The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-07-28
DISAPPEARANCE
Of 4 TAMPA
VESSEL
Nothing Heard from Schooner
Robert Center Since Passing
Key West.

The Tampa Herald publishes the
following regarding the myst erious dis
appearance of the schooner Robert
| Center, which has not been heard
from since January Z:
Relative to the item appearing in
! the Jacksonville Metropolis of last
Saturday, republished in the Herald OF
yesterday, concerning the missing
schooner, Robert Center, which cleareu
from Tampa January 3, with lumber
for Sagua Ia Grande, Cuba, and after
being sighted near Key West January
9TH, has never been heard of since, d
Herald reporter this morning called on
Mr.. Ernest Berger, the well known
merchandise broker, half owner Of
the missing vessel.
Mr.. Berger stated to the Herald
man that the vessel, Robert Center
was purchased by him during the
month of last December from William
Wreck of Brooklyn and later he Der
ger) had sold One-quarter interest in
the boat TO Miguel Serrl, the Captain,
and another quarter interest to Mar
ciso Alvarez, the mate, retaining for
himself a half interest. Mr.. Berger
had intended making runs between
Tampa and Cuba, loading the vessel
here with lumber and returning to this
port with Cuban cedar.
Last Sighted January z.
On January the Robert Center.
consigned to Antonio r. Garcia OF
Sagua la Grande, burdened with um.
Der, cleared the port with captain,
mate and crew of possibly three men
aboard. On the 7th of January the
boat was sighted off Key West. Since
then nothing has been heard of the
Robert Center.
The vessel was worth $4,000 and
carried load of lumber worth $1,000.
Mr.. Berger denied that the vessel
was loaded with wine and that the
members of the crew spent any OF
their time before leaving in gambling
houses or local dens. Sierra. the cap
tain of the boat, was considered very
reliable man and had during the past
four or five years been employed as
captain on vessels owned by the
Ly kes Bros. and Captain James Nc
Kay, all of whom he had served faith
fully. Narciso Alvarez. the mate. was
a Spanish cigar packer and Mr.. Berger
was of the impression that the Span
lard hal invested all his ready money
in buying the quarter interest in the
boat. Both captain and mate were
pressed for money when they left
Tampa. The half owner of the boat
has tried through many channels tol
secure information and has each time
been baked. He is now of the opinion
that the captain has run off with the
boat, sold the cargo, possibly both
schooner and cargo, and that the YES
sci sails under another name flying
a South American flag.
The Captains Family.
Beginning January 17:h the wife and /
of Captain Sierra daily went !
to the Office of the broker for informa- /
ton concerning the boat, and when
told that there was no information |
forthcoming would always burst into
tears. These trips were made to the
Office daily and covered a period of
one month. Mrs. Sierra is now i'll
believing her husband
with all the crew, to have found
graves. She is very strong in
her scorn for the theory advanced that
Captain Sierra has placed the boat SER
vile to his own desires and wishes.
The Federal Authorities.
On July 5th Mr.. Berger wrote to the
of Navigation at Wash
Ington asking that the government do
all in Its power to recover the lost
On the Sth Commissioner
A. T Chamberlain replied that all pos.
sible would be done both through the
department OF state and the collectors
Of customs at the various ports. Thus
lar nothing has been heard. The boat
unseen and the broker expects
% hear news of the Center within the
next thirty days or giTe the matter
Id as another of those unsoluble mys-
cries.
Rumors.
The cargo was fully covered by in
Capt. James Mckay endors-I
ng for his former employee. Sierra.
some time back Captain Mckay was
to pay w. ]. Carter for t.
umber placed on the boat by the lat
er and now Captain Mckay is at
empting to Tecuperate through re-
overing the insurance money. The
insurance companies are attempting to
efer payment through the six months
init
1t was rumOred some time ago in
maritime circles that the steamer Nor
o Castle had struck and sunk a lum-
er schooner flying the American flag
nd tallying with the description of
he Center just of Key West not far |
rom the Cuban coasts. Captain Nc s
lay Immediately wrote the captain of
he MORO Castle. but has never re-
eived a response.