Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-14

Sea captains, sailors and men in snip
ping circles scoff at the idea OF the
mystery ship" sighted off the New
Jersey coast and said to be the vessel
responsible for the disappearance OF n
number of ships from the high seas
during the last few months.
They say there is nothing mysterious
about the ship. Every one interested In
maritime work knows the vessels sight
ed running without lights are more than
likely some Of the feet of whisky snug
glers operating between the Bahama
Islands md the coast. .t.
Revenue officials give credence to this
theory and say that, while they have no
evidence which would warrant bringing
any one into court, they are morally
certain the ships sighted are only part
of an organized fleet Of liquor snug
glers.
No one is able to explain the mys-
tcriors disappearance of vessels which
have cleared ports and never been heard
of afterward. Nor has any one nd-
vnnccd n theory as to the fate of the
crew of the Carol A. Decring, which
came ashore off the Virginia capes with
full sails set and no person aboard.
Vessels Have Vanished
A number Of vessels have vanished
after leaving port during the last few
months, leaving absolutely no trace. AL
though virtually every ship on the seas
these days carries n wireless set, those
which have disappeared did not. Per-
haps that factor may have been the de-
Gliding one of their fate. No large boats
have been numbered among those lost.
Most have been freighters, sailing ves-
sells or ships only carrying few pass.
engers.
While the searchlight of publicity has
been turned on captains of vessels who
have reported sighting "a vessel run
ming without lights which circled my
ship several times and then fed fol-
lowers of the sea pooh pooh the idea.
THE very proof that no such vessel
exists Is that the government has taken
no action in search for it," said Com
mander Robert Kessler, in charge OF the
United States photographic Section IN
this city. That portion of Federal
service has to do with dangerous points
on the coast, icebergs, reefs and such.
mo government ship has been sent to
look ior the mystery ship, he said
land surely IL any pirate were sus-
pected of operating in these waters, de :
stroyers would be sent out to search.
Always just on Coast
Just take n look at this map and
you IL see that almost every time TINS
mysterious ship has been reported BY;
'some vigilant captain, it's happened
within a few miles of the coast. Now
draw your own conclusions.
Men who have little salt in them
don't believe all this hocus- pocus about
a mysterious vessel" said James ker-
nan, secretary of the Maritime Ex-
change.
"While it's perfectly true that I,
number of vessels have diappeared
peculiarly, they are only those un-
fortunate happenings which occur ever
so often and cannot be forestalled.
1t just happens several have vanished at
time when a mysterious boat has been
seen off the Jersey coast. Personally l
suspect this boat was carrying some
thing to quench the thirst of people at
shore resorts. 'u
This mystery vessel is probably
only one of number of vessels running
liquor between the Bahama Islands. the
West Indies and the various shore re-.
sorts along the New Jersey Coast,