New Britain herald., 1924-06-05
Bloody Battle Fought Between
 Seminole and Rum Running Boat
Three Wounded, One Se-
 verely, in Fight Off Block Island in Which Govern
 ment Vessel Is Victorious.

New London, June 5.-Three men were wounded, one severely, when the coast guard Ncutter Seminole fired six shots at the liquor laden yacht Yer e;gn of New York during the latter's attempt to escape last night eight miles southeast of Block Island, it was learned here early today, when the cutter arrived in port with the captive yacht.
 Man Badly Wounded.
 John Stack, 35, of Brooklyn, N, T., 8 member of the Nereign's crew, was severely injured by fragments of an exploding shell which tore away d portion of his left leg and removed a thumb. He is now a patient at the Lawrence and Memorial associated hospital. The ships master and an- other member of the crew, who thus far have refused 10 give their names, were slightly wounded by the same shell, and this morning were being given treatment aboard the Seminole.
 Big Supply of Liquor.
 Thet Nereign is alleged to have been carrying 1 400 cases of liquor includ- ing 600 cases of champagne, like amount of whiskey and the remainder of alcohol. Authorities say the cargo Is worth sl00.0oo at bootleg prices, The thirteen men in the crew, includ- ing the master, were this morning held for trial later today before u. $. Commissioner Earl Mathewson of Norwich. All refused to give their names.
 The Nereign sailed out of Newport yesterday morning, according to mem bers of the crew, and took on her car go at rum row, off Montauk Point. The apparent course Of tho yacht was in the direction of the Connecticut short.
 sighted by seminole.
 The Nereign was proceeding al s comfortable pace at 1880 last evening when she was sighted by the Seminole cruising the m-infested waters. The liquor laden craft was then about half way between rum row and Block ls- land.
 Captain Philip H. Scott. master of the coast guard cutter, issued orders for the vessel to heave 10, but the yacht put on more power and sped shoreward. The Seminole gave chase and fired a blank shot which was un- needed.
 Tho Nereign, however, adopted a zig-Zagging course ana continued her flight. Then rourd shot were placed in tho seminoIe's guns and four sue- cesslve shots failed to hit their marks.
 The captain of the Nereign was at the wheel He was accompanied by Stack, who is now in the hospital others were in the pilot house while the remainder were in tho engine room.
 Shot Goes Straight
 The crew Of the rum-carrier kept up their zig-zag course and the Sem mole fired two shells, aiming at the pilot house. The first struck the windshield, atop the pilot house and blew the fragments of tho windshield and a ventilator directly in the face Of the captain.
 Stack, who had been on the bridge, clambered down into the pilot house and the last shot fired entered the pilot house through window and exploded in the midst Of the men.
 Bits Of the shell flew in all direc- tions. Stack was struck by frag- rnent which tore away flesh upwards toward the groin and another bit re- moved a portion Of the thumb of his left hand. Other pieces struck the captain and another man about the face and hands.
 Stack was believed seriously wound cd and the Nereign hove 10. Coming alongside the cutter, the master ap- pealed for a physician. The Seminole has no ships doctor. but sent over Lieut.. Rae E. Hali, who administered first aid to the three men. These and three more were taken aboard the cutter, which immediately proceeded for New London.
 List of Wounded.
 Those wounded were Captain John Wilson. Ssth street and 4th avenue, Brooklyn; John Stack. super-cargo. S99 Jefferson avenue. Brooklyn: John Shaw. 24 Hamilton avenue, Brooklyn.
 Other members Of the crew under arrest are Pat Smith, 7T5 Cortland avenue, New York. Charlie Deck, 3s Elizabeth street, Elizabeth, \. J.; William Powers. s99 East 1S0th street, New York; Joseph Clayton. 415 Newell avenue. Bronx. New York; Joe Russo. 2100 Morris avenue. New York: Edward Wilson. 49 Collect avenue. Stamford Conn: John White. 1924 Morris Heights avenue, New York: William White. same address; Elmer Arnold. Stockton Springs. Me. and Jimmie LeBlanc, 1s0 Nelson ave- nue. New York.
 Interrogation Of the crew by mem bers Of the seminole's official staff eIicited that the Vereign was orig inally the pleasure yacht of Gale Bor-