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Shipwreck or sea mystery · 08.09.1929

Storm throws the spirit ship Romulus onto Loksa beach

Torm viskab piirituselaeva Romulus Loksa randa

Smuggling ships waited in neutral waters off Estonia to sell alcohol to boats from the shore. In an unheard-of storm on the night of 7–8 September 1929 one of them, the Romulus under the Romanian flag, broke her anchor chains and rudder and was driven helpless across the bay; at two in the morning the waves laid her on her side on the sand at the mouth of the Loksa river. On board were 12,700 litres of spirit and 30 cases of foreign wine and cognac. Because she came ashore in distress she could not be seized, so border guards simply watched that nothing was carried off.

Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today

Eesti keeles

Salakaubalaevad ootasid erapooletus vees, et müüa randa tulnud paatidele piiritust. Ennenägematu tormi ajal ööl vastu 8. septembrit 1929 purunesid ühel neist – Rumeenia lipu all sõitval Romulusel – ankruketid ja tüür ning laev triivis abitult üle lahe; kell kaks öösel paiskasid lained ta Loksa jõe suudmesse liivale külili. Pardal oli 12 700 liitrit piiritust ja 30 kasti välismaa veine ja konjakit. Et laev aeti randa merehädas, ei saanud teda konfiskeerida – piirivalve vaid valvas, et midagi maale ei toodaks.

Map of the area around Storm throws the spirit ship Romulus onto Loksa beach
59.58600° N, 25.71800° E · Map: Maa- ja Ruumiamet

Source: Päevaleht, 10 September 1929, p. 1 (DIGAR) ↗

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