New-York tribune., 1921-06-22
. orld Hunt On
For Trace of
Deeringg Grew
United States Orders Search
in Attempt to Solve Mys-
terry Which Surrounds
the Loss of Five Vessels
Sea Plot by Reds Feared
Girl Evolved Theory of
Seizure; Bride Sailed
ON One Missing Ship
Special Dispatcl, to The Tribune

NORFOLK, Va, June 21.-If the
theory of government agents and the
United States Coast Guard Service is
correct, at least five ships have fallen
into the hands of pirates or Bolshevik
crews since last October. The fate of
only one of these ships is known. She
is the American five-masted schooner
Carroll A. Deering, Captain Willis B.
Wormwell, which went ashore on the
south end of Diamond Shoals during
the night Of January 80. The United
States has started a worldwide search
for the crew and to clear up this deep
mystery of the sea.
Other ships missing are the Ameri-
can steamer Hewitt, which left Sabine
for Boston and Portland, Me-, on Janu-
airy 21 and has been posted overdue
since February s; the Norwegian bark
entine Florino, out from Christiansand
Norway, since December /, bound for
Hampton Roads, in command of Cap
tain G. T. Knudsen; the Norwegian sail
ing ship Svartskog, Captain Nelson, out
from Hampton Roads since October,
bound for Norway, with crew of four
teen, and a Spanish ship of the Lor-
rinaga Line, missing since March.
No Clew to Lost Ships
Excepting the Deering, there is alb
solutely no clew as to the where
abouts of these vessels. The Florino
was spoken once in foreign waters
after she was about fourteen days out
Of port. Since that time nothing has
been heard from her.
The loss of the Florino is particu-
larly distressing because of the fact
that Captain Knudsen and his young
wife were on their honeymoon, Mrs.
Knudsen, despite the protests of her
hus band, insisted on making the voy-
age, just for lark.
There is a pile of letters here ad-
dressed to Captain Knudsen, his bride
and members of the Florino's crew.
These letters are in charge of A. c.
Humphreys, Norwegian consul at this
port. Some of the letters are from
children addressed to their fathers,
others are from mothers, sisters and
relatives of the crew. Norwegian gov
eminent agents at many points in the
world have been trying for months
to get some clew to the fate of the
Florino and those on board, but with
out success.
Miss Lulu NJ Wormwell of 81 Lawn
Avenue, Portland, Me-, daughter of
Captain Wormwell of the schooner
Deering, and Miss Barbara E. Bauer,
of Big Springs, Tex, are responsible
for the clew that led government
agents to believe that pirates or Boil
sheyik crews have been seizing ships
along the Atlantic Coast and probably
in foreign waters.
There is no evidence that the Florino
or Svartskog was seized in American
waters. Government agents are in
clined to believe that these vessels, if
they did fall into the hands Of Boil
sheviki, were seized in foreign waters
The Deering and the Hewitt, however,
arc believed to have fallen into unlaw-
full hands on this side of the Atgantic
Vessel Ignored Message
On the same night in January that the
Deering came ashore at Diamond Shoals
with all sails set, an unknown steamer
passed close enough to the Frying Pan
Shoals Lightship to be spoken. The
lightship endeavored to get the
Continued on next pase)