The Washington times., 1936-02-08
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TANG|ER HERO
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rescued by their comrades. they
reported.
The Travis was lying about four
miles off Crisfield, and is men
started out pulling sledS. AS the
storm increased in intensity-the
snow so binding the men stumbled
along unable to see ahea a-the
fishermen declared it was suicidal
to attempt to proceed and the ma
jority turned back.
True to the code of their service,
however, the State troopers
plunged ahead, two civilians elect
ing to accompany them on their
errand Of mercy. Sergeant Hun
ter Hunter was the first officer
to collapse, and abandoning the
SledS-including milk for the
undernouriShed children on the
iSland-the troopers carried him.
Sailors Sent to Rescue
As darkness set in the cutter
turned on its big searchlightS and
swung them in arcs to serve as a
guide to the land party. Alarmed
when they failed to arrive, the
commander of the cutter ordered
rescue parties out.
Through the binding snow the
sailors set out, finally reaching
the hali-frozen policemen and two
civilians. Sergeant Hunter was
found unconscious on a snow
bank. His heart showed no &C
ton, but the sailors rushed him
back to the ship. hoping there
might be a spark Of life left. But
on board he was pronounced
dead.
Despite his own plight, Major
Carey sent a radio message to
Gov. Harry Nice paying tribute
to the dead officer and saying:
"He died at his post like q
gentleman and a hero"
One of the members of the
party who returned to Crisfield
said he noticed the sergeant was
suffering from the cold and
urged him to turn back. But the
sergeant replied:
''NO, it's my job and I've got
to push on"
One Of those who returned to
Crisfield was Edward Thompson,
amateur radio operator. who was
attempting to set UP a Smith
Island communication line.
Clothing Frozen to Body
Mr.. Thompson, who lives in
Salisbury, plunged through the
ice and his clothing was frozen
to his body. A group Of fisher
men carried MIN back to shore.
With it's zero temperature and
two feet of snow the blizzard is
closing the channel the Travis
opened to Tangier Island after
battling the ice for three days.
and it is believed only planes will
be able to make contact with the
island for the next few days.
Food is running short on the
islands again, officers Of the cut
ter reported, accounting for the
NC0PC4 GOC OACO OoCAA OA4A OA6A VAAO
blizzard that ended in the death
Of Sergeant Hunter.
The Travis landed what stores
she could spare on Tangier before
starting for Crisfield to take on
board a new supply.
Huge ice floeS have endangered
the vessel, it was reported at head
quarters here, but the cutter will
again take up the task Of clear.
ing the channel.
The food problem on the island
has been intensified by the land
ing Of more than 100 fishermen
who had been cut off by the ice
and housed by State authorities
in the Crisfield armory. These
men were returned to their homes
by the Travis this week, walking
across the ice over the mile Of
shoal water through which the
vessel was unable to penetrate.
If conditions become accute, it
is believed several planes will be
equipped with skis so they may
land on the heavy snow which
now covers the ice.