1. "Three Tampans Missing As Boat Is Found Adrift In Gulf Off Tarpon Springs"

• Newspaper: Tampa Morning Tribune ("Tribune Staff Writer" byline). Date: Monday, January 30, 1956 (inferred): the text says the men left "early yesterday" and the boat was found "yesterday afternoon", and other clippings put the disappearance on Sunday, Jan. 29, 1956.
• Scans: b-3 (lower left); a-3.

By LELAND HAWES Tribune Staff Writer

Three Tampa men were reported missing in the Gulf off Tarpon Springs last night after their 16-foot outboard motor boat was found adrift under mysterious circumstances.

Unaccounted for since they left an Ozona dock early yesterday were:

John Ostrosky, a city patrolman on the Tampa police department, who lives at 2734 Main St.

Ray R. Harrell, 39-year-old Holtsinger Motor Company mechanic, of 2735 Leroy St.

James A. (Jimmy) McFerren, a long distance truck driver, of 2740 Leroy St.

Boat Found

U.S. Coast Guard helicopters started combing the waters off Anclote Key yesterday afternoon, when the Tarpon Springs vessel St. Nicholas reported finding the Tampans' boat.

Around 2:30 o'clock, the boat was sighted about eight miles out from Anclote, with no occupants aboard, but two deep-sea fishing rods baited with lines over the sides.

Three lunches were also found in the light-green colored boat, which had a 30-horsepower Evinrude motor attached but not running, according to the Coast Guard station in St. Petersburg.

Later in the afternoon, a small fishing craft notified the Coast Guard of finding a jacket in the water which carried an identifying laundry mark "Harrell."

Due in Afternoon

Families of the three men, all neighbors in West Tampa, said they left early in the morning to go on the fishing trip and were expected to return about 2 in the afternoon.

Patrolman Ostrosky's brother-in-law, Detective Reinaldo Abreu, aided authorities in identifying the outboard motor boat as the policeman's last night in Tarpon Springs.

Coast Guard officials said the search would continue this morning.

Yesterday was generally calm, although the open waters of the Gulf off Anclote Key are reputedly "tricky" with small squalls blowing up at intervals.

(The original print has "outroard" [sic] for "outboard". The boat is called "the policeman's" here, but article 2 says it belonged to McFerren.)

2. "3 Tampans Still Missing In The Gulf"

• Newspaper / date (printed on the clipping): TAMPA MORNING TRIBUNE, Tuesday, January 31, 1956 (page number partly clipped; appears to be 6).
• Photos and captions: "John Ostrosky" · "Mr. and Mrs. Ray Harrell" · "Mr. and Mrs. James McFerren".
• Scan: a-4 only. This clipping is not in Set B.

A Coast Guard search of the Gulf waters some 10 miles west of Tarpon Springs until sundown yesterday failed to find a clue to the mysterious disappearance of three Tampa men missing since Sunday from their small boat.

In Tampa, relatives and friends gathered at the homes of Mrs. Ray R. Harrell and Mrs. James A. (Jimmy) McFerren who waited for word of their missing husbands.

Mrs. Harrell was joined by Mrs. John Ostrosky, wife of the third missing man, a Tampa policeman.

The Harrell's white frame home at 2735 Leroy St. is just across the road from the McFerren home at 2740 Leroy. Since Sunday afternoon the three wives have waited without sleep for word. They have not eaten since Sunday morning.

With friends and relatives they waited for a phone call, listened to the news broadcasts and watched the cars in the street.

Nine-year-old Christina Harrell and Sandra Lee Ostrosky, 7, also waited.

Motor in Gear

The 16-foot-boat in which their fathers went fishing was found Sunday afternoon with a 30-horsepower motor still in gear by a deep sea fishing boat, the St. Nicholas II, 10 miles off Tarpon Springs in the Gulf. The motor was not running.

Three fishing lines dangled over the side of the boat, the bait still on the hooks. Three untouched lunches were wrapped up and resting under a seat.

"I wish," said Mrs. McFerren as she waited in her living room, "they had found the men, not the boat."

For 35 years she has lived in the same house on Leroy St. Her husband pannelled the living room after he came back from being an MP in Italy with the Army during World War II.

The McFerren's have no children.

"This is just a nightmare," said Mrs. McFerren. "We've been married 14 years, it just doesn't seem possible he's missing.

"When he left Sunday morning he said 'I'll be back by noon.' He went out the door. He liked to fish and the three of them went fishing all the time," she said.

Relatives Visit

Outside the house on the lawn several relatives—Mrs. McFerren is one of nine children—watched the cars on the street.

"Not knowing one way or the other, that's the hard part," said one.

