Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-16
MYSTERY IN FIRE
THAT BURNED SHIP
Schooner Had Been Pur-
chased by Members of Life
Saving Crew.
OWNER HAD COMPLAINED
OF UNFAIR TREATMENT
But He Had Ignored Treasury De-
partment's Demand for For
NAL Charges.

How came to be burnt the salvaged Six
masted schooner George w. Wells. Capt
Joseph York of Maine, skipper. following
her sale at public auction to the life
savers who at great risk of life had sal
Vased her and rescued her crew, and the
pronunciation of those same lfe-savers by
capt, York as having treated him in
humaneiy and having cheated him out of
a fair price for his ship? This is one Of
the mysteries of the llfe-saving service.
The denunciation of his rescuers made
by Capt York never became the subject
of formal complaint and official investiga-
ton before the life-saving service or the
Treasury Department
Capt. York, a Maine skipper. declared
his purpose to formally present charges
after his ship had been sold at auction.
The Treasury Department. apprised of his
declarations made in the public press, de-
manded that he substantiate them. Capt.
York never replied, say department Of
ficials.
The schooner George w. Wells was
wrecked off Ocracoke. on the Carolina
coast, during a hurricane September i.
The captain and crew, two women and
two children-in all, twenty-five people
We're rescued at great peril by lifeSavers
of the Ocracoke and Portsmouth stations
when the big ship WAS driven ashore in
a 10O-mile gale.
Exhausted in vain efforts to launch the
life boats to the aid of the stranded ship,
the life savers then waded out to their
necks in the heavy surf to shoot life
line to the schooner. Successful, finally,
they sent breeches buoy TO the ship. and
brought away every soul aboard, one
after the other.
Ashore, Capt. York was not pleased
with the treatment which he alleges was
given him by the life savers. He said
he and his crew and the women and chill
dren were forced to sleep in wet clothing.
risking pneumonia and other ills.
Then he declared in an interview in the
newspapers. ten days later, that the life
savers bought in his schooner for $500
when IT was worth $1,000 He charged
that they had kept out other bidders by
q combination formed among themselves.
They have formed combination. a
trust among themselves, ne said, Ito
buy in all wrecked vessels. When the
Wells was sold at auction | was forced
to let her go for $500. ] should have got
81. 800
He further declared that the law bars
life-savers from bidding on wrecked ships.
He then declared his purpose to bring
charges against the life-savers in Wash
ington.
Asked to File Charges.
sherman Alien was at the time ASSIST
ant secretary of the Treasury in charge
OF the life-saving service. BY letter and
telegram he Immediately demanded that
Capt. York prefer the charges formally
that he had made in the newspapers.
Capt York did not reply, it is said.
Inquiry in Norfolk revealed that he had
left there to go to his home. The Treas
ury Department officials traced him to
nd
formulate his charges. He still remained
mute.
While no official investigation fol-
lowed, in view of the failure of formal
charges, much was learned of the Incl
dents to make a readable story and
evolve a mystery--never solved-of how
the ship was burned 1t was declared
that the .ifesayerS had offered Capt
York SS25 for his salvaged ship, which
had been turned over to him. but that
he refused the offer, declaring he could
obtain better price at public sale. The
ship was put up for sale, and no other
bidders than the lifesavers appeared.
They offered $780, the price at which the
ship was knocked down.
A few days later the schooner was con-
sumed by flames. No explanation has
ever been made as to how the schooner
came to burn up. There was. however.
much suspicion voiced as to how it came
about. Capt. York returned soon after
to his home in Maine
The fact that the ship. after being sal
vaged by the life savers, was turned over
to Capt. York established a status for
the ship like that of any other vessel. in
regard to the inhibition against life savers
dealing in shipping salvaged by them.
The life-savfng service has frowned on
all transactions in which life savers are
purchasers of wreck materials. The law
bars them from utilization with any
Urecking concerns or similar enterprises.
Cited as Precedent Case.
A case came up many years ago
of u wrecked ship in which he had
been an instrument to try to give
succor to those on the wreck. 1t was
decided that the purchase was not IL
legal. but the life savers were warned
to be guarded in any such business
1t Is recognized that any interest OF
life savers in the vessels that their du-
ties require them to salvage might at
feet their efforts as life savers. Thiss Is
a condition that the life saving service
will prevent. as far as the law pro-
vides the right to regulate the situa-
ton.
The fact that the salvaged schooner
George w Wells had been returned TO the
custody of her skipper removed her from
all direct interest on the part of the life
savers and established her a plane
with any other sea craft, as far as they
were concerned Their right to bid in
the vessel under those conditions, al
though perhaps not entirely pleasing TO
the authorities, seems to come under no
legally justifiable objection.