjamin Hitler in
charge, when severe storm arose and
swept the seas. 1t is generally sup
posed that the vessel, which was an
unseaworthy sea tub, foundered with
all on board. Pieces Of the wreckage
were picked up along the coast, but as
so many vessels were lost during this
gale, there was no certainty Of identi-
flying them. 1t is thought also that
the same storm might have caused the
loss of the Insurgent, although as to
this no trustworthy account can be
found.
The next vessel in our navy to dis
appear in this mysterious fashion was
known as gunboat No. 7, commanded
by Lieut.. Ogelvie. She sailed from
New York May IA, 1905, to increase
our naval force then engaged in the
war with Tripoli. She returned to this
port after being out for few days, and
then she sailed on June 29 the second
time. But she never reached her des-
tination. Although nine other boats
left about the same time for the Medit-
terranean service, and all reached
their points in time, gunboat No. Z
was lost, and no word was ever re-
ceived from any of her officers Or
crew.
The loss of the Wasp followed this
disaster. The mystery about this
handsome naval fighter is generally
familiar to all readers of American
history. Her exploits on the water
after her first launching until the
time of her strange disappearance
were so brilliant that every school boy
knows about them. Within period
of FIVE months the Wasp took Is Eng
lish merchantmen, valued at nearly a
quarter of a million dollars, and
fought several stubborn battles with
naval vessels of her own size and
strength. On Oct. l, 1914, the Wasp
hailed the Swedish bark Adonis and
took on board two Of the surviving Of
fcers of the old Essex after her de-
struction in Valparaiso harbor, and
then passed on into the dark mystery
which has never been solved. That
was the last intelligence ever brought
to port by any ship concerning the
veteran fighter and victor. Her fate
will ever remain an unexplained puz-
zle.
The last vessel of the series to be
lost at sea without leaving any sign
behind to explain matters was the
brig Epervier, commanded by Lieut..
John Shubrick. When the terms Of
the treaty between the United States
and Algiers were dictated to the Dey
at the point of the cannon by Decatur
in 1915, copy of the paper was sent
home by the Epervier. The brig
passed the Straits Of Gibralter on July
II, 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 ambitions of so many.
In modern times the loss Of naval
vessels at sea has been comparatively
limited. The United States navy has
been singularly fortunate in this re-
spect during the past half century,
but this may be attributable as much
to the limited number of ships in
commission as to any skill Or safe
guard. The modern navy is built up
on such different lines from the old
class of war vessels that it is difficult
to compare the two, but it is safe to
assume that the cruisers of today
could stand the elements much better
than their prototypes of so years ago.
Tie mysterious disappearance of a
member of the white squadron would
undoubtedly cause more general sor-
row and comment than the loss of the
Wasp, Insurgcnt or Saratoga did in
their days.
A naval vessel of our modern feet
carries much larger complement of
men, aud her cost is several times as
great. The navy department. proba-
bly, exercises more precautions than
any private company in surrounding