Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-12-27
Cutter Gresham Went On
a Fools Errand.
Picked Up a Wireless Message
OH Woods Hole.
Revenue Boat Passes Christmas at
Port Of Boston.

Boston, Dec. 2G.-After spending sew
eral days and nights in u truitLess
search for q ship of mystery, which it
is said, may never have had any exis-
terce outside Of the mind Of some mis-
chievous small boys Or practical jok-
ing wireless opera tor. the United States
revenue cutter Gresham arrived i'll the
harbor SUNDAY morning.
Capt. Uberroth and his men We're
pretty well tired out from their long
vigil in search Of the phantom ship. but
when they had partaken of Il real
Christmas dinner and sat over their
ciea1s their faces shone with q holiday
radiance just the same.
The Gresham left Boston Tuesday
after short rest, following one OF the
most strenuous weeks ever put III By
any revenue cutter. Friday morning
found her near Woods Hole keeping a
sharp lookout for the something that
always seems to turn up when she S
around.
sure enough, about the middle OF the
morning the wireless operator came
running to the commander with the
news that he mad intercepted q mes
sage purporting to be from the British
steamer Palatinia from Newport. The
message said that about 10 miles south
east OF Nantucket lightship q schooner
was III distress, with her canvas torn
u shreds, her hull battered and her
decks awash.
Capt. UbeToth gave the signals for
full steam ahead and the men in the
engine room hustled things up. so that
before many minutes the Gresham was
smashing through tor all she had i'll
her. Up on the bridge the officers stood,
glasses III hand, scanning the sea for q
sight Of the distressed schooner.
But when the cutter reached the point
described III the wireless there was no
sign of any schooner. Feeling that per
maps q mistake had been made in reading
the wireless message, capt. Gberroth
spent al day Friday. all Friday night,
all day saturday and a good part of Sat
urday night III searching for the scAoon-
er.
Every place Of danger in the vicinity
Of Vineyard sound was investigated and
special watch was kept for men III dories
or small boats. as well as for spars ana
other kens OF trouble,
The officers were at first oi the opinion
that the schooner reported might be the
Thomas T. Garland, which struck oft
Great Point in the storm and from which
the crew was rescued by the life savers,
but it is now doubted if the message had
any good foundation.
When they had satisfied themselves
that there was no schooner III distress,
the men Of the revenue cutter steamed
for Boston harbor. Capt. Uberroth faeIs
sure there was no craft in that vicinity
i'll need of assistance
AS soon as the Gresham got in, about
half the men and officers were granted
shore leave and avaiied themselve~ of
the opportunity to spend Christmas with
their relatives and friends ashore. For
those VINO remained there was the turkey
dinner. The remainder Of the men were
given shore leave Monday, and for those
who came ashore Sunday there was an
other turkey feast with q Christmas show
as we'll
The officers Of the cutter welcomed
Second Lieut.. Of Engineers Robert E.
Adams. who reported for duty from Port
Townsend, Puget sound, where he has
been on duty. Second Lieut.. L. 7. Drake,
now on duty aboard one Of the ships at
the Charlestown navy yard. Is also to re-
port for temporary duty aboard the cut