Water And Ships Life
Of Custom’s Collector
BY DAVID PETERSON
Star - News Staff Writer
Water and ships are the essen
tials in the life work that E. C.
Snead, assistant collector o£ cus
toms in Wilmington, has accepted.
Immed ately upon termination
of his h gh school studies, Snead
began h.s marine career by en
listing in the Unites States Navy,
Navy, and has followed ths sea
and ships since.
He was born, in
Hope Mills,
Cumber land
county, on Feb
ruary 25, 1904,
the son of a rural
mail carrier,
and his childhood
days were spent
in the normal
manner of all
boys.
His earlv edu
cation was gath- SNEAI)
ered from public schools, at his
birth locality, a n d he was first
employed as an ofice boy with
the Construction Quartermaster,
when Fort Bragg was first being
built.
This job ended after one year,
and his civilian occupational pur
suits were over for a period of
time.
Then he donned the seaman
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Catering to the re
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, garb of the U. S. Navy, in March.
1923. al the 'boot' camp in Hamp
ton Roads, Va., and continued
through with t h c basic training,
and was later assigned to Yoe
raan's school.
1 While in fhis school, Snead was
designated as one of a funeral es
cort, detailed to honor the late
President Harding.
. Finishing yoeman’s school, he
was transferred to sea duty
aboard the U. S. S. Canopus,
which was the flagship command
er of the Submarine division. Pa
cific.
In 1924. this sub was ordered
to Asiatic station, along with six
other undersea vessels, and be
came flag ship of submarine di
vision, Asiatic. His ship relieved
the famous Rainbow, that gained
recognition in that sector.
While operating in this area, the
Canopus was ordered to China on
several different occasions, to
| quell uprising of Chinese who.
threatened American interests in
that country.
Two years later, in February,
1926. Snead returned to the States
with his ship, and was discharged
from the service.
After a brief period of relax!ion
from service with the Navy, he
took a position with Cannon Mills
I in Kannapolis, wonung in me pro
duction department. While at this
job. he did some extension work
I for the University of North Caro
lina.
In the early '30s. he accepted
a Civil Service job in the Depart
ment of Commerce, and worked
in Washington for two months,
toen transferred to Wilmington as
customs inspector.
According to Snead's revelations
this work w a s rather hectic in ;
those days, as prohibition was in '
full swing, and smugglers were
doing a land office business along
the Carolina coast.
'In citing one of his interesting
experiences, Snead told this story.
"We obtained information from
a good source that a certain boat
crew were scheduled to put in an
appearance at A pre-arranged spot,
and men were dispatched to appre
hend the boat load of liquor and
the crew.
The plans were spoiled, for. as
the small craft approached the
--- —
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coast-line, a Coast Guard cutter.
the old Mendota, surprise the
rum-runner’ by sneaking up on
;hem from out of the sun. The beat
was taken into custody, and turn
ed over to the authorities ashore.
The cutter apprehended the
boat exactly nine and eight-tenths
miles from shore. In international
la\tf, there are two treaties that
deal with these cases. One law
states a 12-mile limit, and the
other cites a limit in miles that
the cralt in question can make in
one hour’s run.
In checking the speed of the
captured boat, the official could
not squeeze more than nine miles
an hour out of the boat, and the
court could not convict the crew,
because of the eigbt-tenihs mar
gin that saved the day for the
‘rum-runners.’
In 1936. Gastonia was designated
‘port o fentry’ for this sector, and
Snead was transferred to that city,
as deputy collector of customs, in
charge.
Working there for a year, he re
turned to Wilmington as deputy
collector in charge of customs ad
ministration, and in ’38 was pro
moted to assistant collector of
North Carolina district.
Prior to United States entry in
to the war, and during the time
when the German submarines were
taking a toll on shipping, Snead
performed duties of port director,
in addition to his regular customs
duties. He continued to serve this
capacity until qualified Navy per
sonnel because available, to rr^ake
possible the establishment of a full
time office in this city.
During the early war period, 10
illustrate a function of his dfice,
an Italian vessel, the Villa Parosa,
was stranded in this port, and re
mained here, making no attempt to
leave. Its presence was conspicious
and threatening, and customs offi
cers began to suspicion the inten-'
tions of the skipper and crew.
Fearing that the ship would be
scuttled in the river, blocking all
traffic, Snead and officers of the
customs boarded her and request
ed the skipper to move his ship to
a better anchorage and to remove
this threat to shipping. The skipper
obliged, and added that he would
move in a couple of weeks.
Action was then taken, by call
ing in neighboring Coast Guard
men, and moving in on the ship
quietly. They took possession of
the craft and interned the captain
and crew.
Investigation into the ship re
vealed that sabatoge had been the
intentions of the crew, and the of
fiers and crew were charged and
tried for attempted sabatoge. to be
sent to penitentiaries upon convic
tion.
Col. John B. Hill, who was col
lector of customs, was called to
the Army in ls42. and Snead was
named acting collector for the N.
C. dis'riet and assumed these du
ties until he was called to the Navy
in 1943.
His first duty was Charleston. S.
C.. and he remained there for
three months, to be transferred to
Wilmington, a Lt. Contdr. in the
Navy, and became port director
until May 1, 1945, at which time,
he was ordered to the West coast
and given a short period of special
instruction, prior to oeing sent to
the Philippines, acting as assist
ant port director and operations of
ficer.
He was returned to the States in
December of 45 and placed on in
active duty at the separation cen
ter. Norfolk, Va.
Assuming the duties of assistant
collector, he occupied the office
alone until the return of Hill in
March of '46.
