Milford chronicle., 1959-03-20


Speaks Today taught by Mrs.
Robert Green ended last. Monday
afternoon with a large group at
tending the course was taught in
the lounge of Bethel Church. Fol-
lowing the lesson period coffee
hour was arranged by members of
the class and very lovely gift was
presented to the teacher, as an ex-
preston of appreciation.
The mother and sister of 30-year-
old Louis Bertrand, ", descendant
of a seafaring family, who was
mot afraid of anything l can see",
has asked the U. S. Coast Guard to
conduct an investigation into his
disappearance from the wrecked
bow of the Liberian tanker, ''Afri-
can Queen.
Bertrand, Marine Corps veteran
of the war in Korea, who was
wounded while manning machine
gun, was presumed lost on Friday,
March 6, when the bow of the ill
fated tanker capsized in stormy
sea, nine miles off Ocean City, Md.
His sister, Mrs. Joseph Sheehan,
is attempting to prove gross negli-
gence by the Coast Guard in the
loss of her brother.
Bertrand was put aboard the bow
of the African Queen, which
broke into during a storm last
December 80, by his salvage as
sociates, w. H. Birmingham, Jr.,
and William V. Marshall, Jr., who
like Bertrand made their home in
Lewes.
They had hoped to get the bow
ashore and salvage the oil, which
they believed would net them about
100000.
Bertrand volunteered to remain
aboard the hulk to prevent other
salvagers from laying claim to the
oil.
Lou couldn't be lost at sea-, his
seafaring friends say. They re-
called that three years ago, in the
dead of winter, he remained safe
aboard a 26-foot cruiser which was
caught off shore during a blizzard.
His mother, Mrs. Louis Bertrand,
3rd and his sister, however, are
convinced of his death, but are
endeavoring to make certain the
Coast Guard doesn't repeat what
they contend to be laxness when
the life of another waterman is in
danger.
An investigator Was sent to
Lewes by the Commendant of the
5th U. S. Coast Guard District at
Norfolk, Va. A series of witnesses
testified that when the bow cap
sized the Coast Guard station at
Ocean City had been alerted short
ly after p. M, on Friday, March
6.
Chief Boatswain's Mate E. B.
! Lewis, skipper of the station, who
vouched for the integrity of the
man in the tower who logged the
call, says the time was 6:22 p. m.
The Norfolk station informed Mrs.
Sheehan that it had transcript of
an alerting call made by her mo-
ther at 5:38 p. m. The family said
the difference in A minutes could
mean the loss of life. The station
also reported that the lookout in
the tower of the Ocean City station
: had seen Bertrand flash an SOS
about p. m, and that 36-foot
rescue boat was sent out from
Ocean City According to Lewis,
when the boat was between four
and five miles at sea, it was re-
called by Norfolk.
Mrs. Sheehan in registered let
ter to the commanding officer at
the Ocean City Station asked:
''Why was it necessary to make
scores of telephone calls to verify
my brothers presence on the ship?
Why the delay in sending out res
cue craft? Why was the rescue
boat recalled? Why wasn't hell
copter sent out? Why weren't we
informed Friday night that the
ship had capsized? Why did we
first have to hear the news from
Maryland newpaper reporter?'
The Lewes High Pirates COM
pleted their basketball season with
a $50 record to run their con-
secutive wins to "a and thereby set
a new state record. The last team
to defeat Lewes was Laurel 69-63.
Lewes closed out last season with
9 straight and avenged the only
loss by defeating Laurel 67-57.
Mrs. Riley E. McGarraugh, chair
man of Fine Arts for the Zwaanen-
daeI Club of Lewes, was program
chairman for the March meeting
held Tuesday, March 18th, at 500
D. m., in the Club House, Savannah
Road.
Mrs. McGarraugh was the speak
er. Her subject was ,on Oriental Art
and why it has been appreciated
for centuries. Both Japanese and
Chinese specimens were on display.
Among these, kake monas (wall
hangs), which were described with
their making. Composition and ink
brush work was considered along
with the symbolic sentiments at
tached to such subjects as cranes,
turtles, bats, carp fish, bamboo,
pine and flower lore. japanese
wood-block and their making was
also added. Copies from early Hiro-
shiges down to the modern Yoshida
prints were shown, also Gloisonne'.
wood carvings and laGuer work
were included among the display
of Orientals.
Mrs. McGarraugh has a rich ex-
perience TO share after living and
studying for IL years in the Orient
Hnaan Xnu