Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-02-02
Story of the War.

Brooklyn navy yard is a steamship
on the stern of which is painted the
name Scipio. 1t was evidently built
for commercial service, and seems out
OF place among so many war vessels.
The Scipio has been at Its present
moorings since the early days Of the
war with Spain. When it first sp-
peared in the basin it was, in various
quarters, subject of mystery, specu-
l.tion and suspicion. A few knew all,
some knew little, and many knew
nothing about the stranger ship.
Gossip was in inverse ratio TO knowl-
edge Those who knew all about the
Scipio would not talk. With the ar
rval and departure OF the leviathans
OF the navy, and the hurry and rush
Of equippirg them for war, the mys-
ferrous merchantmen wa. nine days
wonder.
After hostilitiss had ceased, specu-
l.rion about the Sclplo revived.
Those who were curious concerning
the ship could obtain scarcely any IN
formation They did what they could
drew Oh their ima8lnstIons for facts,
ard woye these. with their suspicious,
into a story. This story they gave to
reporter 1t was to the effect that
the Scipio was derelict that had
been found-stanch, seaworthy, we'll
proyi.ioued, but without soul on
board-of the coast by one OF our
cruisers, aud towed TO the navy yard.
where it awaited claimant ThiS
tale, with thrilling embellishments,
was printed in the daily papers.
Lesliss Weekly is now able to n
the veil Of mystery, and to tell the
true story Of the ScIpis The vessel
is Of foreign build, wa, constructed In
1880 named the Ravena, and sailed
for years under the British flag a.
one Of the famous "P. & o" line.
ln course Of time the Ravena WAS
found to be too old for that line and
too slow for the requirements OF the
British mail authorities. 1t wa. with
drawn from service, and eventually
wa, put on the market for sale. AZ
ter our declaration of war with Spain,
and after foreign governments had is-
sued proclamation' Of neutrality, the
United States authorities were desr-
ious Of obtaining additional war sup
plies abroad, and also Of procuring
ships sailing under neutral flags to
bring the supplies to our shoes A
list Of ship, purchasable in foreign
ports was obtained. The Ravena was
amsng them. Naval Constructor
Bowles, Of the Brooklyn navy yard,
happened to have been present at the
launching Of this ship. He had full
data about it in his notebook, and be
reported that it would be satisfactory
for the purpose in view. United
States agents had the Ravena bought
by British subjects. 1t was loaded
at Antwerp with a cargo packed in
solid boxes The manifest declared
that this cargo was patent fuel In
due time the Ravena sailed for New
York, flying the British flag and with
crew Of Europeans. No Spanish
ship would have dared to intercept
this neutral" vessel. The Ravsna
has never since been heard Of.
The ship had an evsntful voyage
until it was within day run Of New
York. Then the name that 1t bad car
RED on its stern for l8 years was obit-
Grated, and the new name Scipio APP
pesred IN it's place The vessel an
chored near quarantine. The captain
and all hands went ashore, and dlsap-
peared. They have never returned, and
are not expected. Doubtless they are
safe and sound somewhere, hoping for
another such opportunity 10 make
double pay. When the Rsyena, alias
Scipio, was abandoned by its crew
tug, which bad been waiting for that
moment, dropped along,ids and put a
temporary crew on board. The anchor
vas weighed and the ship was towed
to the navy yard. The boxes Of pat
ent fuel, when opened. were found to
contain guns and ammunition. This
discovery was no surpris. to the off,
GERS in charge. Indeed, they would
have been surprised if they had found
anything else. Probably the Scipio
will be like the poor, always with Us,
as reminder Of how ship Of emf
nently peaceful and respectable ante
cedents can be utilized in time Of war
TO evade neutrality laws. and to prove
that if the Ravens is missing vessel
that looks very much like it is ,till