The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-13
THOUGHT DEAD
RETURNS AND
IS ARRESTED
Clings to Overturned Boat,
After Hours Drifts
Ashore on Island.
KILLS AND EATS
A BLIND DUCK
Now Charged With Theft
of Boat-Arrested a Few
Minutes After Return.

August Ritz, or Rits, who was re-
ported drowned when his boat ven
tured into the Gulf, turned up safe
yesterday afternoon, and reached
home few minutes before Sheriff
Van Pelt, holding a warrant for his
arrest, walked into his house, near
Perdido wharf, and placed him under
arrest. Last night Ritz was locked
up at the county jail, and when requi-
sition papers and an officer reaches
here, he will be taken to Mississippi
to stand trial on a charge of grand
larceny.
He is charged with the theft of
boat worth $3.50, and property, worth
about $3.50, from parties in Moss
Point, Miss.
| His right name is August RITZ. ac-
! cording to information from Moss
Point, Miss, and it was stated, in
letter to Sheriff Van Pet, that he
| left there in the boat, taking with
| him what was described as a dash
double cylinder coil. which was said
to have been the property of ]. J.
Cunningham of Moss Point. The
boat was owned by E. F. Nelson.
| Ritz secured the cooperation of
! Will Malbeck to go out on the beach
and dig up an engine and ether goods
reported to have been buried there.
Malbeck, who is a carpenter and who
sometimes works in the bay, desiring
to favor Ritz, decided to go with him.
When the boats neared the mouth Of
the harbor Malbeck decided 1t was
| too rough and turned back. Return
| ing to the gulf later in the day Mr..
Malbeck could find no trace of the
| stranger, and upon returning to the
| city announced that, to the best of his
knowledge and belief, Ritz had been
| lost, for the boat nor the man We're
nowhere to be seen. A second trip
! also failed to bring to light anv trace
| of him, and Malbeck, returning, was
quite sure that Ritz had been lost.
He so reported, also announcing that
Ritz's family was in a bad state, and
was in need of aid. He was on the
point of starting subscription list
for them, so sure was he that the hus-
band and father of five children had
been lost.
The letter to Sheriff Van Pelt re-
quested recovery Of the goods if the
man could not be located, and the
sheriff hunted up Malbeck during
Yesterday and inquired about the
"buried engine on the beach" Mr..
Malbeck told the sheriff that he had
been informed by Ritz of the proper
ty being buried. but could not say
where it was. He said that the "wid-
ow" of Ritz could show the pOin;
where it had been buried, and they
were to have the woman go out on
the beach and locate the spot, thus
explaining the reason for going ia
where Ritz's family was then living
Nearing the house, one of the chill
dren, recognizing Malbeck, ran out
and gleefully exclaimed that IFS
amt drowned. but come home to-
day. He's sick, though"
Ritz related a story of two-day
hardship which was almost unbeliey-
able. After separating from Malbeck
he SAYS, he continued into the gulf
and had proceeded but short dis
lance when his boat was overturned
In going over he struck his head o.
the skiff, and was partly stunned
, but managed to cling to the boat, anc
finally, after many hours IN tn
water, drifted to the beach. Then HI
, pulled his boat out of reach of th'
washing waves and rested. For more
than a day he had nothing to eat, h
! said. and was fortunate in killing
!, blind duck, which he ate raw. Thli
partially restored his strength and !
finally enabled him to reach the main
; land near the navy yard and thence
by car to go home.
The boat was stolen about March l
it is said, and, with his wife and chill
! dren, Ritz is said to have come t
l Pensacola in the craft. He was re
: ported at Fort Morgan on March 30
and again at Sand Island, stating t
an inquirer at the latter place tina
1 he was bound for Pensacola. The al
I legged victims then wrote letters her
to intercept and arrest him if h
showed up.