Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-09
C0astguard Hero
(Continued from Page One)

to believe it and later voiced his
staunch belief in his innocence.
Captain Sprague, now 81 years
old. has passed his life on Block
Island, where he was born, and III
his years with the coastguard has
shared in the hardships of the serv-
ice, it's work in saving the lives OF
sailors and travellers and in the pre-
vention of smuggling. Since he be-
came commander Of the New Shore
ham, station he has participated III
the rescues of hundreds of persons.
1t was in 1909 that he became a
surfman at Sandy Point station, ana
two years later he was transferred
to New Shoreham. still surfman.
In 1913 he was promoted to be num-
Der 1 surfman and in 1914. when
the previous commander died, ne
was made keeper at New Shorenam.
His full record is known only
since he received his warrant, or
commission, in 1915. Under hts
leadership, on June s. 1917. the New
Shoreham crew went to the rescue
of the brig Thiago, bound from the
Cape Verde Islands to New Bed
ford. The vessel, carrying 81 Por-
tuguese passengers and crew of 20.
went aground on Black Rock. south
of Block Island. All were saved.
Another notable rescue in which
the crew under Captain Sprague
participated. was that of the Portu-
guese steamer Mormugao, bound
from Lisbon for New Bedford, and
which also struck on Black Rock.
With the men from station 81 the
New Shoreham crew helped take Off
the AS persons aboard and trans
ferred them to mine sweepers and
destroyers standing by.
In the northwest gale of August
26. 1924. Captain Sprague's men
saved the yawl Mohican in the new
harbor. They also saved the power
boat Muskegat, the sloop Harold,
and the motorboat Ventura. In the
same storm the sloop Thelma H.
Snow crashed on the rocks of the
breakwater in the old harbor and
Captain Sprague and his men saved
the crew of three.
Among those arrested since indict-
ments were brought are Lampros
Brown and Christos Petrop6Ulos of
Newport; Joseph E. Kelley, of North
Smithfield, former member of the
Rhode Island legislature and at one
time prohibition agent: Samue,
FRANK, Harry SndLkln, sam Snail
cross, and John r. Silverman O,
Providence: J. Truman Dodge, for
mer state pilot at Block Island; Hen
nv c. Johnson, former manager OF
the Hummocks at Hamilton: Jacob
Berkelhammer of Pawtucket,- ami
Dutch" Reizman of Conimicut.
All of these defendants provided
bail Of $4,000 each. A thirteenth
man, Andrew J. Mccarthy, former
coastguardsman, was arrested and is
at liberty in $4,000 bail, but so far
as has been made known he Is not
under indictment.
Sprague has fours days in which
tc file special pleas or demurrers.
Demurrers were filed today by coun-
sci for Kelley, Shatkin, Shallcross.
Frank. and Johnson, attacking the
indictments. 1t was contended they
do not allege sufficient facts to cor
stitute offenses. and that they fail
to identify sufficiently the offenses
charged. Charges that these defend.
ants attempted to bride coastguards-
men or that they attempted to de.
fraud the government in smuggling
liquor are not defined, 1t is claimed.
Separate demurrers were filed by
counsel for Kelley against two In.
dictments. One charges. II is said.
that Kelley offered Thomas Me-
CURE, coastguardsman, three dollars
for each case of liquor he helped
Kelley bring into the country.