The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-09-07
TOLEDO CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPL OYEES
DROWNED
LAUNCH RAMMED BY BARGE
lone Survivor, i'm Serious Condi-
uon, Unable to Explain Cause Of
COlliSion-BOdies Not Recovered.


Toledo, Ohio, September 2. -
Preparations for the celebration of
La Dor Day in this city were given a
check to-day, when the citizens
stopped work and expressed their
deep sympathy and many lent their
aid in the search for the seven
bodies Of city officials and employ
ees, who met a tragic death by
drowning early this morning, when
their little launch, when their lit
tie launch, 35-foot craft, was
rammed by the barge Philip Minch.
h':rling several of the occupants to
wa'ery grave.
Tie drowned are: Harry Batch,
city councilman; James Wister, su-
perintendent of water works; Thos.
Purcell, master mechanic at the wa
ter works plants; Fred Shane, sec
William Blatt, water inspector, Nor
wood avenue; William Carroll,
bookkeeper at water works plant,
and Rudolph Yunker.
Delay in Receiving News.
The accident occurred about 1.30
o clock this morning, but word was
not received in the city until more
than two hours later. Professional
di' ers. policemen with graphing
hooks and local riverman have
searched the waters of the bay all
day but in vain.
Of the party of eight men, who
left town for Kelly's Island, only
one was saved The party was
they were doing never will be
! known.
Mayer, the engineer, who was
Helow looking after the engine, was
tl:e only one of the party to escape.
Mayer declares he did not hear
i.nv signals sounded from the barge.
Seven Families Fatherless.
In seven homes the widows and
! children of the dead men are be-
ing cared for by relatives and SYM
/ pathetic neighbors Michael Mayer,
engineer and part owner of the
launch Memo, is practically a ply
sical wreck at his home after his
terrible experience in the water.
! following the collision. Though
he fought desperately for his life
hour after the collision Mayer re-
mained sufficiently rational until
the middle of the day to tell what
had occurred
Il did not see my companions for
half an hour after We left the
Downtown Dock on our way out"
said Mayer. Il was attending the
engine and the boat near us when
was knocked down lay the
force of the collision A heavy
door of closet fell over me and
pinned me TO the floor. was
stunned for a time. Water began
rushing into the engine room and
soon it was up to my neck. tried
several ways to get out and soon
the launch parted in the middle.
Heard Cries of Esctims.
Il did not see my companions
when the collision occurred
heard some cries and think it was
the victims shouting as a warning
to the giant steel barge
Capt. ID. b. Cummings, of the
Minch, and First Officer F. b. Cum
mings, his brother. were on the
bridge. August Swan was at the
wheel and Abner Busler was look
out. These men declared they
sighted the launch about fifteen
minutes before the collision. They
declared warning and passing sig
nails were given, but no replies were
received.
Capt. Cummings was summoned
by United States steamboat inspec-
tor Immediately and an investiga-
tioR was begun. Coroner Henseeler
also is investigating the collision,
with a view to fixing the response
D4iity for the drowning.