THE FATE OF SOME FAMOUS VESSELS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2361, 10 May 1901, Page 6

THE FATE OF SOME FAMOUS VESSELS.

Of a few famous vessels, there is some record of their fate. The Shannon, which captured the Chesapeake, was broken up at Chatham, parts of the hull being sold at fancy prices. The Chesapeake is said to be still in existence, sound and stuanch as on the (lay she was launch--d -but in the inglorious capacity of a Hour mill. Taken to England in 1814, after her capture, her timbers were sold to John Prior, miller, of Wickham, Hants, who erected a new mill with them, rinding them admirably suited in size and strength for his purpose. Many of them yet have the marks of the Shannon's grape-shot. The Golden Hind of Sir Francis Drake was broken up at Deptford, and a chair made out of her timbers is one of the treasures of Oxford University.

The Resolute, which went in search of Sir John franklin, and was abandoned in the ice, was aftei wards picked up by an American whaler, and after being refitted by the United States Government, was returned to this country, and moored in the Med way for some years. When ultimately broken up, a suite of furniture, made from her oak timbers,was" sent as a memento to the American President.

The Sovereign of the seas, the first British three-decker, built in Charles the First's days, was destroyed by fire at Chatham, after much and long service. Captain Cook's Endeavour has vanished without a trace being left, though some of his instruments are preserved, while several English and foreign warships which were sold to Norway are now carrying timber. The Marlborough, the famous Indian troopship, is now a coal-hulk at Gibraltar. More curious is the fate of the Cornwallis, late serew third-rate. She is no longer a ship, but a ipiiiv, forming part of the jetty at Sheciness.