Waiting in the living room yesterday afternoon was her brother, Nick Julien, of 1923 14th Ave.

"I almost went with them Sunday," said Julien. "I've been fishing with them a 1000 times . . . really 50 times.

"Today I went fishing for them. I mean I went out and looked. We went to Anclote Key.

"We looked around the dock and there's a house on the key. We yelled and we went in the old lighthouse. I'm hoarse now from the yelling.

"We looked Sunday night," related Julien, "but you couldn't see your hand in front of your face in the mist. It was everywhere."

Tampa City Detective Ray Abreu, brother-in-law of both Ostrosky and Harrell, joined in the search yesterday.

"I don't understand," said Abreu, "how three men could be tossed out of the boat and the fishing rods with baited lines and an extra tank of gasoline not fall overboard."

Sunday, after finding the empty 16-foot boat, which belonged to McFerren, the fishing boat St. Nicholas VI cruised about the area looking for the men. Then she anchored at the place the empty boat was found until Coast Guard planes and boats reached the area.

George Billiris, skipper of the St. Nicholas VI, said also the three deep sea fishing rods—with baited lines still hanging in the gulf—were resting in the boat.

Billiris, a veteran skipper and native of Tarpon Springs, said he believed the three men were victims of a quick start by the powerful outboard motor which tossed them into the Gulf.

"They wouldn't have a chance," said Billiris, "if they were thrown into the Gulf where I found their boat."

"The water there is six and seven fathoms deep, 10 miles from shore."

Abreu searched Anclote Key with Armando Abreu, his brother and Julian, Sunday night with spot lights. They are brothers-in-law of Ostrosky and Harrell.

"This is the first time," said Detective Abreu, "that I've searched for my own family. Before, I've been the one to notify other families . . . now it is hitting home."

"If the boat could talk," said Julian, "we'd know what happened and the waiting would be at an end."

The search for the missing men will start again at dawn this (Tuesday) morning.

(The rescue boat appears as both "St. Nicholas II" and "St. Nicholas VI" in this article. The brother's name is spelled both "Julien" and "Julian".)

3. "Hope Dims in Search For Three Tampa Men Missing Since Sunday", continued as "Fog Halts Search For Lost Tampans"

• Newspaper: most likely The Tampa Daily Times, Tampa's afternoon paper (inferred). The text refers to "this afternoon" and "this morning", and the headline typeface is different from the Tribune clippings. Date: probably Tuesday, January 31, 1956 (inferred): "missing since Sunday", with the life preserver found "yesterday afternoon".
• Scans: b-2 (left two pieces); a-2.

The Coast Guard limited an intensive search for three missing Tampa fishermen to checking the Gulf waters some 10 miles off Tarpon Springs on regular training flights this afternoon. Heavy fog halted the search last night and this morning.

The West Tampans, who were neighbors, have not been seen since they put out in their outboard motorboat at Ozona docks early Sunday morning.

Mystery

The boat was found Sunday afternoon, drifting at sea with fishing lines dangling over the sides and three lunch packages untouched.

Mystery still surrounded the disappearance and hopes that the men may be alive dimmed with each successive hour they remain missing.

Meanwhile, a few individual parties carried on the diligent hunt in boats after the thick fog that shrouded the entire coast line lifted some around noon.

Tampa City Detective Ray Abreu, brother-in-law of two of the missing men, continued combing the area with a boat this afternoon.

The Hillsborough County and Pinellas County Departments joined forces with the Coast Guard and other searchers yesterday in planes and boats but all hands had to turn in by dark because of the fog. Helicopters, a Grumman Albatross plane and a crash and rescue boat from the Coast Guard were used yesterday.

The missing are John Ostrosky,

(Continued From Page 1) [headline: "Fog Halts Search For Lost Tampans"]

33, a Tampa policeman, of 2734 Main St.; Ray R. Harrell, 39, of 2735 Leroy St., a mechanic at Holtsinger Motor Co., and James A. McFerren, 2740 Leroy St., a long distance truck driver.

The families waited anxiously today at their homes for some word from the men. Only speculation could be made as to what actually happened to the three who left home early Sunday morning for a fishing trip planning to be back about 2 P. M.

May Have Drowned

Some authorities said it was possible they could have taken refuge on any one of many small islands in the area or may have drowned.

Their 16-foot outboard motor boat was found 10 miles off Anclote Key, north of Tarpon Springs by a fishing party boat returning from the Gulf Sunday afternoon. Deep sea fishing gear and lunches were in the boat and the motor was not running.

