Evening star., 1932-04-03
BY a STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

monplace boat shop, pervaded by the
odors of sawn cypress, paint, tar and
the OIL filmed mud that daily tides re-
veal and then hasten to cover again,
Is the theater here in which Is being
staged one of the most battling mys-
teries Of the century-the quest for
the Lindbergh baby.
Here four principals and host OF
minor players are enacting roles grimly.
The first of the principals Is John
Hughes Curtis, beat builder for 20
years, whose fair dealings with men
who earn their salt in work boats is
genial and he is practical.
The second principal is the Very Rev.
Harold Dobson-Peacock, liberal and
militant rector Of elite Christ Episcopal
Church. He's British, and he swears
a bit
The third Is Rear Admiral Guy H.
Burrage, U. S. N, retired. He's crisp
and "all navy" and he speaks most OF
the lines for the first two nowadays.
The fourth man-he's unidentified,
but he Is of the water-borne ilk, and
John Curtis knows him and has known
him for considerable period. and that
makes him regular" along the water
front. He is the contact man through
whom the kidnapers of baby Charles
Lindbergh sought negotiators who
would deal with them for the return
of the youngSter.
Geography Is Ideal
A varied lot these principals are, but
their very differences make them per-
feet personnel for the business at hand
here. And paradox though it is, the
geography in which the quartet moves
In its contacts is ideal. Curtis boat
shop is situated on the westerly shore
of The Hague. crescent-shaped yacht
basin of the Elizabeth River. The
shop, embracing corrugated steel build
ings and two marine railways, Is set
In the midst Of boat yards and fish and
oyster wharves. Directly opposite this
away, stand the fine homes Of old
Ghent, one Of Norfolk's better residen-
tial sections.
At the westerly tip Of the crescent
towers the very Rev. Dobson-Peacock's
Christ Church, granite, gothic and
grand. At the easterly tip Of the basin
is the outlet to the river. A draw
bridge-spanned narrow channel. And
within a very few blocks of Curtis's
shop, with its tiny, oil-stove heated Of
flee, are the homes Of the three ne
gotiators.
Design was less active than chance In
the selection of these negotiators who
have been characterized as "represen-
tative citizens" of this city. Rear
Admiral Burrage is the man who
brought Col. Lindbergh home from
Europe following his historic fight
to Paris and set him ashore at the
Washington Navy Yard Rear Admiral
Burrage at that time was in command
of the Atlantic feet In Europe and it
was his flagship, U. S. s. Memphis. on
which the flying colonel came home.
The Very Rev. Dobson-Peacock was
dean of the Episcopal Cathedral in
Mexico when the late Dwight Morrow,
Col. Lindbergh's father-in-law, was
United States Ambassador to that
country.
Has Had Wide Experience.
Dean" Peacock, as he is known at
Christ Church here, has lived a life
that fits him for his present adventure.
He Is not only a clergyman, but a
soldier, poet, journalist, archeologist,
lecturer and student of law. A British
subject, Dean" Peacock came to Nor
folk in 1927 after being virtually elected
from Mexico during the anti-church
agitation there. He was educated In
Ireland, at st. Lamberts in York,
the University Of London and at st.
Chads Theological College in Regina.
He was made a priest in 1909.
The dean" came to this continent
where he was made rector Of st.
Stephens Church in Windsor, Diocese
OF Huron, Canada. That was in 1912,
and two years later, when he was a
student at oxford University, he en-
listed with the Canadian overseas
forces In the World War. He was
wounded and lay for months In a
hospital. He was with Gen. Allenby
In Egypt and along the Suez and be-
fore he was discharged he had at
tanned the rank of major.
Following the war, Dean" Peacock
or Maj. Peacock-studied for the inter-
mediate. law examinations and passed.
Next he served as associate vicar of
st. Marks at Birmingham. In January,
1921, the soldier-priest was appointed
rector Of Christ Church In the Mexican
capital and was made its dean when
that institution was elevated to the
rank of cathedral. Among the distinc-
tions he earned in Mexico was the
presidency Of the Bishops Council of
Advice and Craftsmanship of the Social
Service Commission. He also was a
member Of the board of examining
chaplains, the board of managers Of
the Central British Chamber Of Com
merce and director Of the British
Benevolent Society. He Is q Mason
and knight Templar.
Known ut Smithsonian.
Dean" Peacock is known at the
Smithsonian Institution where he was
made a fellow in recognition of his
knowledge of archaeology. He also Is a
fellow of the Royal Archaeological So
ciety of Great Britain
Despite his scholarly attainments, the
dean" Is something Of regular fell
low" He smokes an odoriferous black