The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-05-12


are missing and all arc believed to
have been drowned as the result Of
the sinking of a gasoline launch in
the Ohio river near Schoenville, four
miles below Pittsburg tonight OF t1o
thirty occupants oil the boat, only
ten are known to have escaped.
All were employees OF the Pressed
Steel Car company at the McKees
Rocks plant. They had been working
overtime until o'clock, and left the
works TO cross the river In the launch
about Is minutes later
The boat is said TO have been intend
for not over twenty persons, but all
wanted To get across on the first trip
and thirty persons crowded in. AS
the boat sank twenty OF the men
went down with it, Others were
chilled by the cold water and exhaust
ed One OF the men BY swimming.
ran TO a telephone and gave the al
arm. Boats were put out in the hope
Of rescuing some struggling swimmers
but the task seemed hopeless.
Pittspurg. May l2-Survivors of last
nights accident, In which twenty men
were drowned, tell thrilling stories Of
their experiences When the gasoline
launch in which the men were cross
ing the river TO their homes after com
Eleting their days work, heightened
by overtime, left the shore, it had 80
mon crowded into space that was
not meant to hold more than twenty.
Harry Gothridge, one OF the suryiv-
ors whose brother was lost, said. when
he was brought TO shore:
I'VE had got about one-third of the
distance across the river when ] sud
denly felt as is ] were sinking. In an
other minute, | felt the cold water
about my legs.
Albert Graham, who was running
the boat, shut down the power but il
was too late. ] looked at Graham and
noticed he was very pale, but he did
Tot say word My brother and |,
who are both good swimmers, start.
ed TO get loose from the boat and |
yelled to him TO dive. We went over
board and camc up together He made
q grab for me but | was suddenly
dragged under water by fellow who
grasped me by the waist. and | went
down the second time
Il was pulled under the water and
had just time enough TO take n
breath as we went down. Under the
surface, the man let me go and ] camo
to the top and began TO swim for
shore when a skff came mp and was
pulled on board. All this happened
I'm about three minutes and have noc
seen my brother or heard anything
about him since"
Edward Vogeli, one of two broth
ers, who were saved, while a third
was lost, said:
while ! was struggling In the wat
er and trying TO keep up, a steam
the boat went on. Some one on
board called out:
You are crazy, and that was the
only response TO my cries for help
Had II not been for John Deer, the
brave fisherman. through whose ef-
forts eight men were saved. there
would have been but two Survivors
out of the thirty persons who start
ed across the river In the launch.
Deer lived in a houseboat moorcd
along the shore and helped run the
Ierlyboats. He was in the boat house
when he heard cries for help Hur-
riedly jumping into skin. he rowed
into the middle of the stream and
with such help as those he rescued
could give him, pulled eight men out
of the water Those were all the
survivors except two who swan ashore
alone
The ferry boat steel crossed the
river shortly before the accident 1t
Is said 10 have had no light In front
and To have plouGhed In the darkness
through the vicinity OF the score or
helpless men The tug boat Tornado
passed up stream while the men were
In the wateI Hearing cries for help.
the officers Of the boat had the
searchlight turned on the water When
they saw Deer rowing out into the
river. they apparently thought the
cries for help were made by persons
calling to the oarsman, and shut OF
their light. passing on up stream with
out stopping and without the knowl.
edge that they had been passing over
the forms of lot of their struggling,
drowning fel!owmen
Searching parties were out all night
watching along the rivers edge foT
signs OF any straggler who might have
swan ashore, and found himself too
much exhausted to climb the steep
banks oil the river. Women and chill.
dren joined with the men who search
cd the banks all night long. looking
for loved ones who had not been found
All the men In the boat, except
Graham the 2erryman. were emDloycs
OF the Pressed Steel Car company, on
their way to their homes in Woods
Run after day OF labor Search VIII
be continued during The day for the
bodies OF the drowned men.
Following is list Of the persons
missing
George Thompson.
Frank GBoots) Neeld.
James Cotter.
Walter Lowe.
Thomas Kennedy
William Gothridge
Henry VOgelei.