Jacket Found

Later in the afternoon a jacket believed to belong to one of the men was found in the water. Yesterday afternoon an inflated life preserver was found drifting in the area. Since then there have been no clues, the Coast Guard said today.

Capt. George Billiris of the St. Nicholas fishing vessel which found the missing men's boat speculated that a sudden jerk of the strong motor of the men's outboard could have thrown them all overboard. An anchor with long line attached was found in the boat.

4. "TALE OF MYSTERY— Rumors Spread About Three Tampans Lost In The Gulf"

• Newspaper: Tampa Morning Tribune ("Tribune Staff Writer"). Date: about Saturday, February 11, 1956 (inferred). It refers to stories "during the last two weeks", says boats searched "Thursday" and an airplane "yesterday", and says the Coast Guard search "continued for a week and then ended".
• Scans: b-3 (top, right, and the "Found Only Jacket" column at lower right); a-5.

By ARTHUR SMITH Tribune Staff Writer

Another in a host of rumors telling the fate of three Tampans who sailed into the Gulf of Mexico on a fishing trip and never returned circulated in Tampa yesterday—adding more intensity to a mystery that may never be solved.

A bizarre tale circulated at the police department told of finding the bodies of the three men near Tarpon Springs with throats cut and hands tied.

No Real Evidence

But a check of the U. S. Coast Guard, Pinellas County sheriff and Tarpon Springs police indicated that there was no evidence to substantiate the report.

Yesterday's gossip was no different from other stories told during the last two weeks—tales of shanghai, suicide and mishap that ranged from the improbable to the impossible.

The stories, which upon check were found to be of little substance, continue to plague City Detective Ray Abreu, brother-in-law to both John Ostrasky [sic] and Ray Harrell and a close friend of James McFerren and the self-appointed man who is keeping the search alive.

"We've got to find them," Abreu said. He believes the men have been drowned and discounts all the stories that have been heard since the boat was found.

"I wish people would help us search instead of telling all these stories," he said.

But in spite of Abreu's wishes, the first rumor as to the whereabouts of the men came two days after search began—telling that all three men had been seen on a tidal island in the Gulf, alive and walking around.

Abreu and Coast Guard officials seeking an explanation for the disappearance came up with a theory that the three, trying to start the outboard motor, were thrown overboard when it started. This theory was given substance by Abreu, who said the motor had been jammed in low gear before the fishing trip. The men intended to repair the engine themselves, he said.

Stories that the men had committed suicide came less than a week after the incident—stories that apparently had no foundation.

Said Aboard Steamers

Last weekend police received frantic calls from persons who had heard—or misheard—that the men had been taken aboard a tramp steamer at gunpoint and had been forced to serve some foreign flag. That rumor apparently was the forerunner of yesterday's tale of violence.

Still another postulate—assuming that the men had begun to fight on the ship and had thrown each other overboard — was quickly refuted by associates who said the men were best of friends.

As if the story of a possible shanghai were not eerie enough, a rumor was later circulated about an enemy submariine [sic] that had captured the men and then headed back to some motherland.

In spite of theory and bystander's conclusions, Abreu and relatives will continue their search anew today. Several boats plowed the waters Thursday without success, Abreau [sic] said, and an airplane was to have spent yesterday in search.

Mrs. Ostrosky and her seven-year-old daughter, Sandra Lee, are still waiting at their home at 2734 Main St., as are Mrs. Harrell and Christina, 9, at 2735 Leroy St.

The silent Gulf, which may have swallowed the three husbands, has given the families little hope.

It happened on the sunshiny Sunday morning of Jan. 29, when John Ostrosky, Ray Harrell and James McFerren boarded a 16-foot outboard boat for a fishing trip into the Gulf. They intended to return by noon.

Found Only Jacket

But hours later the boat was found slopping empty in the calm waters. Aboard the craft were three fishing poles with lines dangling overboard. The motor, not running, was in its place along with a can of gasoline. Resting under a seat were three lunches — in order but never opened.

A Coast Guard search of the waters 10 miles west of Tarpon Springs found nothing but a jacket belonging to Harrell floating near where the boat was found.

Lieut. Comm. Thomas M. MacWhinney, a Coast Guard officer, said yesterday weather conditions were "ideal" on the day the men disappeared. He said there were light winds, but the Gulf "was almost glassy" in appearance.

The Coast Guard search continued for a week and then ended without finding a trace of the three men.

The families, left without a breadwinner and unable to claim insurance until some proof of death is established, cling to the small hope that their men may somehow, somewhere, be alive.

