The Portland daily press., 1898-03-26

Eighteenth Century-Death, Disease,
and Disaster the Accompaniment of Ev-
cry SUPPLEMENTARY Trip Around
the World--The Extraordinary Mortality
in Pizzarro's Squadron
New York Post.
The loss of life in the recent disaster to
the battle ship Maine, not only inspired
our own population with horror. but
aroused the sympathy of all of the civil
lized nations of the world. The casual
ties on that occasion were sufficiently
numerous, but compared to those which
in the eighteenth century through dis
ease or perils of the sea, attended long
voyages of squadrons or detachad naval
vessels, they were relatively small In
those days mortality on ships-of-war was
accepted as inevitable and as incidental
to the hazards of a profession of whose
dangers no one was ignorant.
OF the perils and miseries that envi
roned the man-of-war's man $50 years
ago, we have no more convincing exam
pie 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 1879 the British government per-
suaded that conflict with Spain was in
evitable, proceeded to fit out seven YES
sells, frigates, and sloops, and two store
ships or victuallers. 1t was prop ,sed
that this expedition should sail for the
west coast of South America, harass the
Spanish settlements Oh that littoral, cap
ture If possible the great Manila galleon
on it's annual voyage to Acapulco, Next
co, attempt the surprise Of Manila. and
then return home by way of the Cape Of
Good Hope. This squadron whose per-
sonnet consisted of 1880 officers sailors
and marines. was placed under the COM
maud of Commodore, afterwards Lord,
Arson, an officer Of skill and distinction,
and. above all, noted for the humane and
solicitous care that he gave to the health
and we'll being of the crews of his ships.
On the 18th of September, 1740, the
English squadron, composed OF the Cen
turion, flag ship, the Gloucester, Severn,
Pearl, Wager, Trial and tT7-o ''pinks'' or
store ships. sailed from st. HeleD's for
Madeira, the first port of call. The yoy-
age thither was protracted one of forty
days. This delay was Mt the outset dis
astrous. in the sense that it postponed the
passage around Cape Horn to the most
unpropitious season of the year. In No.
vember the squadron departed from Ma
deira for the Island of St. Catherine S
on the coast of Brazil, where it arrived
on the 21st of Decen. Der. A stay of a
month at this port was necessary in order
to retit the ships and refresh their crews
among whom there was much sickness
and many deaths. On January 18, 1741 !,
the squadron weighed from ST. Cathe-
rine's. and arrived off the Straits Of LIE
Marie, the eastern end of Cape Horn.
early in March.
Meanwhile the squadron sent out by
Spain to watch the movements of Arson
and to traverse his projects was under the
command OF Admiral Don Joseph Piar
TO. It consisted of the Asia, flagship, the
Guipuscoa, Hermonia. Esperanza, ST.
Estavan and a "patache. They We're
manned by $3.50 officers, sailors and ma
rines. besides regiment of foot for the
reinforce ment 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
A nsoIl; but his protracted voyage thither
forced this Spaniards to bear away for the
River Plate to reht and replenish their
stores. At the Plate Pizarro received in