National Marine Sanctuaries

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Shipwreck Database

Vessel
*Not A Total Loss

Wampas (aka Grey Ghost)

Name (former)
Official Number
A - 1370
Propulsion
Gasoline
Nationality
US
Masts
Age
Decks
Value
Type
Rumrunner
Call Sign
 
Use
Prohibition Rum Runner
Home Port
CA, Los Angeles
Tonnage (gross)
9
Built When
Tonnage (net)
Built Where
Tonnage
Built by
Displacement
 
Hull Material
Length (ft)
56
Cargo
Contraband
Beam
11
Owner
Rogers, P. D. or Garvin, George
Depth of Hold
 
CASUALTY
   
Latitude
33°59N
Longitude
119°39W
WHERE
Santa Cruz Island, Valley Anchorage
STATE
CA
YEAR
1926
LAST PORT
MONTH
11
DESTINATION
DAY
13
People on Board
1
TIME
1030
FATALITIES
0
CAUSE
NATURE OF CASUALTY

"At 10:30 a.m., November 13, the CG-254, Boatswain (T) L.H. Williams, Officer-in-charge, while on patrol off Cochies [sic] Prietos, Santa Cruz Island, sighted the fast motor-boat "A-1370", powered with two 300 H.P. Sterling engines and known as the "GREY GHOST". This boat was about 1600 yards distant when sighted and the CG-254 gave chase at once, firing one bland one-pounder and two service charges across her bow. The "A-1370" failed to heave-to and it was then apparent to the Officer-in-charge, CG-254, that she was loaded with contraband and endeavoring to escape. The Officer-in-charge fired 59 rounds of one-pounders making six direct hits, one through her pilot house and another at her starboard waterline, doing considerable damage and partially disabling the "A-1370". At the same time Mo.M.M.2c Edward O. Caliouette manned the machine gun from the top of the pilot-house, expending ten magazines and making numerous hits. The "A-1370" was now disabled to such an extent that it headed for the Island to avoid sinking and was run ashore at 10:50 a.m. on a rocky beach about one and one-half miles east of Valley Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island.

The Officer-in-charge, CG-254, immediately lowered the dinghy and boarded the rum-runner. A moderate surf was running at the time and the rum-runner was swamped and partially submerged. It was ascertained that the "A-1370" was loaded with approximately two hundred (200) sacks of imported whiskey, two of which were removed and placed aboard the CG-254 for evidence of violation of Section 593-A, Tariff Act of 1922. Near the wreck two oak half-barrels (about twenty gallons each) of liquor were found floating and they were also placed aboard the CG-254. Morris & Lima

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