Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-21
Greatest of Wars Mysteries
Rear Admiral Goodrich in New York Herald.

Since the introduction of ruthless and I'M
restricted warfare a great many vessels nave
been "spuros versenkt," to use the unctuous
phraseology OF the pirates. 1t is, therefore
quite proper today to refer any case OF the loss
of ship at sea to this sinister cause. The mer-
chant marine service supplies much the larger
number of such instances, but the navy OF the
United States must claim for its own one OF
these distressing and perplexing catastrophes-
the vanishing of the collier Cyclops. 1t is not
permitted to use, in connection with TINS case,
any facts which are not of public knowledge,
but, guided by these facts, it is quite within the
bounds of propriety to discuss what might have
happened, even if we do not know what actually
did happen.
1t left Rio de Janeiro in February OF this
year, carrying cargo of manganese ore, much
needed by the government for the making OF a
certain quality OF steel for munitions. In addl-
ton it took on bosrl . number of passengers,
authorized by the Navy department. The most
distinguished OF these persons was my old
American consul general at Rio de JanelIo.
From this port it proceeded to Barbados. On
March 4 it left Barbados, bound for New York,
where it was due on March IS. Not word has
ever been received from it from that day to this.
The Navy department. with commendable en-
ergy, caused careful and repeated search to be
made of the waters through which it was likely
to pass as soon as fears of its safety were en-
tertaned. Not so much as a life preserver, a
grating, boat or an oar belonging to the W
clops was found. If ever ship disappeared
and left no trace, it was the Cyclops. Recently
the Navy department has taken the necessary
step in such cases, has declared it officially lost
and has published the list of the people on
board of it, the officers and enlisted men being
specified as having given up their lives in the
service of their country.
What actually happened to the Cyclops? To
this question there is at present possibly for all
time, no answer available. Out of the evidence
obtainable it is open to every person to con-
struct his own theory. The facts may be ar
ranged somewhat in this order:
First, the ships hull was stanch in all re-
spects. No report to the contrary has been
made public as would have been done undoubt-
eddy had necessity demanded and naval vessels
are noted for perfection of design and integrity
of construction.
Second one of its engines was out of order
and it was proceeding under the other. This
is unusual circumstance. Indeed, it is to
meet such very contingencies that twin screws
are put into ships.
Third, the weather at the time of its leaving
Barbados was normal and so continued IN that
region for many days
Fourth, the cargo, as already mentioned, was
large and it included exceedingly heavy material
Fifth, it sent out no distress signals.
Sixth, its captain is currently reported to
have been of German BIRTH but naturalized
American citizen and to have changed his name
to "Worley.'
Seventh, the most careful search revealed
not even so much as one of its oars floating on
the water.
Passing from fact to rumor it may be said
that the captains wife, in March last, is said to
have stated that she knew where the Cyclops
was, or would in very few days.