Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-06
MYSTERY REGARDING DlSAP
PEARANcE OF 1sooo.roN COL
LtER GROWS.
MANY BELIEVE SHIP
WENT DOWN IN STORM
Others Hold to Theory That She May
Be Disabled and Helpless in Cove in
South Sea Islands Or May Be Pris-
oner in German Port Following
Treaehery Of Grow.

Washington, June 6.-What became
| of the missing collier Cyclops?
lis she prize in ONE German port,
| the victim of treachery?
Does she lie diabled in some unfre-
quented cove of the tropical seas,
| driven there and helpless by accident?
Or has she made her last voyage and
with more than 500 souls turned up in
Port of Missing Men to join seven
teen other ships of the American navy
which have disappeared just as
| mysteriously since 1871?
Secretary Daniels inclines to the
hope that the mystery will be cleared,
but there are not many in the depart
| ment who sare his view.
Search Still Kept Up.
Sailing originally from Rio de
Janeiso, and later leaving Barbados,
in the West Indies, March 4. the great
19,000ton naval collier has not, since
been sighted or reported. By order of
the navy department all available
navy craft in southern waters have
been making a dragnet search for the
vessel, but daily the conviction among
officials grows stronger that the great
modern mystery of the sea will remain
unsolved.
But the search for the ship still is
maintained with undated intensity.
Cruisers and destroyers have retraced
her route. Every island among the
scores that dot that portion Of the sea
is being carefully scrutinized for any
clew. But the unremitting anxiety of
the searchers has failed to disclose any
trace Of a ship apparently plucked in
cay from the busy lanes of the South
American trade routes.
Many Theories Suggested.
To account for the disappearance OF
the Cyclops there have been suggested
many theories-all possible. none en-
tireiy plausible.
Was she blown into fragments by a
heavy charge of explosives placed in
her hold ere he left port? This ex-
PLANTATION is hardly acceptable because
wreckage would nave covered the sea
for many miles around.
Was she torpedoed and sunk with
OUT trace" by German submarine
that had crossed the Atlantic to prey
on comparatively unprotected ship
ping? That theory is discounted, be-
cause in such case at least-a few s.
| o. 8. calls could have been sent out
before the Cyclops went under. More
over. floating wreckase certainly would
have been found.
Captured by Raider.
Was she attacked and captured by a
marauding enemy raider that had
shipped into the Atlantic after eluding
the british fieetso Even II attacked, it
is claimed, the colliers wireless would
have put her in communication with
other naval vessels or merchant ship
ping.
Did enemy agents carefully planted
among the ships personnel seize con-
troll of the Cyclops in the night and
dlsrnantle the radio to make wireless
communication with the outside world
Impossible? This explanation has but
little support because it is claimed
that a small enemy force hardly could
be expected to reduce to prisoners a
force Of nearly 300 men, many Of them
naval reservists.
Ono Engine Helpless.
Again. = taken by an enemy force
aboard, where Is the Cyclops now
Every bay, every inlet, capable Of ad'
hitting vessel Of her draft, has beer
carefully searched. She had MOI
enough coal in her bunkers to make
the transatlantic trip to some Ger.
man port.
Moreover, one engine was out o.
commission, cutting down her speed
| to ten knots an hour. Even II add.
tional coal had been procured. she
hardly could have slipped past tn.
British patrols into some German
port Her linping gait would have
| made her an easy victim for the fas
allied destroyers or cruisers.
| Did the crew succumb to the effects
of a poisonous gas given of by hel
cargo Of manganese? Hardly, it !!
thought, because all shipping mel
used to cargoes Of that characte
take precaution to eliminate thu
danger.
| Lost in Storm, Belief.
| Did the big vessel Of $4,000 tom
displacement, constructed with view
| to withstanding the heaviest "eather
founder in a severe tropical storm
This theory sounds unreasonable t
many who believed the ship capable
or riding safely out OF any storm sh'
4 might encounter. yet in view OF al
the known circumstances the expiana
ton is accepted by most naval affi
cia.s as the most probable to accoun
| for the disappearance.
The Cyclops. aitho OF deep draf
and broad beam, carried a remarkabl.
high and heavy superstructuTe. Eigh
great steel derricks lowered over he
| hull, and there was other .heav!
framework placed above decks to Civ
her a maximum Of efficiency In load
ing and dtscharging coal.
/ Could Have Turned Over.
In case OF heavy list to port o
starboard, perhaps to the extent o
As degrees, the Cyclops, burdene'
! with her heavy derricks. was per
haps unable to swing back into equi
Ilibrium, crashed over to one side AM
quickly settled. The heavy cargo Q