The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-27

coast-line, a Coast Guard cutter,
the old Mendoza, surprise the
rum-runner' by sneaking up on
them from out of the sun. The beat
was taken into custody, and turn
ed over to the authorities ashore.
The cutter apprehended the
boat exactly nine and eight-tenths
miles from shore. In international
law, there are two treaties that
deal with these cases. One law
states a 12-mile limit, and the
other cites a limit in miles that
the craft in question can make III
one hours run.
In checking the speed of the
captured boat, the official could
not squeeze more than nine miles
an hour out of the boat, and the
court could not convict the crew,
because of the eight-tenths mar
gin that saved the day for the
'rum-runners.'
In 1886, Gastonia was designated
port o fentry' for this sector, and
Snead was transferred to that city.
as deputy collector of customs, in
charge.
Working there for a year, he re-
turned to Wilmington as deputy
collector in charge of customs ad-
ministration. and in '38 was pro-
NOTED to assistant collector of
North Carolina district.
Prior to United States entry in
to the war, and during the time
when the German submarines were
taking a toll on shipping, Snead
performed duties of port director,
in addition to his regular customs
duties. He continued to serve this
capacity until qualified Navy per
sonnet because available, to make
possible the establishment of a full
time office in this city.
During the early war period, to
illustrate a function of his dice,
an Italian vessel, the Villa Parosa,
was stranded in this port, and re-
NAMED here, making no attempt to
leave. Its presence was conspicuous
and threatening, and customs Off
GERS began to suspicion the inten-'
tons OF the skipper and crew.
Fearing that the ship would be
scuttled in the river, blocking all
traffic, Snead and officers of the
customs boarded her and request
ed the skipper to move his ship to
a better anchorage and to remove
this threat to shipping, The skipper
obliged. and added that he would
move in a couple of weeks.
Action was then taken, by call
ing in neighboring Coast Guard
men, and moving IN on the ship
quietly. They took possession of
the craft and interned the captain
and crew.
Investigation into the ship re-
vealed that sabatoge had been the
intentions of the crew, and the Of
fiers and crew were charged and
tried TO- attempted s%abatoge. to be
sent to penitentiaries upon convic-
ton.
Col. John B. Hill, who was col
lector of customs, was called to
the Army in 1912. and Snead was
named acting collector for the N.
C. district and assumed these du-
ties until he was called to the Navy
IN 1913.
His first duty was Charleston, S.
c., and he remained there for
three months, to be transferred to
Wilmington, a 1t. Comdr. in the
Navy, and became port director
until May /, 1915, at which time,
he was ordered to the West coast
and given a short period of special
instruction, prior to being sent to
the Philippines, acting as assist
ant port director and operations of
ficer.
He was returned to the States in
December of AS and placed on in
active outy at the separation cen
Ter, Norfolk. Va.
Assuming the duties of assistant
collector, he occupied the office
alone until the return of Hill in
March of AS.
In April of 1916, Snead was elect
ed commander of James A. Man
ley Post No. 2573 of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars and is now a
candidate for North Carolina De-
partment Commander.
During his term as commander
of the VFW, a notable incident is
the aid given by that organization
in purchasing the Lake Forest ma