BORN MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1886. HULL MERCHANT NAVY ROH. ADDRESS UNTRACED.
Hull Daily Mail, 6th January 1919:- S.S. GITANO OVERDUE. – No News of Ellerman Wilson Liner. FEARED MINED. – GOTHENBURG. Friday. – Much anxiety is felt here regarding the Wilson Line steamer GITANO (1,687 tons), which was recently placed on the Gothenburg – Hull route. She left Hull with a cargo of coal and piece goods on December 20th for Gothenburg and has not been heard of since passing Flamborough Head on the same day. It is feared that she may have struck a mine. Reuter. – Inquiries at Hull show that the GITANO was in command of Captain Decent and a crew of 27, and left Hull on December 20th. She should of reached her destination in four days. She has not been heard of since passing Flamborough Head on the evening of the same day. At the request of the owners, Admiralty vessels have made search without result for wreckage. It is feared she has struck a floating German mine, and foundered. German mines are described as still dangerous after they have broken adrift and are floating about. This is not so with British mines. Captain Decent was one of the best known masters of the line, and has been with the company many years. He has been running regularly and continuously throughout the war. and been engaged chiefly in the general trades to the Baltic and Liverpool to Norway. He is a Hull man, and his wife died about 8 months ago. The chief engineer, J. Hedgcock is the son of the former Master of the old ZOB???O. One of the two cadets, R. Simpkins, who lived at Hessle, left the JUNO last voyage to join the GITANO. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?9122
