CAPTAIN KILLED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 104, 27 January 1931, Page 9

CAPTAIN KILLED

British Vessel Fired On

ALLEGED RUM-RUNNER

U.S. Coastguards’ Story

BLANK SHELLS IGNORED

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright.

(Rec. January 26, 5.5 p.m.)

New York, January 25. Captain William Ciuett, of Lunenbei'g, Nova Scotia, has died in the United States Marine Hospital at Staten Island of wounds received when a coast-guard cutter shelled an alleged rum boat—a British vessel, the Josephine K, registered at Digby, Nova Scotia, of which Ciuett was master.

Coastguard officers stated that the cutter discovered a British ship transferring liquor to a tug and barge near Ambrose Channel. The cutter fired blank shells as a warning, whereupon Cluett’s ship tried to escape. Shot Takes Effect.

Ono pound shells were then fired, one striking the pilot house in which the master was found wounded. When the boat stopped the coastguardsmen boarded it, took Ciuett to hospital, and seized the Josephine K, the tug and the barge. The coastguards reported that the value of the liquor cargo seized was 250,000 dollars. They arrested 19 men, including the crews of the barge and the tug which belonged to a local shipping organisation, and which is believed to have been co-operating in liquor nuggling without the knowledge of its owners. The British boat is said to have been running rum for a long time, but never before has it been caught. “Entirely Justified.’’ Those held have not yet testified, but the local coastguard commandant stated: “There is no doubt that the Josephine K. was within the twelvemile limit.” He praised the unidentified cutter captain for his handling of the situation, and said that the firing of the shot which killed Ciuett was entirely justified. He considered It certain that the Canadian Government would request an explanation, as in the I’m Alone case.

The only version of the Josephine K. case yet available is that of the coastguard officers.

The. sinking of the I’m Alone, which took place in March, 1929, at first threatened to be followed-by international complications. Howeve?, after .an inquiry by Canada, the question was dropped. The I’m Alone was sunk by United States revenue officers after a running fight followed by the surrender of the crew. She was at anchor ten or eleven miles off the coast when first she was sighted. When an attempt was made to board her, Captain Randall, a Canadian, brandished a pistol and shouted : “Any man attempting to board this ship will be killed.” He was taken prisoner and charged with “interference of a merchantman with a Customs officer in his boarding duties.” Captain Randall stated: “I did not Stop because I knew I was within my rights and knew I was entitled to the freedom of the seas. This is the most cowardly attack on a merchant ship since' the submarine warfare.” He said he only carried liquors for the home port of I’m Alone, which was Montreal, Canada. Ih an official statement the headquarters of the coastguard said the pursuit and sinking of I’m Alone was “in accord with international law, which authorises the continuous pursuit of a vessel which has violated the law within waters over which the United States has control.” It was admitted that the actual sinking took place on the high seas. i