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1930: Fire destroys sponge diving vessel

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published April 8, 2007

APRIL 15, 1930

TARPON SPRINGS - Backfire from its engine caused a fire that destroyed the sponge diving boat Evagelistria about 10 miles northwest of Anclote light yesterday afternoon. The boat was headed for its home port at Tarpon Springs for the annual Easter celebration, according to reports received here today.

The sponge boat President Lincoln, several miles away, saw the smoke and went to the rescue. A coast guard boat was also nearby and went to the scene.

The crew of the burning boat jumped overboard and shortly afterward the boat blew up. The Lincoln picked up the crew and brought them to port last night at Tarpon Springs.

The Evagelistria had been out five days and had sponges aboard valued at $1,000. The craft was valued at $5,000 and no insurance was carried.

George Koulianos, owner of the vessel, was not aboard at the time. Captain D. Partrikos was in command.

APRIL 12, 1930

New regulations at county jail

CLEARWATER - Sheriff E.G. Cunningham has adopted a new set of rules and regulations for visitors to the county jail.

Visitors will now be subject to search by the jailor. In addition, the regulation also states:

"All parcels, packages, clothes, foods, or other articles are subject to examination by jailor before being delivered to prisoner."

Strict enforcement of these rules is expected to prevent the introduction of hacksaw blades, knives and other hardware into the detention sanitarium, thus saving a lot of unnecessary labor on the part of the inmates and more trouble for the officers in returning to the bastille those who yearn for a trip home or a midnight stroll in the great outdoors.

APRIL 14, 1928

A county official for 16 years

CLEARWATER - Eli B. McMullen, county tax collector, has the distinction of being the only county official still in the game of all those who took charge when Pinellas County was formed. He has been tax collector 16 years.

APRIL 14, 1930

Kingfish puzzle Gulf fishermen

CLEARWATER - Kingfishing, like other angling, is a considerable gamble - almost as uncertain as the well known bolita gambling.

Particularly with the unusually windy weather of the past few days, fishermen don't know what to expect regarding the kingfish.

Those who know the habits of the kings - the great submarine fighters of this latitude - state that they make three "runs," usually eight to 10 days apart. The second "run" is made by smaller fish, and the third and last excursion of the kings is composed of the little fellows, who always bring up the rear.

Kingfishing started this year with a rush in middle March. Everybody who went after them caught all that could be handled. The sport lasted for but one day, then bad weather came and continued for two weeks.

The last chance at the kings will come this month, say the fishing experts, but they can't say exactly when the second detachment will arrive.

No remarkable catches were reported today, though the weather is ideal for fishing. A man who claims to know says that the big grouper and grunts have been "fished out" on the coral reefs offshore here.

North Pinellas History is compiled by Clearwater Times staff writer Theresa Blackwell. She can be reached at tblackwell@sptimes.com or 727 445-4170.

Looking back

Headlines through the years

A look back at the events, people and places that made North Pinellas the unique place that it is. The information is compiled from past editions of the St. Petersburg Times.

[Last modified April 7, 2007, 22:49:09]