Imperial Valley press., 1930-05-31
DEAD IN
DISASTER
unknown
Between II and i16 Still
Reported AS Missing In
Santa Monica Tragedy.
PROBES UNDER WAY
Claim Fishing Boat Was
Carrying More Passen-
gers Than Allowed.

SANTA MONICA, Calf, May 81.
W.P-Two objects, believed to be
bodies of persons who lost their
lives when the fishing boat Ameco
turned over in the bay here yester-
day, were sighted in kelp beds short
" before noon today.
The report of the locating of the
objects was made by police pa
troll half mile from the spot whcre
coast guard were carrying on the
main search for bodies.
At the time the report was made
the number of dead still stood at
three and the number of missing
was reported variously at from IL
to 16.
SANTA MONICA, Ca'if., May 81.
W.P-Thc possibility that the 49,
foot Ameco waa overloaded when
it turned over and threw holiday
fishesmen into Santa Monica Bay
was under official investigation to-
day.
While the search continued for
bodies of persons reported missing,
Coroner Frank Nance said he was
probing reports that the craft ear
ricd more than the 81 passenger
maximum permitted it by law.
Three bodies We're recovered soon
after the Ameco capsizcd as it WAS
returning with its happy Memorial
day crowd from a deep sea fishing
excursion. Forty eight were known
to have been brought safely ashore,
leaving IL unaccounted for.
The known dead were: Margaret
Keller. 20, Santa Monica; c. G..
Barnett, %, Los Angeles; John W.
J,ockhart, II, Pasadena.
The Ameco. commanded by Cap
tain Bill Lightfoot, was a mile and
half offshore when the tragedy
overlook it. The captain and his
deckhand, Henry Vandenberg, wcrc
among those saved.
The disaster was attributed by
the master of the craft to unexpect-
ed seas and the rush of passengers
to one side of the boat
1--WE were under power returning
to the docks,' he said, "whcn some
very big swells suddenly were blown
Up by strong wind and broke over
the bows. Everyone ran to the port
side. The effect of the waves and
the shift in passengers caused tho
boat to keel over and she sank al
most Immediately,
The Ameco was a wooden hullcd
vessel, built in 1917, and had been
in pleasure service three years.
A heavy swell hit the ship broad
side, sending water over the 5S pas
sengers. Many of the fishermen ram
to the opposite side of the boat to
avoid drcnching and at that moment
= second huge wave rolled against it.
The second swe,h aided by the
shift of passengers to one side turn
ed the boat over and the holiday
crowd, happy moment before, was
thrown shrieking into the chilly wa
ters of the bay.
But for the presence of the Free
dom, another fishing boat, many
more might have drowned.
OFFICIALS of the Ameco said only
81 tickets were sold for the excur-
sion to the "bubblc hole,' but q.
was admitted that there were more
aboard. The capain of the Ameco
said there were go passengers and
two members of the crew.
Santa Monica police officials said
their records showed that three bod
les were found, between IL and 10
people still were missing and that
iS were rescued from the water.
The police report indicated the
possibility of more than So people
having been aboard.
Captain S. A. Kennedy, federal
also was conducting an
Investigation. attempting to deter.
mine if there was any negligence
in the operation Of the Amceo.
While these inquiries were on
boats of every type piled over the
spot where the Ameco went down
late yesterday.
Two coast guard cutters joined
the other craft during the morning
tn nil l., 1yaygi,ts, Gar bnJipe