Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-13
CAUSE OF LAKE
ACCIDENT NOT
DETER M|NED
Overlooking OR BREAKDOWN
OF MACHINERY GIVEN AS PROB
ABLE REASONS FOR LOSS OF
LIFE WHEN VESSEL SANK.

Ludington, Mich, Sept 10.-The
cause of the sinking of the Pere Mar
quette car ferry probably never will be
fully determined. 1t is declared today
the disaster was not due to the storm
but to overlooking or breakdown OF
machinery. The first intimation that
anything was wrong was at a. m.
when the wheelsman noticed the YES
sci was not responding properly 1t
was then discovered that the compart-
ment aft of the engin room contained
considerable water. AS the vessel
continued to settle distress signals
were sent out and life boats lowered,
but were not cut away. An effort to
reach the west shore continued. When
ferry No. II reached the scene it was
merely asked to standby, Captain Kitty
evidently not believing his vessel in
immediate danger. Captain Russell of
No. II, however. seeing the vessel
sinking, lowered life boats and picked
UP the survivors who jumped from the
Pere Marquette when she sank.
There were sixty-two persons aboard
the vessel at the time of the disaster.
Wireless Call too Late.
Milwaukee, Sept. 1O.-More thrilling
than tale from the pen Of any novel
list is the story Of the loss of thirty
lives and the sinking of the steamship
Pere Marquette No. Is, the finest car
ferry in the world, as told in the brief
messages spelled out by an amateur
telegraph operator Thirty-three per-
sons were rescued.
Stephen Sezepanek, the wireless
operator, of No. 10 went down with
his ship.
First, Sezepanek on No. IS told in a
dozen short words the Tory OF dis
aster. Then came the story Of catas-
trophe from another operator, R. &.
Hill, the purser of the car ferry No Il
of the same fleet. an operator of so
little experience that while he could
roughly spell out the messages he
wished to send ashore he could not
receive the anxious queries which bonn
barded him from the home Offices.
Most Of Crew Picked UP.
Here was the story of disaster as
told by the five wireless messages
sent from midlake while the search
for the bodies was on:
Form No. 18.-5:20 a. M. c. Q. D.
No. is is sinking. For Gods sake
help us.
Later-No. 1s is sinking midway be-
tween Huntington and Sheboygan. For
Gods sake help.
Form No 17.-7:3O, No. Is is going
down. Help.
7:35-No. 10 has gone.
Later-No. II is standing by. Will
stay till all are saved.
9:1O-Frank Young, James Fay and
Conrad Kline saved All officers of
No. 18 lost.
11-Picked up thirty of crew.
Cause Of Disaster Not Known.
In marine circles 1t is believed the
twenty eight cars on No. Is became
loose as the ferry was buffeted about
and that the water rolled into the yes
sells stern, which is wide open. This
seems plausible, in view Of the fact
that the sea was rolling from the
north, the most dangerous on Lake
Michigan, while the steamer was head
ing southwest by south.
The Inflated car ferry, which has
contributed the first fall disaster on
the lakes this year, was built in Cleve-
land twelve years ago at cost Of
$45O,O00.
Last evening three steamers reached
here from the scene of the wreck, but
only wild theories are given as to the
cause, of the wreck The car ferry
No. 20 brought three bodies, and a
message from Ludington says that the
No II lost two Of it's own crew in try
ing to save those who we're floating
about in the wreckage.
The tugs Meyer and Welcome spent
five hours cruising about in the wreck
age, but found no bodies except the
three taken to Ludington. with the two
of the No. It's own crew and the three
which were brought here.
and mother. Mrs. Mart McNeese, of