PIRACY ON HIGH SEAS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11280, 9 August 1930, Page 2

PIRACY ON HIGH SEAS

SENSATIONAL CA PT URE

CONVERTED BEFORE EXECUTION. .

One of th. most.amazing chapters in the history of piracy on tho nigh seas has been brought to its close by the carrying out of the death sentence of a notorious., rum-runner, who fought a .desperate, stand-up battle with the coast guard officials Before lie was finally overpowered and captured. ' Known as the ‘‘Gulf- Pirate,’’ dames Horace Alderman, former fishing, guide and ■‘racketeer,’’• died on the scaffold at the coastguard base at Fort Lauderdale without confessing'his crime. His last .hours, however, wore remarkable' for his conversion to religion by liis wife and family. , . ■ ;i .'. .; •;: ; No" more dangerous buccaneer ever roamed the high seas than • Alderman. For over seven years he had. evaded the coastal officials—-rum-running at tlie Bahamas, smuggling and risking capture almost every time liis highly powered boat nosed its way out to sea. And then suddenly his career. terminated in the swift drama that resulted in his capture. . '. “Alderman and his second in command, Robert E. \Yeech. were running from the Bahamas with a cargo of liquor when he rail foul p.f. a coastguard' patrol boat which' rapidly ' overhauled liim. The cutter drew alongside and the: coastguard men came aboard. Alderman ‘offered no opposition, r But-' when the \officer; in choree, Sydney Saiideriin. turned to walk to the 'pilot-house to wireless the new of his capture 'to the officials pn shore, the-.pirate promptly drew liis revolver aud shot him .dead. - Another '' coo.sigbardsmah \ named Lamby whipped out his automatic, presented it- at;; Alder maids, head,.but the cartridge missed. firgV:. The next second lie was lying-on his back witli a bullet- in liis. chest and- -loco. Taking Kauderlin’s revolver, tlie pirate commanded the.'.other coast'd uardsma.li on board auci' a- Mannamed':: Webster, a .Secret Service, officio), to "stick uii"tlieif .bands. “ He ‘then ordefed liis henchman, to unfasten the fuel’pipes in the Government vessel into it and. settingdfc on fire. Throwing discretion to tho winds, Webster made a .mod. rush and closed ill with the’' pirate. -He, was stopped, by' q':‘hullet...'whio|i sent hnn toppling to’ the deck- in'a -dying condition'.,.'. y Othei" coastguardsnien .swaimed on the pirate with fists' and gimbutts, and he .was- overpowered and manacled.. , '/ In" gaol, a,waiting the. paju-yiiig put. pr the sentence. -Alderman was a changed man. A -lew hours before his death Abe Aas singing hymns and praying In 'the' 'bpmjaahy' pf his.-wife And children. . r At ;