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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Ludington Daily News Vol. XL., NO 289 Monday, September 29, 1930 THIRTY FOOT WAVES PERIL CAPT. PALMER AND CREW IN NIGHT TRIP OVER LAKE. (By GEO. L. EGBERT.) Still a bit tired and sore from 23 hours of cold and wet, merciless pounding by huges seas and constant vigilance against going overboard - to certain death - Ludington's courageous crew of coast guards was back at the routine of station duty today. Their mission of mercy having been completed, the exhausted guardsmen and their skipper, Captain Nels Palmer, returned to the home port at 8:15 Saturday night to find 200 eager townsfolk waiting to clasp their hands in hearty congratulation. Give Time and Energy. No traces of neither the "OUR SON," nor missing fruit packet, "NORTH SHORE" were noted by the crew, but it spared neither time nor energy in trying to locate the missing ships and pick up pos- sible survivors. The eight members of the crew were drenched from the time they left the breakwater tips until they reached the coast guard station at Sheboygan, Wis. They were shaking so badly from the cold and exposure, Captain Palmer stated this morning, it was difficult to hold a cup steadily enough to drink coffee. The entire trip was one of unswerving vigilance against being washed overboard. The 36-foot power lifeboat was awash most of the time and took severe "pounding." Oil skins offered little protec- tion against the seas. Water poured down the necks of their coats and into the tops of their hip boots. Some of the members of the crew cut holes in the bottom of their leg-gear to let the water drain out, and gain more freedom of motion. Air Full of Spray. As the boat left port 4 o'clock Friday afternoon to find the "OUR SON," first of the big waves were met off the pier tips, Captain Palmer said, but when the lashing breakers were encountered at the tips of the breakwater the air seemed full of spray as the boat nosed into the rollers. So much water was shipped at times, Captain Palmer remarked, that it got under his sou'-wester and he frequently had to jerk it back down on his head. The night was cloudy and dark, but only the running lights of the boat was used. The task of maintaining the proper course and meeting the seas to minimize their buffeting effect was made doubly difficult. Some of the waves encountered were 30 feet high and threatened to engulf the boat and its crew, but it prooved its seaworthiness and quickly recovered while the guardsmen hung on for life. Two Boats Inspected. Two steamers were met on the cruise across the lake. It was impossible to hail either one, due to the roaring of the wind and seas, but the lifeboat approached both to determine whether they were standing by a possible wreck or were on their way to port. Both were found to have been heading into the storm under check. One of the steamers, its wheelsman apparently becoming confused, altered its course as the lifeboat made its way around it and nearly bore down on the smaller craft. However, it escaped by passing around the stern of the steamer and heading west, Captain Palmer related. At the probable location of the foundering of the commercial schooner "OUR SON," the coast guard boat cruised carefully so as not to miss the wreck. A compass bearing was obtained by sighting the Ludington and Sheboygan lights. Throughout the trip the coast guard boat was in constant danger of crashing into wreckage which could not be seen in the dark, nor avoided in the heavy seas. Tremble from Exposure. Captain Palmer stated this morning the water did not seem cold until the west side of the lake was reached. At the Sheboygan coast guard station, however, the men were trembling from exposure and were shaking so badly from the wet and cold it was almost im- possible to hold a hand steady for a cup of coffee. Most of the men had four and five cups of hot coffee and then felt better. Lewis Hellenbolt, master machinist's mate, first class, was sore from his confinement in the tiny engine room, which could comfort- ably house only two men, Captain Palmer remarks, Mr. Hellenbolt, however, was also on deck and took some of the buffetting with his shipmates. Captain Palmer was strapped at the rudder control and his neck this morning was raw from abrasions caused by contact with his slicker. William Dipert, boatswain's mate, and Louis Holstad took turns a piloting the boat. Captain Palmer and the seven members of the crew were visibly moved by the reception received when they returned to the station Saturday night. Appreciated Home Reception. "The crew really thought nothing of taking this cruise when we started out," he remarked. "In fact, they rather enjoyed it. We didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary and didn't expect a reception when we returned home. We are grateful, however, for the kindness shown and the regard expressed for us on this cruise." It is doubtful if any coast guard crew on the Great Lakes has experienced a cruise under conditions as trying as those faced by the Ludington men. Those who watched the little boat head into the seas as she left port at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon, wondered if it could safely weather the turbulent seas and return home again. Fast Run Returning. Several times the motor stopped and canvas had to be relied on. The masts had been set and the spars and sails ready for emergency. The sails were used on the return trip from Sheboygan, and fast time was made. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Captain Palmer Gives Story of 15-Hour Trip Across Lake Michigan. At 3:35 p.m. Sept. 26, received a telephone call from commander, Tenth district, stating that a wireless message had been received from the west-shore, that a three-masted schooner, OUR SON, was in distress 40 miles west southwest of Big Point Au Sable, Michigan, and that the steamer WILLIAM NELSON, was standing by endeavoring to get a line aboard, but seemed to be unable to help the shipwrecked crew. At 4 o'clock p.m. launched power life boat No. 3046, with masts set and sails ready for immediate use. Boatswain, boatswain's mate, first class, and master machinist's mate, first class, and surfmen Nos. 