Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1899 — NAVAL DISASTERS RECALLED. [ARTICLE]

NAVAL DISASTERS RECALLED.

Wreck of the Charleston Brings Sinking of Others to Mind. The wreck of the cruiser Charleston recalls many other disasters which have befallen floating fortresses, carrying various flags into the depths of destruction. The most startling two such disasters, so far as the American people feel concerned, were the blowing up of the United States battleship Maine in Havana harbor Feb. 15 of last year, in which 266 men perished, and the loss of the British battleship Victoria off Tripoli in 1893. The Victoria was rammed by the British battleship Camperdown during maneuvers, and Vice Admiral Tryon, twenty-two officers and 336 men went down with her. Other similar disasters to warships in the last TOO years have been numerous. A list of the most important accidents to United States ships include: Nov. 24, 1877 —United States sloop of war Huron, wrecked off coast of North Carolina; lives lost, 100. 1885—United States man-of-war Missouri, totally wrecked near Gibraltar by an explosion in ship’s magazine; no loss of life. March 15, 1889 —United States men-of-war Trenton, Vandalia and Nipsic and German war vessels Adler and Eber wrecked on Apia shore by storm; loss of life, 146.