The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-06-05
.aNn1Bs
Fate of Cyclops, Still @
UnSolved, Recalls Others

displacement, constructed VIII a
view to withstanding the heaviest
weather, founder in a severe tropical
storm? This theory sounds unreas.
enable to many who believed the
ship capable of riding safely out OF
any storm she might encounter, yet
in view of all the known circum.
stances the explanation is accepted
by most naval officials as the most
probable to account for the disap
pearance.
The Cyclops, although Of deep draft
and broad beam, carried a remark
ably high and heavy superstructure
Eight great steel derricks lowered
over her hull, and there was other
heavy framework placed above decks
to give her maximum of efficiency
in loading or discharging coal.
In case of heavy list to port or
starboard, perhaps to the extent of
As degrees, the Cyclops, burdened
with her heavy derricks, was perhaps
unable to swing back into equilibri-
UNI, crashed over to one side and
quickly settled The heavy cargo Of
manganese might have shifted and
hindered the vessel from righting af-
ter a severe list.
Stormy Weather Possible Cause
Moreover, vessels which returned
to Atlantic ports about the time the
Cyclops was due, reported that I'M
usually stormy weather had been en-
countered in southern waters. Caught
in the trough of a heavy sea, the Cy-
clops might have capsized and gone
down in gale quickly, dragging
down beneath her hull all deck equip
ment which otherwise might have
fioated on the surface as an indication
of her fate.
The theory that the Cyclops sud
denly went down in a storm is about
the only theory that adequately would
explain her failure to wireless in case
of danger. The fact that no radio
calls ever came from the vessels Is
one phase that characterizes the dis
appearance of the ship as one of the
most mysterious in modern sea an
nails.
Leaving the West Indian harbor on
March 4, the Cyclops was expected to
touch at an Atlantic port on March
Is, When attention was called to the
fact that she was a few days over
due, no anxiety was felt because 1t
was known she had one engine out
,of commission. However, when a
week passed and there was even no
news that she had been. sighted, a
feeling of great apprehension swept
over the Navy Department. Every
effort was made to find her. but on
April ID the department gave permits.
sion to publish the facts, which long
had been withheld
Secretary Daniels still clings to the
hope that the mystery will be cleared,
but there are not many in the depart
ment who share his view.
The call of blue water always has
stirred and will stir the blood Of
men. But just as much as in ro-
nance, the seven seas abound in
tragedy.
The ocean has taken its annual
heavy toll of human life from the
time of the modern ocean liner and
floating steel fortress, back to the
days of the ancient Phoenicians who
pidNCu IhS WIN seas VI lu6 Mtull6T-
ranean in their frail craft and picked
their way even to far-off England
to barter for Cornwall tin.
The loss of merchant shipping ever
has been great-particularly in these
days of the ruthless undersea rover
but fortunately the United States
navy has carried Americas flag over
the worlds waters for nearly a cen
fury and a half without particu.
larly severe losses due to the ele-
ments.
From the records of the navy de-
partment, there has been compiled a
brief list of naval vessels which
sailed and then went down in the
oceans nav without leaving a soul
to tell the story
Ships That Didn't Return
The Saratoga. ship of Is guns,
commanded by Captain John Young
was lost at sea with all on board in
March, 1881.
\ few wears later the General