The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-14
IMPORTANT NAVAL MYSTERIES.
War Vessels of the United statesl
That Have Disappeared Complete
From Leslie's Weekly.

From Leslie's Weekly.
Curious disappearances and accidents TO
our warships characterize the early his
tory Of our navy, and. in spite of all the
efforts of the navy department to explain
the cause of the disasters, many of them
are as absolute mysteries to-day as when
they happened.
When the government built ten new
gunboats 10 prosecute the war against
Trpolb, in 1905, they were sent out as soon
as they were finished and before they
were named. Each one was given num-
Der and dispatched to the scene of the
war. No. sailed from New York June 20,
1895, under the command of Lieut.. Ogelvie,
and after she cleared Sandy Hook light
she was never heard from again. She
went down, with all on board, before she
had even been named.
A most extraordinary accident was
that which happened to the corvette Mo-
nongahela at Santa Cruz, in 1867. While
at anchor in the harbor a tremendous tidal
wave lifted her upon its crest and carried
her clean over the town of Frederichstadt
and back again without injuring the town
or the boat to any great extent. The re
ceding wave landed her on the beach in
stead of in the deep waters of the habor,
and 1t cost our government 100000 to float
her again. Fully as strange was the fate
of the slOop-of-waT Wateree. She was
anchored in the harbor Of africa. Peru, in
1868, when a hugh tidal wave swept inland
and flooded the whole city. The wave car
ried the sloop several miles inland, and
finally landed her in the midst of trop-
zeal forest. 1t was impossible 10 release
her from such a peculiar position and the
pnN oil bo~
The purchasers turned the vessel into
hotel, and the remains Of the once for
mdable war vessel loom up in the tropical
forest to-day as a monument TO the power
of tidal waves.
Among other cases of disaster which are
attributed to the violence of the waves or
weather there is none more interesting
than that Of the strange fate Of the Sara
toga. When she sailed from Philadelphia,
IN October, 1870, under the command of
Capt. James Young, there was no finer or
handsomer warship ahoat. That she was
as formidable as she was attractive she
soon demonstrated in a practical way Az
ter cruising around a short time she cap
tured three British vessels in succession,
and then with her prizes she started 70
return to Philadelphia. But Off the Della
ware capes she encountered a British ship
of the line. As the Saratoga carried only
eighteen guns and the Intrepid was a sew
ivy -ACAt - VII sliipt NhiyA I0bilS cpINtlcI-
ed it safer to run away The enemy did
not chase her far but returned to protect
and recapture the British prizes. The
Saratoga sailed away IN the very teeth of
storm, and she was meter heard from
again. Did she founder at sea in the gale,
or was she blown up BY her ownr maya
zines?
There are some peculiar accidents to our
naval vessels IN the past that are account
ed for, but, while the mystery Of their
loss is removed and explained, the strange
ness Of their mishaps is no less interest
Ing. For instance, there is the sinking Of
the United States sloop-Of-war Oneida. in
1869 She was bound horse from Yokoha-
ma, but when short distance from port
the British steamer Bombay ran into her
and cut off her stern. The injury was so
mortal that the Oneida Immediately fired
her guns OF distress, but in the darkness
the Bombay crept aytnstead Of return
ing to assist her. In short time the
sloop went to the bottom, carrying all Of
her crew with her When the news reach
ed Yokohama the captain Of the British