Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-13
ALSO LOSE A SECRET
Fishermen Survive SINKING
By ANNE CHRISTMAS
Star Staff Writer

By ANNE CHRISTMAS
Star Staff Writer
The story of a 77-year-old
grandfather's narrow escape
from a sinking boat in the
rough and netCle-infested wa
tiers of Chesapeake Bay Sun
day nearly went unnoticed -
but somebody squealed.
BY mutual consent, Russell
E. Mullen Of Hyattsville, the
grandfather, and Fred r.
Skip" Johnston, III, of Rock
vile, his 18-year-old grand
son, returned home from a
fishing trip early yesterday
without mentioning that their
14-foot rowboat overturned
about a mile off Point No Point
In Maryland.
But the story eventually
washed back to their respec-
tive homes, where Skip's moth
er and grandmother spent
most Of yesterday in retros-
pective fright over the doings
Of the two fishermen. A news
paper reporter heard about itI
all and blabbed.
1t seems that Mr.. Mullen,
Skip and an uncle, Chester
Sczuka, a metropolitan police
man in the Twelfth Precinct,
left a boathouse near Leonard
town late Sunday afternoon
in the uncle's fiberglass row.
boat with, a 45-horse power
motor.
Waves Increase
The trio, all enthusiastic |
fishermen armed with several
hundred dollars in good tackle,
trolled unsuccessfully for q
while, and noticed off Point
No Point that a strong wind
was stirring up increasingly
large waves.
The boats motor became
fouled up in ropes attached
to crab pot "a trap for crabs,
additionally set by Maryland
crabmen) and the three men
were unable to free it,.
The waves began washing
over the stern of the rowboat,
which was held down in the
water by the rope entangled in
the propeller. Within minutes,
the boat was swamped, and
dumped its passengers into the
Chesapeake.
One of three life preserver
cushions aboard was washed
beyond their reach. The two
younger men gave one to Mr..
Mullen, holding him above water
on what remained afIoat Of the
fiberglass boat with some diff
ficulty because of the high
waves.
Skip dived repeatedly to try
to free some life jackets Inn
prioned underneath the bow
of the boat. Only its nose now
remained afloat, with the stern
far below water because of the
weight Of the motor still en-
tangled in the rope.
Strikes Out for Shore
at looked pretty hopeless"
Skip admitted reluctantly to
an interviewer yesterday.
81 figured I could make 1t
by swimming about q mile to
shore, but my uncle and I were
worried about my grandfather
because the waves kept break
ing over his head.
Finally I decided that I
would Just have to swim for it,
so / strapped the other cushion
across my chest and kept hop
ing that I was getting closer to
shore.
ut was high tide and there
were thousands of sea nettles,
the water seemed to be packed
with them"
About a hundred yards from
shore, Skip said he saw a group
Of cottages and yelled for help.
Immediately several Catholic
nuns emerged and in a few
moments a total of about 80
nuns lined the shore.
Skip, attempting to find water
shallow enough to permit him
to stand. called to the nuns that
an elderly man was stranded
on a sinking boat and asked
them to call the Coast Guard.
Three nuns ran to q nearby Il
point where some vacationers
had a small boat, and enlisted
their aid. The boat promptly
set out to rescue the two re-
naming victims, while Skip,
bleeding profusely from the
stings Of nettles, hurried to a
phone to notify the State po-
lice.
COpter to Rescue
A helicotper was dispatched
Immediately from the Patuxent
Naval Air Station nearby, and
headed for the sinking boat.
Meanwhile, the other boat
reached the scene and man
aged to take Mr.. Mullen aboard
after more than an hour in
the water.
The small rescue boat was
manned by Michael Keefe, d.
rector Of security for the Post
Office Department, and l.. B.
Pendleton, ja.. vice president
Of Riggs National Bank.
Mr.. Sczuka was lifted to
safety by the helicopter.
Finally reunited, the little
group managed to get a ride to
the boat house from which they
had departed earlier, claimed
their car and returned meekly
to Hyattsville. where Mrs. Null
len and Skip's mother awaited
them - somewhat impatiently