In April of 1946, Snead was elect
ed commander of James A. Man
'ey Post No, 2573 of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars and is now a
candidate for North Carolina De
partment Commander.
During his term as commander
of the VFW. a notable incident is
the aid given by that organization
in purchasing the Lake Forest ma
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DONALD FINDS
TRICKY GRAPH
Contract For Mail Order
Business Causes Gets
Him In Dutch
CHICAGO, April 26— (U.R)—Robert
Donald was a full-fledged business
man today, but he wished he had
stuck to his job at the steel mill.
Donald, a steel roller, bought a
mail order business for $150. He
didn’t realize that he also was
buying the company’s liabilities.
Then, he learned the company had
i-ken in $80,000 without even hav
ing filled a single order for the
nvlons and diapers it advertised.
Since he bought the company
last March 21. Donald has been
besieged by letters from complain
sonary units, and thereby setting
an example to -the nation for dis
posing of surplus government hous
ing to benefit returning veterans.
His life has been surrounded by
water, and his business and du
ties deal with ships. Even his of
fice is located so that it overlooks
the Cape Fear river, a constant
reminder of his career.
mg person who sent in their mon
e- but got no merchandise.
'When he bought the business,
Donald signed a single-page, type
written contract. In it was a para
graph indicating that he was ac
cepting the firm's liabilities.
Donald’s lawyer has filed suit to
nullify the contract, and has called
the case to the attention of postal
investigators.
The postal investigators, how
ever said they already knew
about it. They said they were in
vestigating the case before Donald
ever bought the business.
Federal authorities said they
had learned that an Iowa radio
station in good faith broadcast ad
vertisements for the company.
When the station began to get
complaining letters from listeners,
who said they never got the mer
chandise. the radio station paid
out $8,000 to the listeners to keep
their good will.
Donald said he would rather not
discuss the case. “I’ll never live
it down,” he said.
Freezing sandwiches saves time,
labor and expense. Sandwich fill
ings suitable for freezing are
Cheddar or cream cheese, sliced
or ground meat, or poultry, fish
and cooked egg yolk. Frozen
sandwiches packed in the lunch
box before school time will thaw
nicely by noon. _
PERFUMES
One Designed for You!
Like three beautiful women of different types,
Elizabeth Arden's three most famous perfumes
are alike in charm and quality, different in
mood and character.
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2.25
MILLE FLEURS is literally the fragrance of a
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plastic. There’s added safety in a low center of gravity and
square-faced joints. Choice of beautiful Velva-sheen wood
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NC Symphony Playing
To Capacity Crowds
CHAPEL HILL, April 26. The
North Carolina Symphony Or
chestra, now in the midst cl its
spring tour is drawing capacity
audiences in almost every town
where it appears, and the attend
ance at the children’s concerts is
so large in most instances that
many of the youngsters often have
to be turned avcay for lack of
space, according to reports recei
ved here.
The orchestra appeared in Fay
etteville, Goldsboro. Rocky Mount
and Roanoke Rapids on the first
four nights of this week and is to
give a concert in Raleigh Friday
night in honor oi Governor and
Mrs. R. Gregg Cherry. The con
cert will be in the Hugh Morson i
High School auditorium at 8:30J
Governor and Mrs. Cherry will j
give a reception at the mansion i
for the Symphony following the ’
concert.
A feature of the Raleigh concert
will be T h a d Jones’ “Suite for
Strings”. Jones is no.v stationed
m the United States Navy School
ct Music Washington, D. C., where
he teaches composition and or
chestration. He is a native oi
Asheville where his father wasi
superintendent ot Bilim
and later president
College. Bilttti0t(
Jones’ composition wiv
featured in the program ' 9ls° b.
ham April 29 and Gi t P. in 1 •'
3- Ce-,Soo‘oiIiy
Voung Jane wirt .
Washington played Moz--?4 «l
nation Concerto with thP‘ls c'-:'
ny at the Washit «•„. " p
and Wilmington eoneeii
the musicians then.s, '
he! an overwhelm:- ., ' a.,
cording to reports, "ion'1*1’ «:
rehearsals with them '‘lg he;
Farm flocks laid 4.8~bp-.r
-■t February of 1947, ' (tts
National Baby Week
April 27 to May 3
Everything the little darling needs—every
thing of the best and the studiest and the
prettiest for his summer health, com
| fort and happiness is right here in
the store that has been success
fully catering to babies for
j 26 years.
MADERIA DRESSES
AND SLIPS
Just received a shipment of lovely |
handmade Maderia dresses end
slips. See these at reasonable
prices.
3.95 4.95
"BABY ALL"
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Made of aluminum. Electric and
non-electric. An article every baby
needs for his or her good health. T rT r.e
R.95 19.85 1
rtTTTT U 1L SHOW YOU
QUILTED PADS
They are here now! Come and
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quilted pads. ITEMS FOR YOUR
RQc io 1.95
U J_.uu BABY. ALSO SEE OUR
COMPLETE LINE IN.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
Baby Scales-5.95
Electric Bottle
Warmer J.95 - 2-37
Electric Egg Cooker 2-25
Lovely Shawls, Blanket And
Fringe Style ~ 4-95
Jar Sets With
Baskets 2-90 - 2-95
Blankets (Boxed) J.48 - 3-45
Diaper Bags |.25 - 4 95
Crib Spreads 3-95 - 5-95
Gowns And Dresses 05c - 2-95
Can't Wei Mattresses
(Innerspring & Felt)
Kitty Koops
(Complete with Mattress)
Strollers
Baskets
Play Pens
Car Seats
Car Beds
Swings
Toy Chests