5. "Kidnap Tale Renews Hunt For Tampans Lost In Gulf", continued as "Kidnap Tale Renews Hunt For Tampans"

• Newspaper: Tampa Morning Tribune ("Tribune Staff Writer"). Date: about late February or early March 1956 (inferred). It says the men disappeared "a month ago". Article 6 refers to the anonymous call as "a report Wednesday", so this story probably ran on a Thursday.
• Note: this article gives the departure date as "Feb. 10". That is a newspaper error: articles 1–4 establish Sunday, Jan. 29, 1956.
• Scans: b-2 (right two pieces); a-2.

By ART SMITH Tribune Staff Writer

A bizarre tale of kidnaping on the Gulf of Mexico prompted the Pinellas County sheriff's office yesterday to take a new look at the mystery of three Tampa men who disappeared without a trace a month ago while on a fishing trip.

The three men, John Ostrosky, Ray Harrell and James McFerren, boated onto the Gulf of Mexico on Feb. 10 [sic] and have not been seen since.

A caller who would not give his name told The Tribune yesterday that he had been fishing on the day the men disappeared and saw the trio pass them in their small boat. Later, he said, he noticed a grey vessel about 30 feet long pull alongside the little craft. He then heard several shots. The smaller boat drifted away and the grey vessel headed north, he said.

Leaving State

The man said he was "leaving the state and had to tell" this latest of a plague of rumors that have cropped up since the disappearance.

The caller hung up in the middle of the conversation.

Pinellas authorities said that police would look into the report

(Continued from Page 1)

and check boats and fishermen in the area.

City Detective Ray Abreu, brother-in-law of both Ostrosky and Harrell, said he took little stock in the rumor. He said he still believes the men have drowned.

"I wish people would not spread these rumors and cause our family more trouble," he said.

Abreu and other loyal friends of the missing men still continue the search of the Gulf, but all that has been found was discovered on the first day of the search—the empty boat and Ostrosky's jacket.

Coast Guard Lieut. Paul Smith said yesterday that he searched the sea in a helicopter less than an hour after the men were reported missing but saw no other vessel in the vicinity.

The Gulf was scoured for days both to the north and south for hundreds of miles, he said.

Usually bodies will surface a week after a drowning, Smith said. He knew of no cases when the corpses were never found. The search did turn up a body on Indian Rocks three days later but it was identified—not as one of the missing men.

Calm Day

The day the missing men went on their fishing trip and promised to return by noon "was so calm that you could read the label of a beer can floating in the water," he said.

Smith said that men in the Pinellas area who have fished for a living all their lives believe the men had gone ashore and the boat had drifted back into the Gulf.

"That's a pretty logical theory but we have no evidence," he declared.

Police are hoping that the man who telephoned The Tribune will tell them the story so that a proper investigation can be made.

(This article calls the jacket "Ostrosky's". Articles 1 and 4 identify it as Harrell's, by its laundry mark.)

6. "Gray Paint Flecks Found On Missing Men's Boat"

• Newspaper: Tampa Morning Tribune ("Tribune Staff Writer"; "Tribune Photo"). Date: about late February or early March 1956 (inferred). It says "a month ago", refers to the anonymous "report Wednesday", and probably ran a day or two after article 5.
• Note: this article gives the date as "Feb. 11", another newspaper error for Jan. 29, 1956.
• Photo caption: "MYSTERY BOAT—Nick (left) and John Julian look at grey paint scrapings on the bow of the boat aboard which three men went fishing a month ago—and never returned. The Julians are brothers-in-law of James McFerren, one of the missing men.—(Tribune Photo)."
• Scans: b-1; a-1.

By ART SMITH Tribune Staff Writer

Flecks of gray paint found yesterday on the bow of the boat in which three men disappeared in the Gulf a month ago gave some credence to a story that the trio may have been the victims of a kidnaping.

John Julian, brother-in-law of James McFerren, reported yesterday that several gray marks were noticed on the boat, indicating that another vessel could have tied up to the small craft on that fateful Sunday.

McFerren, John Ostrosky and Ray Harrell went onto the Gulf Feb. 11 [sic] on a fishing trip and were never seen again.

On Gunwhale

The paint scars, located on the gunwhale of the craft, were first noticed by Julien's [sic] son, Ronnie, when the boat was found floating in the Gulf. Julian said the marks were not on the boat before that Sunday.

A report that a man's arm had been found floating off Dunedin was discredited by Pinellas sheriff's deputies yesterday when the arm turned out to be a shirt. The shirt was not linked with the missing men, police said.

Pinellas authorities are perplexed by a report Wednesday that a gray boat had tied up to McFerren's in the Gulf and later several shots had been heard. The man who telephoned The Tribune to relay that information did not give his name and hung up in mid-conversation.

