RUM-RUNNERS WRECKED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 December 1931, Page 5

RUM-RUNNERS WRECKED

(Press. Assn.-

STORY OF PRIVATION sequel to encounter with norwegian customs vessel IN BOAT WITH CORPSES

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. Dec. 13, 5.5 p.m. OSLO, Saturday. Brought ashore near Maaloey famishing and exhausted in a boat bearing che corpses of four of their shipmates, the first officer, an Englishman named Savage, and a German engineer, Herr Erhault, gave news of the fate of the Polish skipper, Captain Visnagrotsky, and the English and German engineers and German members of the crew of the rum-run-ning steamer Venus, flying the Panamanian flag, which sank after an encounter with a Customs vessel. The police have been searching for the Venus since August last when, in an encounter, a customs vessel fired 20 shots at her after she left Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands with 5000 gallons of liquor ahoard. The vessel, subsequently, possibly as 'a result of the gun fire, ran on the rocks near Bergen. The crew got her off in a sinking condition, and kept her afloat by pumping desperately until she again grounded and foundered in 15 fathoms." The crew then sought safety in two boats and on large pieces of floating wreclcage. Captain Visnagrotsky broke hjs arm on leaving the Venus and was drowned. The first boat capsized, drowning six men. The second hoat also overturned, and the men on board her drifted clinging to the sides and bottom until two died from exhaustion in the bitter cold. Mr. Savage flew distress signals and fishermen observed and rescued the survivors, two of whom succumbed after being brought ashore. Mr Savage and Herr Erhault are expected to reeover. A motor-boat has been dispatched to the scene to search for possible survivors. The police caught Captain Visnagrotsky for rum-running to Northern Norway in 1930, with the schooner Emanuel, which the authorities confiscated, fining the Captain, who was expelled from Norway for smuggling 6000 gallons of liquor into the country.