The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-21

Washington. June 21.-Examina-
tion of their records today led COM
merce department officials to believe
that total of five ships have mys-
teriously disappeared off Cape Hat
teras within the last few months.
This is in addition to the wrecking of
the Carroll S. Deering, a schooner.
which sailed ashore with no one on
board except a parrot
bellef that foul play accounts for
the disappearance OF the Deering' $
crew was expressed by the state de-
parIment iIi notifying consular officers
lnAt the ship had disappeared.
The instructions recounted that the
DeeEng on the night of January 29
passed the Cape Lookout hghtship and
that some one, speaking with a for
elSh accent, hailed the Iightship, ask
ing that the home office be notified
the Deering had lost both anchors.
Two days later the Deering, with all
salts set drifted on to Diamond Shoals
ana was wrecked.
The Deering followed practically the
same route as the Cyclops, which dis
appeared mysteriously with her cap
tain and crew during the war.
Ship in Harbor Attacked.
The attack in Newport News harbor
was ON a tramp Italian vessel The
vessel asked help from harbor police
three times in one night, declaring
attempts had been made to board her.
The police saw no one and decided
that bootleggerS were trying to get
liquor from the vessel
The vessels missing are the Hewitt.
carrying a cargo of sulphur from
Texas; the Albyn, which sailed from
Norfolk last October and disappeared,
and the Yule, a bark which was last
heard from by wireless last Novem-
Der A The names of two other miss
ing vessels are in possession of the
commerce department, but officials
are reluctant to give them out.
Other developments in the seas
mystery which is engaging the atten-
tion of four government departments
today were:
The British admiralty and the
French ministry of marine are CO.
operating with this government in its
investigation.
The state department has accepted
the theory that foul play" may ac-
count for the disappearance of the
twelve men on the Deering.
Information reached officials here
that at least one foreign ship was re-
Gently attacked by men in a launch
while lying at harbor at Newport
News.
Woman Started Probe.
William b. Wormell, Portland, Me.
was captain of the sailing vessel and
his daughter has been instrumental in
arousing officials to an investigation
of the accident. She has made an in
dependent search the country over for
her father.
Another young woman was instru-
mental with Miss Wormell in causing
an Investigation. She was Miss Bar
bara Bauer of Big Springs, Texas, who
wrote the coast guard here that there
might be q connection between the
%reclIing of the Deering and the dis
appearance of the Hewitt. a steam YES
sci which left Sabine, Texas, June 2(
with a load of sulphur.
Miss Wormell has had the handwrit-
ing on the note brought in from the
Deerins identified as that of Chief En-.
gineer Bates.
The other two vessels which sailed
out into Oblivion were not identified
but the commerce department was in
vestigating today.
While four departments of the gov
ernment were officially concerned II
the Investigations. other department.
were interested in the mystery ant
romance of the disappearance. Thu
coast off Cape Hatteras is wild ant
seldom approached.
1t would not be possible for a TWEEN
tieth century Captain Kidd to hid
there with his hand. 1t is suggested
that such a pirate might be using
submarine in his raids.
Another theory-advanced by I
cabinet officer who was only part
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