Too Many

A check by police yesterday indicated that there were at least 3000 gray boats in the bays from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. Checking each would be an impossible task, a sheriff's deputy said.

Julian said that the tie line on the front of McFerren's boat was dangling in the water when the boat was found. The line, about 10 feet long, usually rested on the floor of the boat.

He said the McFerren family did not believe reports that the men were having motor trouble the day they disappeared. He said the 30-horsepower outboard motor was in perfect running order and was used without mishap to search all day the next day.

One theory advanced by Tampa police and commercial fishermen had it that the motor had unexpectedly started and surged the ship ahead, throwing the men overboard. "That couldn't be," Julian said, "because the engine can start only in neutral gear."

McFerren was the only man in the party who could not swim. Harrell was an experienced skin diver, police said.

(The original prints "tht" [sic] for "that" in "A report that a man's arm".)

7. Scrapbook page from 1965 (b-4; a-6). These items don't mention the missing men.

A date slip: "FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1965" (cut from a newspaper page header).

"Tony Alfano Dies"

Anthony (Tony) Alfano, 63, owner of the Capri Restaurant and Lounge, died in a local hospital Thursday night. Mr. Alfano, who lives at 3301 W. Woodlawn Ave., was a member of La Unione Italiano Club. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Helen Alfano; one son, Frank Alfano; two brothers, Pete Alfano and Joe Alfano; and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Mastros and Mrs. Minnie Mingoia, all of Tampa.

Funeral notice, "ALFANO, ANTHONY (TONY)"

ALFANO, ANTHONY (TONY) — Funeral services for Mr. Anthony (Tony) Alfano, 63, 3301 W. Woodlawn, lifelong resident of Tampa, who passed away in a local hospital Thursday night, will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Marsicano-Prevatt Funeral Home's WESTSIDE CHAPEL, 4040 Henderson Blvd. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Helen Alfano; one son, Frank Alfano; two brothers, Pete Alfano and Joe Alfano; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Mastros and Mrs. Minnie Mingoia, all of Tampa. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Scaglione, Phil Cota Jr., Sal Gutierrez Jr., George Card, Richard Cota and Elio Alonso. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE THEIR FRIENDS AT THE FUNERAL HOME FRIDAY NIGHT FROM 7 P.M. until 9 P.M.

"MRS. LUELLA MARLOW"

Mrs. Luella N. Marlow, 73, 12726 20th St., died Thursday in Lakeland. A native of Astatula, she lived in Tampa for 50 years and was a member of the University Baptist Chapel. Survivors include daughters, Mrs. Alice (Howard) Damon, Tampa, and Mrs. Melba (Don) Sietman, Lakeland; a son, Austin Marlow, Los Angeles, Calif.; sisters, Mrs. Lillie Barber, Orlando, Mrs. Naomi McLin, Knights Station, and Mrs. Beulah Parkton, Tampa, and brothers, Bill Newton and Murphy Newton, Astatula.

Funeral notice, "MARLOW, MRS. LUELLA N."

MARLOW, MRS. LUELLA N.—Funeral services for Mrs. Luella N. Marlow 73, of 12726 20th St. who passed away in Lakeland will be conducted Saturday at 2 o'clock from the University Baptist Chapel with Rev. Duane Alcorn, pastor officiating. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories. Mrs. Marlow is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Alice (Howard) Daman and Mrs. Melba (Don) Sietman; son, Austin Marlow; three sisters, Mrs. Lillie Barber, Mrs. Naomi McLin and Mrs. Beulah Parkton; two brothers, Bill Newton and Murphy Newton; 11 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS AT JENNINGS FUNERAL HOME CHAPEL 6900 Nebraska Ave. at Sligh, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday evening.

A printed "In Remembrance" memorial card (IHS cross and roses). Only the cover is scanned, so the name inside isn't visible.

8. "Trio Missing on Small Boat"

• Newspaper: Sarasota Journal. Date: January 30, 1956, page 13. The viewer dates the issue January 30, and the story says the men went out "yesterday."
• Scan: gbooks-1956-01-30-sarasota-journal.jpg. The first letters of the top headline line sit at the edge of the image.

TRIO MISSING
ON SMALL BOAT

TARPON SPRINGS (AP)—A search was underway today for three men who went out in a small boat yesterday for a fishing trip.

The boat was found drifting about eight miles out in the Gulf. It contained three lunches and two fishing rods with baited lines over the side. The fishermen were nowhere to be found but searchers later discovered a jacket floating in the water.

The men, all from Tampa, were identified as Jonn [sic] Ostrosky, a policeman, Ray Harrell and James A. McFedren [sic]. They left the dock yesterday morning and were expected to return in the afternoon.