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 went with the boat. Surfmen Nos. 4 and 7 left at the station. Sight Steamer's Light. Owing to the tremendous seas from the south was unable to steer a straight course on account of heading into it and meeting the seas. At 11 p.m. sighted a steamer's light on our starboard bow. Headed for the steamer to investigate if she would be the steamer WILLIAM NELSON, standing by the disabled and distressed schooner. We found this steamer under way, running under deck and heading south for Chicago, Ill. Arrived at scene indicated by the wireless message about mid- night. Taking compass bearing from the reflection of the Luding- ton, Mich., lights and the reflection of Sheboygan, Wis., lights, we decided this to be the place indicated. We steered a southwest course for two hours and a northwest for three hours, keeping watch for the steamer's lights. At 2 a.m. sighted a steamer to the north heading south, under check. Invest- igated same, but no indication of standing by a wreck. Put in at Sheboygan. Five a.m. we decided to put in to Sheboygan, Wis., port for a supply of gasoline and get our clothing dried. The whole crew was wet to the skin and all without their supper - wet, cold and hungry. We decided to make port and find out if the ship-wrecked crew had been saved. Arrived at Sheboygan coast guard station at 7 o'clock a.m. (day- light saving time) and was informed that the steamer WILLIAM NELSON, had succeeded to take the shipwrecked sailors from the wreck. We were received with great respect by the officer in charge, C. S. Westrope, Mrs. Westrope and the whole coast guard crew, who did all in their power to make it comfortable for the Ludington crew. First thing on the list was hot coffee and believe me we never had coffee that tasted any better. Every man was shaking like a leaf after 15 hours' wet clothing. With four or five cups of hot coffee we commenced to feel like ourselves again. Clothing is Dried. Our clothing was hung up in the crew's quarters for drying and dry clothing furnished the Ludington crew. At 8 a.m. (daylight saving time) officer in charge, C. S. Westrope, Sheboygan station, called up R. T. Crowley, commander Eleventh district, about our arrival. Mr. Crowley notified Tenth district commander, W. M. Wolff about same. Sent a message to the Ludington station about our arrival. Saturday, Sept. 27. At 9 a.m. (daylight saving time) received a telephone call from W. M. Wolff, commander, Tenth district, for the Ludington crew to be on the look out and watch for the missing fruit packet, motorboat, NORTH SHORE. Received 15 gallons gasoline from the Standard Oil Co., Sheboygan, Wis., for power lifeboat No. 3046. At 12:15 left Sheboygan for Ludington station. A sharp watch was kept for the missing motorboat, NORTH SHORE. No trace could be found of this boat. Arrived home 8:15 p.m. - 80 mile trip in eight hours with the sails set and the wind and sea in our favor. The trip home was made in record time. Greeted by Townsfolk. Hundreds of fellow townsmen were at the dock and they all met us with a glad hand and cheers. And I, for one, was proud to show the public what the coast guardsmen can do in time of need. On account of low water in launchway and high sea in channel we had some difficulty to get the lifeboat on the carriage, but succeeded and got the boat in the house at 9 p.m. The crew was given a full night's rest. ------------------------------------------------------------------- COAST GUARDS SEEK BODIES OF VICTIMS OF WRECKED PACKET Captain Preston and Crew Find Shattered Bulwark of NORTH SHORE. ALL HOPE IS GIVEN UP FOR FINDING SURVIVORS. Grand Haven Crew Makes Thorough Search of Lake in 36-Hour Hunt. GRAND HAVEN, Mich., Sept. 29 -(AP)- Coast guards of the Grand Haven station, convinced of the futility of hope for the lives of six persons aboard the lost fruit packet NORTH SHORE, today maintained an alert vigil of the beaches for bodies of the victims. Captain W. E. Preston planned to leave here again this afternoon with his crew, however, to continue a search if bodies of the miss- ing persons were not sighted. Search for 36 Hours. Captain Preston and his men returned here last night, wearied from a 36-hour hunt, with what they considered to be positive proof of the fruit packet's fate. A shattered bulwark, identified as that of the NORTH SHORE, and tons of fruit and debris floating on the waves, bore mute testimony to loss of the ship. This was found 30 miles off the Racine, Wis., shore. Hope that Captain Erwin J. Anderson, master of the NORTH SHORE, his bride of two weeks, and four sailors might have survived by clinging to wreckage, was discounted by the guardsmen. The ship has been missing since Friday's terrific storm. A thorough seach of the area was undertaken on the 36-hour cruise of the lake, Captain Preston said, and there was little likelihood of having overlooked a survivor. Carried Cargo of Grapes. Other members of the NORTH SHORE crew were Joseph Tekus, of C****y, Wis.; Royal Richter, of Washington Island; Arthur Peters, of Milwaukee; and John Johnson of Two Rivers, Wis. The NORTH SHORE was laden with a cargo of 10,000 baskets of grapes. It was a 60-foot packed owned by W. J. Laurie, of Milwau- kee, and chartered by George Mielke, Benton Harbor fruit dealer. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Body of Capt. Kinch, Lost Nearly Year Ago, Believed Found Here. Possibility that the body recovered here Saturday from Lake Michigan may be that of Capt. George H. Kinch, master of S. S. SENATOR, which sank off Sheboygan, Wis., early last November, is entertained today. George E. Dorrell states that the body conforms to measurements of the missing mariner as supplied by Capt. Nels Palmer of Luding- ton coastguard. Capt. Palmer has a description of the captain and three members of the SENATOR'S crew, whose bodies have not been re- covered. Capt. Kinch is described as having been between 50 and 60 years old, five feet and nine inches tall and weighing 190 pounds. The body recovered Saturday fits this description. Instead of a gold-filled tooth, it was learned today there is a four-tooth bridge in the upper jaw, which may aid identification. Mr. Dorrell is today telephoning the Nickleson Universal S. S. Co., of Detroit, former owners of the SENATOR. ===========================================================================