Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03
HE HEARD NO SIGNAL.
Story Told by Engineer OF
Wrecked Launch Memo.
HIS ESCAPE REMARKABLE
Seven Companions Lost When
Freighter Sank Boat.
MOURNING IN TOLEDO
Flags Half-Masted on City Buildings,
az Victims Were City omcials
and Employees.

as Victims Were City omcials
and Employees.
TOLEDO. Ohio. September 2.-Prepara-
tons for the celebration OF Labor day
in this city were given a check today,
when the citizens stopped in work and ex-
pressed their deep sympathy. and many
lent their aid In the search for the seven
bodies OF city officials and employees
who met tragic death by drowning early
this morning when their little launch, a
thirty-fve-foot craft. was rammed by the
barge Philip Minch. hurting seven OF the
eight passengers to q watery grave. The
drowned are:
The Death List.
Harry Batch, city councilman.
James Wisler. superintendent OF water.
works.
Thomas Purcell, fourth master me-
chanic at the waterworks plant. Sumner
street.
Fred Shane. secretary OF Service d.
rector Cowell.
William Blatt, waterworkS inspector,
Norwood avenue.
William Carroll. thirty-eight years.
bookkeeper at waterworks.
Rudolph Yunker. so Dorr street.
The accident occurred about l 30 this
morning. but word was not received in
the city until more than two hours later.
Continually professional divers. police
men. with graphing hooks. and local
riyermen have searched the waters OF
the bay all day. but in vain.
The party OF eight men left down.
town dock at midnight for Kelley's Is
land. In Lake Erie. to spend their time
fishing until Monday night. They had
its mouth. Seven of the party were
above on the forward deck. What they
were doing never will be known. Mayer.
the engineer. who was below looking
after the gasoline engine. was the one of
the party to escape
Heard No signals-
Mayer declares he did not hear any Sig
mails sounded from the barge
In seven homes the widows and chill
dren Of the drowned men are being cared
bors.
Michael Mayer. engineer and part own
er OF the launch Memo, 10 practically Q
rible experiences in the water following
the collision. Though he fought desper-
ately for his life and only was rescued
about an hour after the collision. Mayer
recovered sufficiently toward the middle
of the day to tell his story OF his ex-
periences.
1T did not SEQ my companions for half
an hour after we left tho downtown dock
II was attending the engine. and the
f1rst knew that another boat was near
US was when was knocked down by the
force OF the collision. A heavy door OF
the Gs eer was sae n ss
Water began rushing into tho engine
room, and soon 1t was up to my neck. Il
tried several ways to get out, and soon
ter was rough. but grabbed one OF the
life preservers from our boat and sue
ceeded in keeping Adoat until the res
cuers from the barge picked me UP.
I did not see my companions when
cries and think II was their shouts when
the front Of the giant steel barge doomed
up before them"
Launch Clearly Seen.
Capt. L. B. Cummings Of the Minch
and First Omcer r. q. Cummings. his
brother. were on the Officers bridge. Au-
gust Swan vt the wheel and Abner Bus
Ter was lookout These men declared
they sighted the launch about fifteen
minutes before tho collision. They de-
clare warning and passing signals were
were steaming about nine miles an hour
in tho straight channel OF the bay toward
the mouth Of the Maumee river.
The night was clear and the crew OF
the Minch declare they could observe with
ease the launch moving about In the
bay. When first seen 1t was about $50
feet west OF the channel The little
craft continued on toward the barge. they
said. and appeared to run across its bow.
Investigation Begun.
Capt Cummings was summoned by
United States steamboat inspectors imme-
diately and an Investigation was begun.
Coroner Henzeler also IL investigating
tho collision. with view to fixing. II pos
sible the responsibility for the drown
ings.
Capt Cummings has been relieved OF
command OF the barge Minch pending tho
investigation.
Late this evening tho party Of search
ers at work In tho vicinity OF the wreck
found valise In about four feet OF water
The searchers. feeling that they were
les were drowned. redoubled their ener-
giles in an effort to find the bodies.
John r. Cowell. director OF public ssrv-
Ice, for whom Fred Shane. one OF the
crowned 0Cte0 H 0oCTctdIys n -
Barnes, q waterworks employe: J. Alpha
Page, harbormaster, and several other
city employees had intendsd going With
tho party on the fishing trip ana only
gave up the idea late last nisnt They
all arc deeply affected today ae ne $40
ending Of their friends
Mayor Brand Whtlock, who went 10
weQmtonsing. Mich. early this week to
spend his vacation. was told Of tho aoci-
dent over tho Iong-distance telephone this
afternoon.
There are no words for such . ca
lamity, for 1t Is q calamity not only to
me in the loss Of such good comrades
and coworkers, but to the city a. WELL"
he said.
The mayor declared no would It onos
return to tho city.
Flags at Half Mast.
Business In al Departments OF tho city
hall today was practically suspended and
flags on city buildings and also on many
Of the larger buildings were suspended
at half mast.
The barge Philip Minch 10 ono OF the
largest Of its kind on the great lakes
It was inbound from Port Arthur, Ont,
light, with the c., II. & D. docks up
river as it's destination. II IL owned by
Henry Steinbrenner Of Cleveland, and
in charge Of Capt. L. B. Cummings.
The launch Memo was thirty-five feet
long, and was owned Jointly by ThonaaS
Purcell. one Of tho drowned. and Michael
Mayer. the only one OF the party TO be
rescued MAy0r gaya thAy valued the