("Jonn" and "McFedren" are printed that way. The same wire story in the Ocala paper spells both names correctly. This is the same short account as clipping 9.)

9. "Three Tampa Men On Fishing Trip Missing"

• Newspaper: Ocala Star-Banner. Date on the Google index: January 29, 1956, page 49. The story says the men left Sunday morning and also says they went out "yesterday." January 29, 1956, was a Sunday, so "yesterday" fits a Monday, January 30, paper better than the index date. The masthead date is not in this crop.
• Scan: gbooks-1956-01-29-ocala.jpg.

Three Tampa Men On
Fishing Trip Missing

TARPON SPRINGS (AP)—A search was underway today for three men who went out in a small boat yesterday for a fishing trip.

The boat was found drifting about eight miles out in the Gulf. It contained three lunches and two fishing rods with baited lines over the side. The fishermen were nowhere to be found but searchers later discovered a jacket floating in the water.

The men, all from Tampa, were identified as John Ostrosky, a policeman, Ray Harrell and James A. McFerren. They left the dock Sunday morning and were expected to return in the afternoon.

(Same Associated Press story as the Sarasota Journal. "Two fishing rods" matches the Tampa Tribune of January 30. Later Tampa stories say three rods.)

10. "CG Looks For Mysteriously Missing Men"

• Newspaper: Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Date: Tuesday, January 31, 1956, page 5. The page header on the full scan reads Tuesday, Jan. 31. The story is a United Press dispatch datelined the day before.
• Scan: gbooks-1956-01-31-herald.jpg.

CG Looks For
Mysteriously
Missing Men

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., Jan. 30 (UP) — Three Coast Guard planes and a patrol boat searched waters today where three Tampa men mysteriously disappeared from their 16-foot outboard motor boat.

Two newly-baited fishing lines and fresh lunches were found yesterday aboard the abandoned craft which was drifting about 12 miles off shore.

The Coast Guard identified the three as John Ostrosky, a Tampa policeman and owner of the craft, Ray A. Harrell, a 39-year-old mechanic and James McFerren, a truck driver.

A helicopter yesterday found a cloth jacket bearing the name "Harrell" floating in the area of the abandoned boat. Coast Guardsmen also picked up a cushion-type life preserver which they said had recently been dropped into the water.

The trio left a dock at Ozona early Sunday morning to go fishing.

(This wire story calls Ostrosky the owner. The Tampa Tribune of January 31 says the boat belonged to McFerren. "About 12 miles" is farther out than the "about eight miles" in the Times and the Tribune. Harrell's age, 39, and his work as a mechanic match the Tampa clips. "Yesterday" in a January 30 dispatch is Sunday, January 29.)

11. "For Missing Trio"

• Newspaper: St. Petersburg Times. Date: January 31, 1956, page 16. "Yesterday" in this story is Monday, January 30.
• Scans: gbooks-1956-01-31-times.jpg, gbooks-1956-01-31-times-party.jpg, gbooks-1956-01-31-times-tank.jpg.

For Missing Trio

A pressing search continued yesterday for survivors of an 18-foot boat discovered floating in the Gulf Sunday afternoon.

But hope faded last night for the three missing occupants, who Coast Guardsmen fear fell overboard and drowned in the shark-infested waters about eight miles off Anclote Key.

The boat, containing three unopened, packed lunches and baited fishing poles, was identified as belonging to John Ostrosky, 33, Tampa motorcycle policeman and father of one child. He was known to have left an Ozona dock at 8 a.m. Sunday with two companions, Ray Harrell and James McFerren, of Tampa.

DISCOVERS BOAT

A Tarpon Springs vessel, the St. Nicholas, discovered the abandoned boat and small craft in the area alerted to watch for the occupants. Two New Port Richey fishermen later found a cloth jacket, apparently belonging to Harrell, about 14 miles off the Key.

The clinching find which led to the supposition that the men fell overboard, was a rubber lifejacket also about 14 miles off the key.

Yesterday, following an overlapping pattern, a UF rescue plane piloted by Lt. G. A. E. Williams and Lt. William Clark; a Coast Guard and Air Force helicopter and the 83-foot cutter, searched the area without success.

ONLY SHARKS

Muddy waters hindered the search and observers were able to spot only packs of shark running near the surface in the search areas.

Helicopters combed the Keys without any sign of survivors, but continued searching until dark.

Coast Guard officials said they did not know if the search will be continued today.

The next column begins in the middle of a sentence:

… brother-in-law of MacFerren [sic] and Julian's nephew, Ronnie.

