The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-06
O'CONNELL THE
REAL HERO IN
HARBOR TRAGEDY
Capt. Lockwood and Deckmar
McKeon, Witnesses Say,
Are Not to Blame.
Nelson's Life Saved by O'Con-
nell, While Yamberg, Who
Is Dead, 1t is Believed Had
Heart Disease. r

Complete exoneratton OF Captain
Samuel s. Lockwood and Deckhand
Harold McKeon of the Bridgeport
Towing Lines tug ''Ro obert McAIHster''
is indicated in today's investigation of
circumstances surrounding the drown
ing of John Yanberg of State street
and Hancock avenue near the red
buoy off Black Rock yesterday
morning. The first report concerning
the running down of the s1kiff con-
tanning Yanberg and Herman Nelson
of rs Ellsworth street seems to be dis
proved by testimony, and 1t appears
that the men were responsible.
An entirely different aspect Is given
to the occurrence as testimony is given
to the effect that the officers of the
tug used all due care and would have
gone by the slxin without collision but
for the two occupants losing their
heads and bringing disaster upon
themselves. Engineer Edward O'Con-
nell of the chemical tank barge
Calumet" looms up as the real hero,
risking his life in the saving of Her
man Nelson of rs Ellsworth street
and his unsuccessful attempt to save
the life of John Yanberg of State
street and Hancock avenue. Men ac-
customed to life on the water say
that Yanberg was hardly under water
long enough to bring about drowning
and are inclined to the theory that
1lGetfL fLIOQDteS resulting from AAe GN-
citehlent, had much to. do with his
death Coroner ]. ~. Phelan is con
VdHcting the examination Of witnesses
today. Captain Lockwood and Nc
Keon are held pending the investiga-
ton under bonds of $1,000 furnished
by Joseph Schietinger.
Witnesses say that the skif was di-
rectly in the channel, this procedure
having caused much trouble to nasvi-
gators in the past and that Captain
Lockwood, taking the barge "Calu-.
met" of the General Chemical COM
pany of New York, was sticking TO
the channel and blew the tug whistle
more than the required number. OF
times. On account of the tug running
abreast of the barge to the westward
and shutting off Captain Lockwood's
view of the East, NIcKeon was sta
toned on the barge deck. He says
that he shouted to the men in the
skin and then shouted directions to
Captain Lockwood. Witness bear
this out, saying that they noted him
waving his hands and shouting.
The two men started to row direct
ly across the bow of the barge and
tug and would easily have cleared but,
for some mysterious reason, checked
their course and started to row back.
They would have cleared in this course
also but for another mysterious pro-
cedure again laying down their oars.
mony, the speed of the tug had been
checked. Both men stood UP despite
the shouts of MeKeon for them to re
main seated and then dove into the
water. The skin was bumped by the
outer corner of the barge but the
speed was slight that it was not
overturned.
Engineer O'Connel1, in the engine
room of the barge during the first
part, was attracted to the scene and
,IT into faHs
Seeing that no one from the numerous
other small craft went to their aid, he
plunged into the water swan to
nearby craft from which he first
brought Nelson to safety and then
went after Yanberg. The latter was
unconscfouse and died despite over an.
hours work by DR.. L. J. Friedman
with the emergency hospital pulmo-
tor. .
If there be any criticusn. accordins
to opinion generally voiced by thosa
acquainted with the case, it should be
directed at the occupants of other
small craft in the vicinity, containing
fishing parties and from which no one
went to aid in the work of rescue.
I'm addition to Captain Lockwood,
McKeon, and Engineer O'Connell ter
tinony was heard from o. K. Blood, y
camper in that vicinity, and Ralph =
True, of "a Brittan avenue. Their tea
timony, in a general way, supports the
testimony of the tug crew and En-
gineer O'Connell
According to McKeon, the men in
the boat paid no attention to the ffret
whietling, although their craft was
anchored in the comparatively narrow
channel He says that there is nd
doubt what what the accid ant would
have been averted, even after the jock
eying back and forth by the fishermen
had they used sense and obeyed direc'
tions.