Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-03
RULES OF STREAM NOT OBEYED
Captain of Minch Says Launch Cut
Across Path.
ENGINES STOPPED AT ONCE
Ten Life Preservers Are Thrown Out,
but to No Avail.
OWNER OF LAUNCH SAVES LIFE
Pinned Down in Cabin when Col
Iision Occurred, but WAS Able
TO Save Life by Hard
Fight.

TOLEDO o. Sept. 2.-Seven men we're
drowned in the Maumee river about one
half mile north of the Red Can buoy this
morning at 1880 o'clock when the thirty
five-foot launch Memo, owned by Michael
Mayer. 1866 Norwood, was struck by the
5OO-foot freighter. Phillip Minch. inbound
for the c. =. and d. docks. The drowned
are:
HARRY BATCH. city councilman.
JAMES WISLER, superintendent of
THOMAS PURCELL. 49, master me-
chanic at the water works plant sumner
FRED SHANE secretary of Service Dl-
WILLIAM BLArT water works inspec-
tor Norwood avenue
WILLIAM CARROLL. Ss, bookkeeper at
RUDOLPH YoNKER, 5O Dorr street
The party was bound for Kelly's Island
to fish Except Michael Mayer. owner
Of the launch all met death. Mayer was
saved by members Of the crew Of the
Minch. None of the bodies have been re-
covered
CAPTAIN Tells story.
Captain L. b. Cummings OF the Minoh,
gives the following account of the ac-
cident
"The Minch, bound from Toledo Light
to load coal was In the straight channel
when the lights OF a launch, outbound
and APPARENTLY just outside the channel,
to the westeward, were sighted a mile and
half away and some minutes before the
collision occurred.
"Capain Cummings blew two blasts OF
the whistle, indicating that he was di-
recting his course to port and signalling
the launch to pass TO the left. The
launch blew no answering signal as re-
a., Ill r.ttns a.a1 oh. al
suddenly into the chanuei and toward
the steamer which was under check,
making about Sh miles an hour.
Captain Cummings then sounded the
danger signal, four short blasts of his
whistle. but there was still no response
from the launch which was approaching
the inch's bow at about miles an hour.
1.-THE steel stem of the Minch struck the
launch squarely on the port side; just
abaft of the engine. and cut It squarely
in two.
Part of Launch Floats.
1.-THE after section of the launch with
the engine, sank Immediately while the
forward cabin section of the launch re-
mained afloat
Knowing that the crash was inevitable.
Captain Cummings signalled his engineer
and the Minch was backing strong astern
when the collision occurred though the
headway of the big steamer had not been
completely stopped.
1.-THE Minohs anchor was let go instantly
and ten life preserVers were thrown over
board. A yawl boat was lowered quickly
and search made for the occupants of the
launch, all of whom, except Michael
Mayer, the sole survivor had been hurled
into the water. Mayer was found win
life preserver tied about him.
Pinned in Cabin,
Michael Mayer, the survivor, tells this
story of the accident: He had been
working on the rigging for more than an
hour and was just on the point Of Joining
his companions on the stern deck when
he hard the crash He was the only man
inside the cabin and when the craft was
hit he was thrown to the floor and pinned
down by falling door, which held him
helpless.
He never saw his companions. but hca,d
three or four cries for help lie escaped
after desperate effort.
As soon as the officers of the Michigua
realized what had happened the engine Z
were reversed anu the vessel backed
to the scene Lifr preservers were thr
out and the crew was summoned
rescue. Mayer was taken aboard
trace was found Of the others.