The three left with Gus Danapas in his boat and Phil Fatolitis and searched throughout the night, coming in about 5 a.m.

Fatolitis said they went to North Key, searched the island, flashing their lights and calling out, but received no reply. From there they went southwest to the approximate spot where the boat was found Sunday afternoon. They circled the entire area but found nothing. From there they went on to Honeymoon Islands where they repeated their search. Again no sign of the three men was found.

A separate line, cut off at the left, sits at the top of the following column:

… motor and Billiris holds one of three life jackets. The 6-gallon gasoline tank was half empty.

(This is the most detailed early St. Petersburg account, and it disagrees with the Tampa clips in several places. It says an 18-foot boat; the Tribune and the other wire stories say 16. It says the boat belonged to Ostrosky; the Tribune says McFerren. It calls him a "motorcycle policeman" and "father of one child." The Tribune calls him a city patrolman. The 1950 census lists one daughter in that household, Sandra Lee, then a year old. "8 a.m." is this paper's departure time. The night party named here, Ronnie, Gus Danapas and Phil Fatolitis, is not the Abreu and Nick Julian party in the Tampa clips. Both can be true. "MacFerren," "Danapas" and "Fatolitis" are the spellings as read. The sentence about the St. Nicholas and the "small craft" is printed as one run of words. The Billiris line is incomplete on the left.)

12. "Continue Hunt For 3 Fishermen"

• Newspaper: The Times-News. Date: the story is datelined Tarpon Springs, Fla., January 31. Google Books indexes the issue as January 26, 1956, page 24. January 26 is three days before the men left, so that index date is wrong. Use the dateline.
• Scan: gbooks-1956-times-news.jpg.

Continue Hunt
For 3 Fishermen

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., Jan. 31 (UP)—Coast Guard planes and boats continued the search today for three Tampa fishermen missing since Sunday.

A helicopter yesterday found a cloth jacket believed owned by one of the men. It was found in the area where the 16-foot outboard motor boat in which the men set out Sunday was found mysteriously abandoned.

The Coast Guard identified the men as John Ostrosky, policeman and owner of the boat, mechanic Ray A. Harrell, and James McFerren, a truck driver.

(Same wire account as the Herald-Tribune on the owner, the 16-foot boat, and the floating jacket. "Yesterday" in a January 31 dispatch is January 30, a day later than the Herald's January 30 dispatch, which also says the helicopter found the jacket "yesterday." The two wires do not agree on which day the jacket was found.)

13. "Search For 3 Missing Men Is Continued"

• Newspaper: St. Petersburg Times. Date: February 1, 1956, page 17. The viewer marked this "result 1 of 2" for the names in that issue. This is the story that was open. The second hit was not isolated.
• Scan: gbooks-1956-02-01-times.jpg.

Search For 3
Missing Men
Is Continued

Coast Guardsmen yesterday continued to search for three men missing since Sunday when their small boat was found adrift near Anclote Key.

A Coast Guard official said planes would continue to search the area during routine training missions. Monday Coast Guardsmen mounted a major search for John Ostrosky, a Tampa policeman, Ray Harrell and James A. McFerren, all of Tampa.

A search by relatives of the missing men failed. The empty boat was found about eight miles in the Gulf of Mexico off Tarpon Springs. Two fishing rods with baited lines were over the sides and three lunches were on a seat. Searchers later found a jacket floating in the water.

("A search by relatives failed" is this paper's summary of the weekend. The February 13 story says Detective Abreu was still searching. Both can be true of different searches. Eight miles off Tarpon Springs, near Anclote Key, matches the Tampa clips and not the February 13 story's Egmont Key.)

14. "Mystery Of Three Vanished Fishermen Unsolved; Relatives Hope For Miracle"

• Newspaper: St. Petersburg Times. Date: February 13, 1956, page 17. By Bob Jones.
• Scans: gbooks-1956-02-13-times.jpg and gbooks-1956-02-13-times-2.jpg. The second image is the bottom of the first column, where the type stops against an ad.

Mystery Of Three Vanished Fishermen
Unsolved; Relatives Hope For Miracle

By BOB JONES

The Gulf of Mexico's newest mystery — the disappearance of three fishermen — today, after three weeks, continues to baffle authorities.

It began Sunday morning, Jan. 29. Waters were choppy but the Gulf has been more dangerous … more treacherous.

So the three men felt no fears as they pushed their 16-foot outboard off an Ozona dock and headed for Egmont Key.

They never returned but the families of Patrolman John Ostrosky, 33, rookie Tampa policeman Ray Harrell and James McFerren, also of Tampa, are still hoping for a miracle.

