Silvio Scherli

Silvio Scherli (who often signed his articles as Silvio Scherl-Scherli) was born in Trieste around 1901/1902.

He may have been the boxer Silvio Scherl who fought Luigi Gaspard in 1920. However, both boxers are described as being from the U.S., so perhaps this was his father/another relative instead? This Scherl fought Gaspard again in 1921, for the title champion of Venezia Giulia.

In November 1933, his article "Macabri Riti Funerari Nell'India" was published in L'Illustrazione Italiana, including his own photographs of Indian funerary rites. This was reported in Il Piccolo di Trieste, which says that he was travelling the world, and mentioned another article by him, "La Mecca: culla dell'Islamismo", also illustrated with his photos.

• By 1935 he was the radio operator of the SS Conte Di Savoia, which sailed from Naples on 1 May 1935, and arrived in New York on 9 May. He was unmarried at this time.
• He was the wireless operator of the SS Conte Grande, which sailed from Trieste on 25 July 1935, and arrived in New York on 8 August.
• He was still a wireless operator in 1938, by then aboard the SS Rex, which sailed from Genoa on 21 September, and arrived at New York on 29 September.

In 1940/1941, he wrote several articles which were published by the Italian newspaper group Il Piccolo, including a series I drammi del Mare ('The Dramas/Tragedies of the Sea') about nautical tragedies, the first story of which was the tale of the Ourang-Medan. His articles included:

• 16 October 1940: "Ourang-Medan" (retrospectively considered the first of the I drammi del Mare series, as mentioned in the "Elenor Synt" article)
  
• 26 October 1940: "Elenor Synt" (second article of the I drammi del Mare series, but first to use the series name)
• 2 November 1940: an article about anti-British sentiment taught in American schools
• 9 November 1940: "Johore" (third article of the I drammi del Mare series)
• 16 November 1940: "Geo. W. Macknight" (fourth article of the I drammi del Mare series; this one is confirmed to have happened; mentions three future articles in the series: "La chimata Anna" [found], "L’onda ladra" ['The Stealing Wave'; not yet identified] and "Titanic" [found])
• 23 November 1940: "Titanic" (mentioned in the previous article to be part of the I drammi del Mare series, but the article itself doesn't use the usual series header; seems to blame the radio officer Jack Phillips)
• 27 November 1940: The editor of Il Piccolo di Trieste responds to a letter that appears to have been questioning Scherli's stories. They refuse to give Scherli's age, or photograph (which is odd, considering the "Geo. W. Macknight" article had a photo of him), but say that the story of the yacht Yohore is true, as are all of Scherli's stories
• 30 November 1940: "A.N.N.A." (another article in the I drammi del Mare series)
• 1 January 1941: "Diable Chain" (another article in the I drammi del Mare series; this ship's name had been mentioned in the "Ourang-Medan" article)
• 5 February 1941: "Ourang-Medan" part 2 (presented as a news report, rather than part of the I drammi del Mare series; not credited to Silvio Scherli, but presumably by him)
• 24 April 1941: "Oubanghi-Chari" (last article in the I drammi del Mare series that I've been able to find so far)
  

There are probably more articles by him across these newspapers which I haven't been able to find.

• He married Gabriella Zanini on 11 September 1943. His witnesses were his brother, the veterinary surgeon captain Vittorio Scherli, and captain Diodato Belohradsky (perhaps the captain of a ship he had been/was currently sailing with?)

On 16 December 1950 and 30 December 1950 he published more nautical stories, this time about the Bruciatutto.

• Around 1950, he seems to have resumed work as a ship radio operator
  
• On 7 May 1952, he sailed from New York to Genoa aboard the SS Vulcania (perhaps as a passenger this time, rather than crew?)

On 25 February 1954, he wrote to the president of the American Tobacco Company in New York, Paul Hahn, describing himself as "a free lance journalist collaborator to the leading European papers and magazines". The letter is headed with Scherli's address given as "Trieste (213), Largo Barriera Vecchia, 16" and his telephone numbers as "93847 32736". As the Fortean Times reported, in the letter "he made a strange proposal. For the sum of $780, Scherli offered all his research material on lung cancer cases in a large number of countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Sweden. Was this an amateurish attempt at extortion? We'll never know." Scherli was sent a reply on 26 March 1954, saying that they were considering his offer, and suggested he contact Alan Campbell-Johnson of their London office.

• On 5 April 1954 he joined the Esso Pittsburgh at Genova as its radio operator
• He was still the radio operator of the Esso Pittsburgh when it sailed from Palermo (?) on 12 May (?) 1954, and arrived in New York on 18 May
• Still the radio operator of the Esso Pittsburgh when it sailed from Aruba on 19 July (?) 1954, and arrived in New York on 25 July (?)
• Still the radio operator of the Esso Pittsburgh when it sailed from Amuay Bay, Venezuela (?), and arrived in New York on 29 August 1955
• Still the radio operator of the Esso Pittsburgh when it sailed from Aruba on 13 October 1955, and arrived in Wilmington on 18 October
• Flew from Idlewild Airport, New York to Rome on 27 October 1955
• In March 1963, he was listed as a contact for enquiries to rent two warehouses in Trieste
  

He seems to have continued writing articles, including one published in 1975 on the bombing of Nagasaki.

He died in 1985, with a funeral held on 9 March 1985 at the Capella dell'Ospedale maggiore, Trieste. He was survived by:

• Gabriella (his wife)
• Thomas (his son) and his wife Carmen
• Clelia (his sister) and her husband Pietro Ginanni Fantuzzi
• Vittorio (his brother)
• Suzy (his granddaughter)
• Lamberto (his grandson) and his wife Bianca
• Antonio (another grandson) and his wife Graziella
• other grandchildren and great-grandchildren