The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-02

 son repair a gasoline tank two days before the party sailed.
 Tank Just Repaired
 Foster cuntsnded pressure In the 3OO-gallon tank blew out e valve several times and that he and the skipper soIdered on brass vent to relieve the pressure. It was ros- ter's belief that the vent worked loose, permitting gasoline to spill and causing a fire menace.
 Waterfront observers said that though Capt. Johnson was an ex- cellent seaman and navigator, fa- miIiar with the treacherous waters along Maine's rock-ribbed coast, the Don seemed heavily loaded when the party sailed. They spoke of the possibility that the slender, green and white craft might have cap- sized.
 As D. S. Bureau of Marine In- gpectors began their investigation 1t was learned that the Don had sunk twice in the past 10 years = both times near shore with none aboard.
 The Rev. J. E. Herrick, youthful Methodist pastor of Bailey Island, said the ''old boat was locked in ice all last winter"
 Patch Job Done
 '"This spring." he said, "it drifted around loose and was not cared for. It wasn't fixed up at all until two or three weeks ago and then it was patch job. This should not reflect on the rest of our Bailey Island pilots because they are great sea- men. One of our boys, Orria Lin- scott, warned Johnson as much as two years ago that they didn't con- slider him one of them and that they wouldn't until he got some good gear"
 Fourteen deputy Sheriffs aided by volunteers scrambled over the rocks of a half-Score islands in the area but held scant hope they would find any survivors. They had been ordered to the search by Sheriff Henry BurnelI of Cumberland county who with It. Thomas Samp- son of the Portland coast guard sta- ton was directing the work.
 Meanwhile, volunteers that in- cluded virtually the entire popula- ton of Harpswell, Bailey and Orr Islands combined with firemer from Brunswick 9 miles distant in pa- trol of the sand and rocky coast line in search of other victims.
 Around Noon Sunday
 As far as could be determined, the Don and it's party of Rumford Trust Co. employees and their friends met with disaster shortly before noon Sunday.
 Wrist watches were found on the bodies of the first two victims both women. One watch had stopped at ll:42 and the other at HAS. In- vestigators believed the accident oc- cured soon after fog closed in while the Don was enroute to the clam bake.
 In piecemeal fashion, investigators learned the party left Jolanson'sa chorage ata rickety fsh-wharf in Dyer's Cove here early in the morn ing. The party, which had been or ganized by Bank Clerk Albert Mel- anson, came together in autos from Rumfor6 75 miles distant.
 The group planned to fish in shoal waters oil one of the rocky penin- Sulas, then proceed to MonheEan Island where in the shadow of the lighthouse they were to picnic.
 Enroute across the sun-sparkling bay, the Don put in at West Point, a tiny fishing colony near the open sea. The group bought a few pro- visions at Reeds store, prowled along the wharveS and among the fishing shanties. then resumed the voyage.
 Beyond View of All
 Soon after the sun was dinmed by gathering fog, but the cruiser had passed around pine -fringed spit beyond the view of shore ob- servers.
 Fog, like the dungeon" foas of Fundy, rolled in, and the cruiser Don was forgotten. But when late that day she had not been sighted at Monhegan, 8 preliminary search was begun
 LonStermen and coaStguardE pa- trolle0 the 50-mile bay region 48 hours. believing the party had an- chored to ride out the fog.
 Early yesterday morning the fog nluted motor of fisherman Claude JohnSon's boat was heard coming into Bailey Island. Aboard was the body of a woman-the first victim found.
 Estimates of those missing ranged from 30 to 36 until late last nieht when it was established that a total 37 were aboard.
 Those brought ashore and identi- lied by weeping relatives and curi- ous, gathered in a fish shed, were Capt. Johnson. Elizabeth Howard. Ruth Henmingway, Bessie StropIe. Anne StaSulis, Arlene Skolfield. Marie Coulombe, Helen Decker, Mrs. John Kersey.
 Stiu missing was the only out-of- state member of the group-Ramola Brundage of Repressa, Cal, who was visiting with her fiance Norman Foster, also unreported.
 sion to Russia had reached Russian general headquarters on the eastern front to aid the Soviet generals on the spot.
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