The Lamar register., 1923-01-24
His lRTiTss
MYSTERIES
THE RIDDLE OF THE cYcLoPs

ECLIPSING the other mysteries Of
1.-The World war and overshadowing
all other unsolved riddles Of the sea
with the possible exception Of the mat
ter of the Marie Celeste-the unex-
planned loss OF one OF the United
States coIlIers. Cyciops, stands pre-
emi ,-nt. apparently one Of the few
cases on record where the sea literally
opened and swallowed a huge boat
leaving not the slightest trace Of the
vessel or her crew.
The brief and formal announcement
of the Navy department by Secretary
Daniels issued at the time that the
CyclOps was officially added to the list
Of missing ships. gives the principal
details In the case few and Inadequate
~ hey are: 'It was on March 4.
ials.~ read this announcement. that
the collier Cyclops, 1900 tons dis
placement. put Into the British West
Indies for coal. She was due In her
home port on March l3. Since her
departure from that port there has
mol been trace Of the vessel. and
long-conilnued and yigilant search Of
the entire region proved utterly futile,
not y vestige Of the wreckage having
b.en discovered.
"No reasonable explanation Of her
strange disappearance can be given.
II Il known that one of her two en-
glnes was damaged. and that she was
proceeding at reduced speed. but II
the engine had become disabled II
would not have had any effect upon
her ability to communicate by radio.
Many theories have been advanced, but
none that seems to account satisfac
I"rily for the ships complete vanish
ment. After months Of search and
whiting. the Cyclops has been finally
given up ms lost and her name stricken
from the registry"
But these are only the barest facts
In the case, and make no mention of
one of the most Interesting points con
nected with the mystery-the fact
that the Cyclops carried as passen-
ger Alfred Louis Moreau Gottschalk.
American consul general at Rio
Jsnelro and man who had been in
strumental In stirring up sentiment
throughout Brazil in favor of the
allied forces. A number Of anony.
nous communications threatening his
life had been received by the consul
general prior TO his return to the
United States, In order to resume his
commission in the Fifth regiment OF
New York. but the most startling fact
Of all was that within two weeks
after the Cyclops sailed and at least
month before she was reported as
missing a notice appeared In Rio
JaneirO newspaper stating that
requiem mass would be celebrated for
the American consul general "lost at
sea in the American collier Cyclops."
A number OF Americans In Brazil
noticed the announcement at the time
and made Inquiries about II. but the
newspaper In question disclaimed any
knowledge of the person who had in
serted the notice and little attention
was paid to II until word was re-
ceived from the States that the collier
was long overdue. American secret
service agents then tried to trace the
clue OF the newspaper clipping. but
the trail was too cold. The man who
had brought II into the office Of the
newspaper had disappeared as com
pleteiy as had the Cyclops
Among the theories advanced for
the fnilure OF the vessel. seaworthy
in the extreme. and in the best shape
save for minor accident to one of
her engines. was that she had either
been sunk by German submarine op
Grating In West Indian waters or that
she had been captured and taken into
Germany In order that the central
powers might have the benefit of the
large cargo Of manganese which she
was carrying one of the first acts
of the American authorities after the
signing of the armistice. therefore. was
to examine all German records deal
Ing with naval operations during the
period Of the war But. while refer
ence was found to the sinking of
every vessel which had been torpe-
doed, together with the date Of the
attack and the name of the officer com
mnnding the submarine or raider. no
mention Whatever was to be- located
concerning the Cyciops II she fell
II victim to German submarine. II
must hnNe been one at those which
failed to return 10 port. el-e German
pride IT. th. -licCess Of their campaign
Of frlghtfulness would have led to