The Washington herald., 1921-06-22
U. S. Officials Convinced
Deering Crew Met
Foul Play.
THREE OTHER SHIPS
INVOLVED IN CASE
Worldwide Inquiry for
Craft That Ignored
Lightship Signal.

passed cape LOOKOUT LlBuNchlp On
January 90 shortly after the schooH-
er Carroll A Deering was seen to
sail by. is found the only clue thus
far developed TO the mysterious dis
appearance Of the crew of the
American vessel, who are believed
by government officials 20 have met
with foul play on the high seas.
One of the seamen on the Deer
ing had signaled TO the lightship
that the schooner had lost both
anchors and asked that the incident
be reported to the owners. Two
days later the Deering, with all
sails set, drifted onto Diamond
Shoals, and was wrecked. --
Work on Pirate Theory.
Setting in motion a worldwide
inquiry through consular officers TO
search out the possibility OF pirates
operating off the North Carolina
coast, officials tire equally convinced =
about the disappearance of three
other ships. besides the Deering, and
their crews in the same vicinity at
about the same time
The mysterious craft observed TO
follow in the wake OF the Deerins
refuseds to answer signals or dis
close its identity.
Refused TO STOP.
The men on the lightship made
every effort to get the steamer 20
stop and take a message to be
forwarded. hut the strange steamer
not only did not stop. but did not
answer 1t was impossible TO as
| certain the name of the vessel. but
every effort is now being made to
\ locate her in the hope that she may
be able to throw some light on the
puEzling case
The State Department yesterday
I sent request to all consular agents
| OF the United States to seek some
trace Of the missing crews. or ships
[ particularly the crew OF the Deer
ing. At the same time the Navy
Depa artment. the Coast Guard Serv-
| ice and merchant vessels have been
asked 10 keep a sharp lookout for
any information that may be help.
/ full The Bureau of Navigation Of
the Department Of Commerce and
7 the Department Of Justice also are
. lahAAlE an fAAla ASAANF inquiry
Disappear in Placid Sea.
Out OF the strange case OF the
derelict schooner found of the coast
of North Carolina on January 81
one Of the most remarkable incl
dents in the annals OF the Amer
ican merchant marine Is being de-
veloped. Through a strange coin
cidence. three vessels had disappear
ed of Cape Hatteras at a time
when the ocean was strangely
quiet and placid
The case Of one Of the three miss
ing ships in particular. aroused
the suspicion of the government
II is that Of the British steamer
Hewett. from Sabine. Tex. with a
cargo Of sulphur. While cruising up
the Atlantic coast. the Hewett re-
ported daily by wireless. The last
report was received on January 20.
1921, when of Jupiter Inlet, y. c.
The weather was perfectly calm
and there was nothing out Of the
ordinary aboard to be reported. She
was never heard from again.
Two Bark. Missing.
The two other vessels which dis
appeared are not so closely relar-
ed to the Incident OF the Deer.
ing. They are:
The Russian bark, Yute. which
disappeared OF Hstteras in Novem-
ber' 1920. She sent out radio dis
tress signals. but when revenue cut
ters arrived. there was no trace
of the bark, any Of the lifeboats
nor hoating wreckage 70 indicate
a wreck
The PritfSb h.-r- .rA .
was observed TO pass Hatteras in
November, 1890, but never reached
port
The State Department issued thh
statement yesterday. which for the
hrst time gives all the information
( IN the hands of the government con-
/ cerninE the Deering:
Foul Play Suspected.
''on January %. 1921. the Amer.
lean schooner. Carroll A. Deering
sailing at the rate OF about Nv.
miles per hour. passed Cape Look.
out light ship. y. c. and on Januar,
! 81. 1921, il was found a few mIIes
north Of that point in such condition
that there is every suspicion of foul
play having occurred. The veSse,
cleared for Norfolk, Va, from Ri,
de Janeiro and put into Barbadoe.
for orders. but. receiving no diff.
ferent orders. proceeded on its voy,
age to Norfolk. After passing Care
Lookout light ship the vessel wa
not again seen until IL was found
as wreck and nothing has beer
heard from the members Of the
crew. The master Of the vessel
Capt. Wormell, is reported 70 hav.
been experienced as a navigator Ane
thoroughly reliable.
Unable TO Get Response.
AT the time the Carroll A. Deer
ing passed the Cape Lookout light
ship. a man on board, other thar
the captain, hailed the light shiy
and reported that the vessel had lost
both anchors and asked to be re-
ported TO his owners. Otherwise thu
vessel appeared to be in very good
condition. A short time after ths
schooner passed the light ship,
steamer, the name Of which car
not be ascertaine5. which was pass.
ing. was asked to stop and take
message for forwarding. and -
spite of numerous attempts on IN,