The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-10
CREW MAY
HIDE GRAFT
IN AMAZON
Naval Collier Lost in Gulf
Could Be Raider That Cap
tured Deering.
BY HARRY GUSACK.

IlIeO Do0THS.
BY HARRY GUSACK.
The startling theory that the long
missing naval collier "Cyclops'
may be the mysterious pirate ship
which has been held responsible fol-
the mysterious disappearance OF
twelve ships Of the Atlantic sea
lanes was advanced here today by
Government officials.
The theory is advanced on the
fact that the Cyclops carried forty
seven life term prisoners, who may
have freed themselves, overpowered
the crew, run the ship into South
American river 1t is pointed out
that the Cyclops, an oil-burning
vessel of great speed, could easily
run rings around any of the ves-
sells that have mysteriously disap-
peared, and after capturing and
sinking them, could have easily
escaped to some hidden islend.
LAST SPOKEN IN BRAZIL.
The Cyclops was last heard from in
Bahia Brszil, from which place she
sailed early in March, 1918. for the
United States. She had on board
some explosives. a large cargo OF
manganese ore, and forty-seven e
term prisoners.
Did these prisoners escape, over
power and kill or take captive tn !,
captain and his crew and then re'fre
to some mysterious South American
river until the war was over and then
became pirates?
On the CycIops VIXEN she disnp-
peared VIVA Fred Morgan. a former
emplcye I'm the composing room Of
The Washington Times, who was =
member OF the crew. The Inst heard
from Morgan was . postal card nd
dressed TO Frank A. Hughes, another
Times empIoye. 1t WINS mailed mt
Rio de Janeir0.
Not since the days of Captain Kidd
and the Flying Dutchman has the
world been stirred by the mysterious
disappearance of ships as 1t Is at the
present time.
II Is pointed out that a large num-
Der of the forty-seven life termers
who were on the Cyclops were expert
enced seafaring men. including navi-
gators II such is the case, they
would have little, IL any difficulty,
in keeping out of the way of search
ing parties, and being an oil-burning
vessel of great speed. could easily
outdistance most of the merchant YES
sells that now sail the high seas.
1t is also significant that the pirate
ship has been described as an oil
burning vessel, which looks some
thing like a subchaser.
BOTTLE GAVE FIRST CLEw.
When the nve-masted schooner Car
roll Deering was recently found dash
ing herself to pieces of the Diamond
shoals of North Carolina, a bottle
containing a note was found.
The note stated that the Deering
had been the victim of a pirate at
tack and that the crew was held
without a chance of escape. The
note read: "Deering captured by OIL
burning boat Something like chaser.
Taking off everything. Handwriting
crew. Crew hiding all over ship.
No chance to make escape Finder
please notify headquarters OF Deer
ing
When tho vessel was found off the
Diamond Shoals OF North Caroliaa,
she was found with all her sails set,
as though halted abruptly in the
midst of voyage Not a member
of the crew was found.
The note describing the oil-burn-
ing pirate boat might easily At the
Oh Inc naval Collier Sy-
ciops, naval men declared today.
Government officials are generally
agreed that the ships have disap-
peared through human agencies.
They are convinced that these ves-
sells cannot have fallen victims TO
natural destruction such as storms,
abandoned mines. collisions, etc.
IMPENETRABLE MYSTERY.
LAl-
Bureau of Navigation, the navy and
other Government agencies. the mys-
terry surrounding the disappearance
OF the ships is still enshrouded in a
heavy veil of mystery.
That a pirate ship the size of the |
Cyclops could easily conceal itself in |
obscure bays or inlets was the opin- |
ion expressed by Government officials. |
There are numerous isolated places |
that such a ship could hide, said one |
and the hiding could be continued |
indefinitely without discovery.
Mariners on the high seas of the |
world are now on the lookout for the |
pirate ship. Cautious inquiries have |
already been made by Government |
agents throughout the world. ana |
American consuls and other represent |
atives OF this country abroad have |
been asked to bring the matter to the |
attention of foreign authorities all |
over the world. in hopes that some |
of the crew OF the missing vessels |
may be picked up.
Another vessel from which a bottle
was washed ashore containing a note |
that she had fallen a victim to pr |
rates was the Hewitt a 5,000-ton |
steamer. sailing from Sabine, Texas,
for Boston, with a cargo OF sulphur
and a crew OF forty-one men. The |
last time she wirelessed her position
she was 229 miles southeaSt Off Cape |
Hatteras-
The only tangible clew to the dis
appearance OF the Hewitt was the
message washed ashore stating that
she had been taken over by pirates.
BLIND MAN CAPTURES
BOY THIEF IN HOME
NEW YORK, July civilian