Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-25
I'm Alone's Shippers Story
Captain Admits She Was Rum Runner-Declares
U. S. Cutters Signaed for Him to Heave to or
They'd Fire. But He Scorned Order.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW ORLEANS, La, March 25-In
a sworn statement during investigation
of the sinking of the British schooner
I'm Alone Capt. John Thomas Randall,
her master. gave his version of his en-
counter with the Coast Guard. admitted
his vessel was rum runner and ex-
planned the methods of delivering con-
traband liquor cargoes.
He said he was 40 years old, born In
Trinity. Newfoundland, but was now a
resident of Liverpool, Nova Scotia,
where his wife and two children live.
carried master o. and G. license issued
at Cardiff, England.
Employed by Ship Agency.
Employed by the Eastern Seaboard
Agencies, Limited he took command of
the I'm Alone November /, 1928, re-
ceiying instructions from George Hearn,
general manager of the company.
Leaving Halifax November 5. 1928,
We cleared for st. Pierre in ballast,
where we arrived November TO- he said.
AT st. Pierre We took on cargo OF
1,400 cases of assorted liquors, received
from the Great West Wine Co. Before
GEARING an employe of the wine COM
A~hy gave me one-half part of IL or Is
american 81 bills.
He gave me instructions to take my
:sip to a position 80 miles due south
g; Trinity Shoals Light buoy OIL
louisiana He gave me instructions to
presented to me the other half of the
first numbered one of my dollar bills. y
Delivers Cargo; Repeats Cruise.
He said he delivered the cargo to an
unknown boat, went to Belize, took
$500 or 2,700 cases Of liquor and de-
livered it the same way.
"On March 20 1 cleared for Hamil-
ton. Bermuda. and came to the agreed
position off Trinity Shoals with $500
cases of assorted liquors.
About 5 am March %, 1929, / an
chored about 14i2 to Is miles of shore,
roughly miles north. allowing for cur
rent. I knew positively by my distance
run, by time and by the speed OF my
ship that my position was correct
Shortly after daybreak we saw the cut
ter approaching from the westward. !
Immediately hove up anchor and steereo
a course south by west The cutter ap-
preached me about half an hour after
ward. this being, roughly. about $50 OF
GAO am. I learned that this was the
cutter Walcott. He ordered me to
heave to-
Refuses to Heed Order.
After much megaphoning. he said the
Walcott's commander came on boaro
but he refused to submit
about 2 pm. the Walcott again
came I'D and said, with signals nying
.Heave to or I fire!' I replied to nm
by negaphone that had no intention
of stopping and that he could f1re Wnen
he wished. He said, I Will give you q
quarter of an hour to make up your
mind e..
we still kept on going and a Few
moments after the time expired tne
Walcott commenced firing. l 40 noi
know the number of shots fired. Severai
shots passed through our sails ana [ig -
cling. one shell passed through the nag
which was flying from the Time Tie cuV-
ter came up at first.
Struck by Bullet.
after firing with his 4-pounder a
certain number OF shots. ne opened ilre
from his quarter ports WIN macnlie
o,In or a uuick-firing rifle. presume
these bullets had been waxed, as one
hit me on the right leg Just below the
hip and partly paralyzed it. / then
noticed that he had some trouble with
his 4-pounder. as she misfired. He then
dropped astern.
We then proceeded on our course
with the cutter trailing us until after
dark.
ABOUT 7:30 am. March %, we saw
another cutter approaching from the
south-southwest. When the second cut
ter came up, we recogized her as the
Dexter. She, after q conference with
the Walcott, came flying the signals
Heave to. or I'll fire at you I replied
by semaphore and megaphone that l
did not consider that he had any JurlS-
diction over me or the ship on the hign
seas and that he could fire If he wished:
He then commenced to fire shell
after shell, first to my rigging and sails
and then opened fire from the bridge
with several quick-f1ring rifles. After