HUNT GOES ON

Ray Abreu, Tampa detective and brother-in-law of Ostrosky and Harrell, is persisting in the search for the three. Coast guardsmen still scan the waves for some hint as to their fate.

Adding to the mystery were these factors:

Their boat, found floating off Egmont Key, gave no indication of violence, no hint of any mishap.

It contained a cotton jacket marked "Harrell", a life preserver.

Their baited poles — all three of them — were intact.

Lunch boxes had been unopened.

DENIES RUMORS

The disappearance has been accompanied by the usual rumors but Detective Abreu strongly denied Tampa reports that (1) the bodies had been found, hands bound and throats

The column ends on the word "throats." The next word is not on the page. The middle column, which is Jones's list of theories, reads:

… (2) that they committed suicide or (3) that they were snatched by an alien submarine.

Instead, he speculated the answer may be (1) that they were knocked overboard by the impact of a wave striking the boat, or (2) one of the men fell overboard and the other two drowned while trying to rescue him.

The Gulf seems unwilling to unlock the door of solution.

And so the families of the three keep waiting while Abreu seeks an answer to the puzzle.

This is not the first time Lady Gulf has clasped her arms around the unfortunate who wandered into her home.

Dec. 13, 1944, a St. Petersburg man fell overboard off Anna Maria Key while fishing with a companion. Never found.

Oct. 2, 1945, three Tampans left Indian Rocks on a fishing trip and never returned. Never found.

Oct. 22, 1944, eight civilian passengers were lost as a tugboat capsized off Egmont Key.

June 7, 1946, a drowning man was sighted off Boca Ciega channel. A shark flashed to the surface and snatched the body by the shoulder. Never found.

Last Nov. 18, Reuben Williams, 27, sole survivor of a fishing boat which sank off Madeira Beach, lived to tell the story of how his three companions, one of them his brother, disappeared in the Gulf. Their boat was never found.

What happened to Ostrosky, Harrell and McFerren? The three companions of Reuben Williams? The others who "went fishing" and never returned?

As of now, only the Gulf knows.

(February 13 is fifteen days after January 29. The paper says "three weeks." This is the only story that puts the trip, and the find, at Egmont Key. The January 31 and February 1 Times, and the Tampa clippings, say Anclote Key or off Tarpon Springs. The line "rookie Tampa policeman Ray Harrell" has no comma on the scan between "policeman" and "Ray." Every other paper calls Ostrosky the policeman and Harrell the mechanic. The 1944–46 cases, and Reuben Williams, are other Gulf losses Jones lists. They are not this case. "Three" baited poles here; the early wire stories say two rods.)

15. "Anglers' Disappearance Creates Big Mystery"

• Newspaper: St. Petersburg Times. Date: March 22, 1956, page 23. By Bob Jones. "Yesterday" is about March 21.
• Scan: gbooks-1956-03-22-times.jpg.

Anglers' Disappearance
Creates Big Mystery

By BOB JONES

An Ozona boat dock operator yesterday discounted a theory that three missing Tampa fishermen were snatched from their small craft in the Gulf by "a large gray boat after several shots were fired."

This theory was advanced by an anonymous telephone call which sent Tampa Detective Ray Abreu back for a second look at the boat used by his brother-in-law, John Ostrosky, Ray Harrell and James McFerren. Abreu found specks of gray paint on the 16-foot boat's bow.

But boat dock operator Earnest Vidal said the specks probably came off the hull of the fishing-cruise boat which found the empty small boat and towed it to Tarpon Springs January 29. He pointed out the "St. Nicholas" has a hull painted the same color as that found on the missing men's boat.

Vidal was perhaps the last man to see the trio before they disappeared. They had been launching their boat at his place for several years. He told The Times he warned the men against going out that day, saying it was "too rough to go out far . . . and you boys have been going out too far in these waters."

He thinks the men were pitched out of the boat when their 30-horsepower motor went into a high-speed spin in the choppy Gulf. He added he thinks it happened eight miles off Anclote Key, where the men fished for grouper, and the boat rambled riderless for another six miles before stopping.

("Earnest Vidal" is the name as read from the small type. The Tampa clipping says an anonymous caller told the Tribune about a grey 30-foot vessel and shots, and that the Julians later found gray paint on the gunwale. This Times story says the call sent Abreu back to the boat, that the paint was on the bow, and that the dock operator traced it to the St. Nicholas, which he says towed the empty boat in. The 30-horsepower motor matches the Tampa clips. Vidal's "too rough" and "high-speed spin" are his account, not the Coast Guard's. The Coast Guard officers quoted in the Tampa papers called the Gulf almost glassy that Sunday.)