The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-22
OLD-'TIME WAR SHIP pERILS
THE MORTALITY GREATER THAN
 NOW,

Disaster, Disease and Death on Long Voyages - Lord Anson's Expedition Around the World.
 The loss of life in the recent disaster to the battleship Maine not only in- spired our own population with horror but aroused the sympathy of all of the civilized nations of the world. The casualties on that occasion were suf- ficiently numerous, but compared to those which in the 18th century, through disease or perils of the sea, at- tended long voyages of squadrons or deached naval vessels, they were rela- lively small. In those days mortality on ships of war was accepted as inevit- able, and as incidental to the hazards of a profession of whose dangers no one was ignorant.
 Of the perils and miseries that en- vironed the man-of-war man 150 years ago, we have no more convincing ex- ample than is offered in the cruise around the world of Anson's English squadron, and that of Spanish ships of war detailed to thwart it's intentions.
 In 1739 the British government, per- suaded that conflict with Spain was inevitable, proceeded to fit out seven vessels, frigates and sloops and two store ships or victualers. It was pro- posed that this expedition should sail for the west coast of South America, harass the Spanish settlements on that littoral, capture, if possible, the great Manila galleon, Mex, attempt the sur- prise of Manila, and then return home by way of the Cape of Good Hope. This squadron, whose personnel consisted of l,520 officers, sailors and marines, was placed under the command of Commo- dore, after Lord, Anson, an officer of skill and distinction, and, above all, mo- that he gave to the health and well-be- ted for the humane and solicitous care ing of the crews of his ships.
 On the 18th of September, 1740, the English squadron, composed of the Centurion, flagship; the Gloucester, Severn. Pearl, Wager, Trial, and two "pinks" or storeships, sailed from St. Helen's for Madereira, the first port of call. The voyage thither was pro- tracted one of 40 days. This delay was at the outset disastrous, in the sense that it postponed the passage around
 
 season of the year. In November the squadron departed from Medeira for the island of St. Catherine's, on the coast of Brazil, where it arrived on the 21th of December. A stay of month at this port was necessary in order to refit the ships and refresh their crews, among whom there were much s'e
 and many deaths. On January IS, TAI u. erine's, and arrived off the Straits of Le Maire, the eastern end of Cape Horn, early in March.
 Meanwhile, the squadron sent out bv Spain to watch the movements of An son and to traverse his projects was under the command of Admiral Don Joseph Pizarro. It consisted of the Asia, flagship; the Guipuscoa, Harmo- nia, Esperanza, St. Estavan, and a 'patache" They were manned by 3,22C officers, sailors, and marines, besides a regiment of foot for the reinforcement of the garrisons on the west coast of South America. This squadron was first sent to cruise to the leeward of Madeira in order to intercept Anson; but his protracted voyage thithel forced the Spaniards to bear away fol the River Plate to refit and replenisk their stores. At the Plate Pizarro re. ceived information of the arrival o1 Anson at St. Catherines. As she was desirous of reaching the Pacific coas in advance of the English, without waiting to reprovision his ships, he sci sail from the Plate on the. 22d of Jan. uary, with his crew on short allowance Toward the latter end of February the Spanish squadron, having made sui ficient southing in order to double Cape Horn, steered to the westward. Hardl, had it shifted its course when there came on a furious gale from the north west, which drove it so far to the east ward and wored such havoc that thre, of the ships, almost complete wrecks were forced to return to the Rive Plate, where they arrived soon after tn middle of May. The Hermonia founder ed at sea, with all hands-450. Tn Guipuscoa was wrecked on the coast 0 Brazil with 8 loss of $50 out of 700 men The Asia, the flagship. had remainin, out of crew of 700 only $50; of thu complement of the Esperanza-450- only 5S remained and on the Estavan out of $50 but 150 survived. Of the reg iment of foot all but 60 perished. All 0 these casualties, with the exception o those incidental to the laundering o the Harmonic, were due to famine. Tn scarcity of food in the Spanish ship was so acute that rats, when they coul be caught, were sold for $400 each. sailor who died on board one of tn vessels had his death concealed fo some days by his brother, who durin that period lay in the same ham mock with the corpse in order to re ceive the dead mans allowance of pro visions.
 This disaster to the Spanish squad ron rendered it, of course, useless as a aggressive power. Of all fine vessel: the Asia alone was able in 1746 to re turn to Spain. Of the original personne of the squadron, consisting of nearl 4,0O0 officers, sailors, marines an troops, not above 150 lived to reac their native land.
 Meanwhile, on the 7th of March, 174 with a fair wind and strong favorabl current, the English squadron mad the passage through the straits of L Maire in three-hours' time. The Eng fish were elated with the hope of speedy voyage about Cape Horn, a elation fortified by serene weather an bright skies. This was fatterinog de fusion. The two hindmost vessels C