The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-11-16
THe SHANK MAOE. FIRST TRIP .f .eA
=. AROUND THE HORN 66 YEARS AGO
She was, Naval Vessel Of ~ Tons and at That
Carried Twelve Guhs-The Craft was Lost
in the Columbia River ID l846

just 10 years ago tnlS DeceHper tne
IShark, a schooner Of 1T tons burden.
Equipped with 12 guns and outiitted
| at an expense Of $2S.G27, sailed from
1.-THE Atlantic Ocean through the
IStraits of Magellan into the Pacific
land far up the long, wild coast OF
ICaIifornia to the Columbia river.
land on this long and perilous jour-
lney, Lieutenant A. Bigelow was In
command.
The Shark was vessel In the Unit
led States navy and was the first
IAmerican vessel of war to make the
Voyage through the straits from the
least to the west. The Shark be-
llonged to the feet that cruised in
lwest Indian waters and was dispatched
Ito the Pacifc as part of the explor-
ation expedition. the purpose Of
which was to penetrate inland and
lmap out the valley of the great Co
llumbia river that now forms the
boundary line between the states
Iof Washington and Oregon. 1t was
lbuilt in 1921, in the navyyard at
washington, D. c., and was lost in
l1s46. in the Columbia river, while
under command of Lieutenant II. NJ.
Howison.
1t Is a far cry from 177-ton
Ischooner in command a mere lieuten-
liant to superb fleet of modern bat
|tleships of an aggregate burden OF
Imore than 100000 tons, under the
command of rear admiral. In 1895
lit was hailed as wonderful feat
iof navigation that the Oregon, under
1.-THE command of Captain Clark
lshould have made the voyage around
1.-THE Horn without mishap, but that
achievement pales in comparison with
THAT of the Shark, with her 12 guns
flashed comparatively insecurely upor
Iher tossing decks, always in immin
lent danger of being pounded to pieces
mot only by the huge waves tha
broke over them, but by the shiftin,
gums, once they became unfastened.
Today it is considered almost fool
hardy TO send sailing vessels aroun,
the Horn. Only a day or so agt
news reached this country of the de
struction of the sailing collier Arthu
lSewell on the cannibal coast O
,Tierra del Fuego. This vessel ha,
Ibeen laden with coal destined for tn
government coaling stations on tn
Pacific and dispatched on the lon
voyage. That she was lost was n
! surprise to naval officers, who de
!clared that only. steam vessels q
heavy tonnage should be selected /
make the trip.
= The development of the America
navy dates from the year IT'S. whe
} ION Oct. IL the continental congres
ldirected that one vessel of 10 gun
, and another of Ia guns be equippe
: as national cruisers. At the sam
time a law was passed establishin
a marine committee" consisting {
John Adams. John Langdon and Sila
Dean.
Several changes and modification
followed in the organization of tn
Ipavy and in November, 1776. a "cor
tinental navy board" consisting {
three competent persons, was appoin
8 ed subordinate to the marine con
Imittee. This board was subsequen
a ily divided into an eastern board
q and board of midle district"
. On Oct. 2S, 1873. a board of a,
: mil'alty" was established. consistin
q OF three commissioners, who wei
: not in congress. and two that wei
who were to control all naval an
marine affairs Two years later, 1
FEBRUARY. 1871, Alexander McDOugal
major general, who had been
a seaman in his youth, was appointe
l. secretary Of marine" with all II
t duties and powers previously cor
I flded In the board OF admiralty. !
, August OF the same year in an "al
3 ent of marine" was appointed ,
, lsupersede all agents. boards of con
!. mittees previously established |
!, law. The duties of this office sui
;sequently devolved on the superb
ltendent of finance" who was Il
3 celebrated Robert Morris.
Legislation here closed upon tn
I branch OF the service until Aug.
1888, when the law was passed pla
Ing the navy under the control
the secretary of war, where 1t r
mained until April, 30, 1898, when
navy department was established
a. the seat OF government with "se
$. retary OF the navy" (Benjamin Sto
Ie dart) at its head. to which was adde
70 in. 1915. a board of commissioners
!" composed of captains of the nav
. subject to appointment by the pres
dent. by and with the advice and col