New-York tribune., 1909-12-13
NINE DEAD In BOAT
FROZEN MEN WORE
LIFE PRESERTERS.
Part of Car Ferry Cre5U Miss
ing Since Tuesday on
Lake Eric.

Erie. Penn. Dec 12-vi.h her flag at
half mast. the State Fisheries boat
Commodore Perry. Captain Driscol
commanding. brought TO this port late
to-day the dead and frozen bodies OF
nine OF the crew of the Bessemer and
Marquette ferry No. 2. which left Con-
neat. Ohio. on Tuesday morning. carry
ing thirty-two men, and which has
probably foundered IN the middle Of
Lake Erie.
For the last forty-eight hours the
Commodore Perry has been securing the
waters OF eastern Lake Erie for traces
Of the car ferry. but until a tiny ten
man yawl was sighted fifteen miles or
this port at II o'clock to-day the men
on the state fish craft had almost given
up hope Of being able 70 ever tell even
a portion Of the story of the fate Of the
big car ferry.
As the lookout on the Perry sighted
a tiny. half-sunken yawl at about noon
to-day orders were given 70 steam down
upon the object The use Of glasses
discovered the boat 70 be loaded with
nine men. AS the Perry came abreast
Of the drifting and half-waterlosged
yawi the men gathered at the side OF
the FISH boat saw that they had arrived
too late
The nine occupants Of the boat, which
was marked "Bessemer and Marquette
No. 4" were frozen stiff in death. TAX
ing tire yawl in tow the Perry made all
steam for this port. arriving here late
to-day.
Captain Johnson, Of the lifesaving sta
ton OF this port, had already sighted
the FISH boat and tow. and, making out
the contents OF the yawl, had notlned
the Erie Chief OF Police. from Presque
Peninsula. who in turn notified the cor
oner. All the police reserves were called
out. and ambulances lined the wharves
as the Perry docked.
News OF the finding Of the bodies mad
reached the city. and thousands or per-
sons swarmed 10 the wharves- AS soon
as the fish boat made fast force OF men
with tackle set 10 work raising the dead
bodies of the men 10 the dock where
wagons were In waiting. The procession
Of dead passed through the principal
streets OF the city. with hundreds OF peo-
pie following.
Conneaut, Ohio. where most OF the men
lived. was notified by telephone OF the
recovery OF the bodies. and hundred
residents Of that city arrived here within
two hours They were taken directly 10
the coroner's morgue. where the follow
ing identifcations were made: r
Thomas, second cook. Of Port Stanley;
William Ray, J. ". Souars. waiter; G.
r. Smith. steward: T. Steel. fireman; j.
shenk, fireman; J. Hart. oiler; -
O'Hageu aud Charles Allen. all Of Con-
neaut-
The cook Of the car ferry was the only
man 20 wear an overcoat- The eight
other men were dressed in overalls and
Jumpers. indicating that the departure
from the car ferry had been hurried In
the bow end OF the boat was found COM
plete clothing for one man, and IL is the
belief that the yawl originally contained
ten men. and that one, becoming crazed,
had discarded his clothing and jumped
into the waters Of Lake Erie.
Albert J. Weis. OF this city, treasurer
Of the Keystone Fish Company. was q
passenger on the i'll fated boat. His
relatives and friends had not given
UP hope. until the yawl containing he
nine men was towed into this port AS
vet his body has not been found.
The officers Of the car ferry company
gave up all hope on Saturday. and since
Thursday every available tug between
Buffalo, Cleveland and other lake points
have been searching the lake for some
news OF the wrecked craft.
Captain Driscon said tonight: There
was q heavy sea running at the time we
sighted the yawl. and We had some diff
Guilty in reaching II. AS we made her
out with our glasses eight Of the men
were sitting Up in the boat. their life
preservers strapped about their shoul-
ders. The ninth man lay at the bottom
OF the boat. frozen 70 the slat flooring
Their clothing was heavy with frozen
water. We did not attempt 70 take the
nine dead men on board. as We feared
the tiny yawl would capsize II my men
attempted 10 board it,