New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-21
OFNAVAL VESSELS.
Regarded as Unlucky to Take Those
of VenOmous Things.

Nan-o'-warsmen have a strange prejudics. not
to say sntipathy against naming vessels after
reptiles and singing things. and the absence OF
such names In the nomenclature OF vessels OF the
American Navy suggests that the superstition
among sailormen has had attention There are
only three vessels Of the American Navy bearing
the names OF venornous things-ths Adder. the
Noccasin and the Scorpion The first and second
o, these almost became total wrecks BY stranding
near the South CUrTitUck Life Saving Station IN
November last but the Adder got on almost at
once and the NoCCasin was foated only few
dav. aEo Following so after the loss OF the
Cobra and the Viper torpedo boats OF the English
Navy II has strengthened the belief among sailors
that vessels so named are sure 20 be unlucky Some
have attempted 20 show that the MOCCasn bears an
Indian name but the majority insist that she was
named after the poisonous snake which Is 20 be
found IN the southern part OF the United states.
and that such name IS suitable 10 the character
OF n torpedo vessel The Adder IS also torpedo
boat but the Scorpion Is OF the yachts pur-
chased in the time OF the Spanish war and con-
verted into a gunbOat-
~ one should be 50 bold as TO characterize the
superstitious sailor as silly. be would az once de-
clare that there f. sufficient reason FOR his be-
lief and would proceed TO prove that war vessels
named after stirClng and veuomOus things have
been unlucky. and that the country should not
be SO Indifferent to the men who follow "a life on
the ocean wave 20 20 organize mosquito fleet
That Snake is regarded as an unfortunate name Tor
a vessel f. shown by the fact that two OF THAT
name have been lost. one IN 1871 snd the other
IN 1877: but no vessel bearing that name is known
TO exist now Serpent. which IS only substitute
name for snake. Is an UnIucky one also, for the
one wrecked in 1899 the fourth British war
vessel OF that name TO meet the same fate. Viper
has been an UlluCky name In the British Navy
The first one was wrecked IN Use. but the Adj
rnlralty would not swerve. and SO IL kept the
name on the list cash vessel meeting its DOOM
and the fourth lost only recently The French
Navy has also been unluciy with vessels so named.
The Vipere used IN the British service after she
became a prize from the French. was lost in 1875
Tho second was lost year later. the third IN
49, and the fourth recently lost in collision
of Guernsey
The Cobra. another British war vessel. lost
recently az the same time the Viper Among
other vessels similarly named and which met fates
other than IN battle the RattlesnaIe. in ISL;
the Alligator. IN T7S2; the Crocodile in 1884 the
Adder in 1876. three Lizards, two Dragons and
Navy The list could be made larger by citing the
records Of other naNies, Ire Eorsemeu VINO Were
OF SUPERSTITION ard using hdeous heads Of dragons
ana reptiles on tb 5ssr d hsh not meet NTH FREQUENT
disasters. They dd have belief. however. that
name as did IsorI.Duuraven for his first yacht to
challenge Tor the Americas Cup. The ESlkyTie,
sunk by thu Satantta The second challenger. with
8hs SAM nfter '1 only short e2istence
In the matter % selecting names for navy ships
sessions in favor OF revertine TO the old names
and pcTpetuatinE thcm. after the Kramer or some
foreign countries. Tuier the present law. provd-
ing that ships ~ the first rate shall De named
after States. five names only remain TO be used
Delaware North CarCiiuc. North Dakota. South
Carolina and Utah 10 IS suggested that the names
OF the old frigatcs b used for the larger ships,
and instead OF naming the cruisers and smaller
craft after cities, tie names ~ Nictors IN sea
fights be used. also old hOuored names. such as
President Congress. Washington. etc. WHICH
arouse inspiring memories Then there are me
names OF vessels captured or destroyed IN odttle
which make ID a long list. From the British
alone the captures I'm equal combat were, by sur
render. five trigutes twenty mine sloops and oriss
and twcnty-threp small craft. in addition TO the
privateers-BrItish. French and Neapohtan- or al
OF these the names Of only five are now on the
navy list. the Detroit. the Jason. the Frolc. the
Boxer and the Alert.