The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-06

comparing the number Of accidents.
and 1t is seldom that all traces Of
ship are lost.
In the list, however, Of the United
States men-of-war that the ominous
words "Never heard from" are writ
ten against are the names Of six ves-
sells.
The first Of these was the namesake
Of Pennsylvania's schoolship. the
eighteen-gu frigate Saratoga. one OF
the few vessels which belonged to the
colonies during the Revolution. After
the treaty of peace was signed she
sailed away from this port and dis
appeared forever from all human
knowledge. No signs of her wreckage
were ever found. She probably foun-
dered in a storm and went down with
all on board.
On July II, 1900, the thirty-six gun
frigatc Insurgent. Captain Patrick
Fletcher sailed out between the
Chesapeake Capes and was never seen
or heard Of more. She was a prize
taken from France by the Constella-
ton. under Captain Truxton, In 1899,
after hard-fought battle off the is
land of Nevis, East Indies. In August
Of the same year the fourteen-gun
brig Pickering. under Captain Benja-
min Hillar, was last seen at Quad
aloupe. 1t Is supposed that she went
down in a gale. She was a merchant
vessel. poorly adapted for naval SER
vice, and her guns were too heavy for
her tonnage.
The next Of our vessels to vanish
was known as Gunboat No. Z, Lieu
tenant Ageibic commanding her. ami
she put out from New York on May
| II, 1905. to re-enforce our squadron In
the Mediterranean during the war
with Tripoli. When a short distance
out Of port her mast was sprung, and
she returned to New York for repairs.
One of the greatest TRACE Gies of our
navy. however, was the loss of the
Wasp. Within five months during the
war of 1912 this boat had taken tif-
teen English merchantmen and fought
many a good fight against British
men-of-war of greater size and
| strength. On October 1. 1914. shc
hailed the Swedish bark Adonis, and
took on board two Of the surviving
| officers OF the old gurboat Essex, de-
stroyed in Valparaiso Earbor. After
that she was never heard from again.
The last of our vessels Of which we
lost all trace was the Epervier. When
| Commodore Decatur, in 1915. dictated
to the Dey of Algiers the terms of q
treaty with the United States. Lieu
tenant John Subrick was dispatched
to Washington with n copy for the
approval of our government. The brig
Epervier was detailed for his tranc.
| portation, and he was accompanied
by Captain Lewis and Lieutenant
Neill, who had married sisters II few
days before sailing with Commodore
Decatur for the Mediterranean. AMI
by Lieutenant Drury and Lieutenant
Yarnell, who had fought with Perry
in the battle of Lake Erie. Just be.
fore this brig put out tn sea Ensign
Josiah Tattnell, a watck officer aboard
| OF her. induced an officer on one of tn"
other ships to change places with him.
as he wanted to remain where there
was a chance of fighting. A few days
out the Fpervier passed the Straits
Of Gibraltar and signaled "All we'll On
board" Since then she has not been
heard FROM 1t is interesting to know
that Ensign Tattnell. who escaped the
fate Of his comrades. lived to COM
mand the ram Merrimac. of the Con-
federate navy.