1937 Sea Scout Heros
last
updated 12-30-02
From an article in the 1st BSA National Jamboree Journal, Tuesday, July 6,
1937
SEA SCOUTS PROVIDE 20 WITH LIFE BELTS AS YACHT
SINKS FAST – PASSENGERS REMOVED FROM VESSEL AFTER EXPLOSION BY PASSING BOATS;
ALL ABOARD SAFE
Asbury Park, N.J., July 5 (Special to the Journal)
Speedy and cool-headed action by nine Sea Scouts figured prominently in the
rescue of Gov. Harold G. Hoffman of New Jersey and a party of 20 persons
whose lives were endangered Sunday afternoon when a pleasure yacht in which
they were riding was destroyed by explosion and fire. Explosion of
the 40-foot yacht occurred while the Governor was using it to review New
Jersey’s fishing fleet a half-mile offshore.
HONOR GUARDS
The Sea Scouts were with Gov. Hoffman as honor guards. Immediately
following the first blast in the engine room, the Sea Scouts brought out
life preservers and with lightning-like action and collected thought they
made them available to members of the party. Within five minutes after
the blast passing boats arrived at the scene of near-tragedy and removed
Mrs. Hoffman and her two children. In another few minutes Coast Guardsmen
from the Shark River station removed the Governor and the others from aboard
ship.
SINKS RAPIDLY
A few minutes after the last Sea Scout had been removed from the flaming
craft it sank. The Sea Scouts were aboard the yacht under direction
of Commissioner Maurice Judson. They are: Wayne DeBow, William Haddock, Ernest
Moore, Andrew Murphy, Victor Campy, Ralph Jensen, William Schauffler III
and Bruce Wallace, all of Lakehurst, N.J.
NOTE: Lakehurst, New Jersey was part of the merged Monmouth-Ocean Boy
Scout Council (1937-1940) and since has been part of Ocean Council (1940-1992)
and presently Jersey Shore Council. Governor Hoffman was involved with
the controversy over the 1932 Lindbergh kidnapping with Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf's
father (H. Norman Schwarzkopf) who was head of NJ State Police.