Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-09-03
LAUNCH CUT IN TWO
BY BIG STEEL
COAL BARGE
SEVEN LOSE LIVES IN
HARB0R AT TOLEDO
Victims All City officials Bound
On Fishing Expedition; Only
One Saved of Eight People
Aboard FraiI Craft.
;Bv Morning journal Special Leased wire. !,

'Bv Morning journal Special Leased wtre.l
for the celebration OF Labor Day in
this city were halted today while cti-
zens lent aid in the search for the
bodies of city Officers and employees
who were drowned early today when
Ia launch was rammed and sunk by
the barge Phillip Minch and only one
of the eight passengers in the launch
escaped a watery grave.
The Dead
HARRY BATCH, city councilman.
JAMES WISLER, superintendent Of
water works.
THOMAS PURCELL, 4S, master
mechanic at the water works plant,
Sumner street.
FRED SHANE, secretary Of service
director Cowen.
| WILLIAM BLATT, water works in
spector Norwood avenue.
WILLIAM CARROLL, 3S, book
keeper at water works.
| RUDOLPH YUNkER, so Dorr
street.
The waters of the bay were search
ed all day in a futile effort to find
the bOdics.
The eight men left Toledo at mid
night for Kelley's Island in Lake Erie
to fish until Monday night. Seven of
the party were above on the forward
deck when the barge struck the thir-
ty-five foot gasoline launch.
Michael Mayer, engineer and part
owner of the launch Memo, was be-
low and he was the only one saved.
He Is suffering a physical collapse as
la result of his terrible experience in
| the water following the collision. He
was rescued an hour after the COLL
sion.
Il was attending the engine" said
J Mayer, and then first | knew that
another boat was near us was when
| was knocked down by the force OF
the collision. a heavy door of a closet
fell over me and pinned me to the
floor. | was stunned for a time. Wa
ter began rushing into the engine
room and soon 1t was up to my neck.
tried several ways to get out ana
soon the launch parted in the middle.
The water was rough, but | grabbed
one of the life preservers from our
boat and succeeded in keeping afloat
until the rescuers from the barge
picked me up"
Captain II. B. Cummings of the
VI ilitil Nfiibs
"The Minch, bound for Toledo light
Ito load coal, was in the straight chan
Incl when the lights of launch, OUT
bound and apparently just outside
the channel. to the westward, were
siehted mile and half away and
lsOme minutes before the collision 0c-
curred.
Captain Cummins blew two blasts
of the whistle, indicating that he was
directing his course to port, and slg-
Mailing the launch to pass to the lett,
The launch blew no answering signal,
as required by the pilot rules, and
sheered suddenly into the channel and
toward the steamer, which was under
check, making about l-2 miles an
hour.
CAPTAIN Cummins then sounded
the danger signal, but there was still
no response from the launch, when
was approaching the Minchs' bow at
about nine miles an hour
The steel stem Of the Mnch
struck the launch squarely on the port
side, and cut it squarely in two
,"The Minch's anchor was let go IN
stantlv and ten life preservers were
thrown overheard. "A yawl boat was
lowered quickly and search made for
: the occupants Of the launch, all OF
whom. except Michael Mayer hao
been hurled into the water. Mayei
was found with life preserver tied
about him, clinging to floating sec-
tion of the launch,
Ia.