Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Ludington Record-Appeal Thursday, September 15, 1910 HOMES SADDENED BY DISASTER ---------------------- Funeral Services of CAPTAIN KILTY and MRS. TURNER at St. Simon's Church. The impressive funeral services for MRS. MINNIE TURNER, maid on the ill-fated Car- ferry 18 were held at St. Simons' church Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock, FATHER DENNIS MALONE delivered the sermon and the words spoken of the deceased were beautiful and the devotion to her faith was shown by the fact that she was found with the cruci- fix and rosary in her hands. MRS. TURNER had been sailing on the lakes at intervals during the past eighteen years. She as maid and FRANK YOUNG as steward made the trip with the Carferry 18, four years ago, which was the Carferry's first trip and they were on her last trip. About five years ago MRS. TURNER came to Ludington from Chicago where she had charge of a Catholic parsonage, at the home of FATHER SULLIVAN. Her beautiful deeds of kindness will al- ways be remembered by many to whom in the hour of need MRS. TURNER was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand. As the boat was sinking she had the crew gathered around her in prayer. She was advised to leave the boat, but refused and said, "I am not afraid to die, I do not care for myself, but I can't help thinking of my poor mother." MR. and MRS. JOHN KELLY of Superior arrived Sunday to attend the funeral services and spend some time with the grief stricken mother. MRS. KELLY is the only sister of MRS. TURNER. Tuesday morning the funeral services for CAPTAIN PETER KILTY were held at St. Simon's church which was crowded with friends who came to pay their last tribute of respect and love to the brave and beloved captain. FATHER DENNIS MALONE said mass and the funeral ser- mon was delivered by FATHER VOGT, assistant to the parish. The body was taken to Manistee for interment at which place the sad party were met by the Elks of which CAPT. KILTY was a mem- ber. The pall bearers included JAMES FAYE COOK on the No. 18 and F. J. YOUNG, chief steward of the Pere Marquette steamships, both of whome escaped from the disaster and E. B. MOWEN, assistant superintendent of the Company, CAPTAIN DORITY of Milwaukee, now with the South Haven Transportation Company, FINLEY McLAREN, chief engineer of the Pere Marquette Company, ALBERT ACKERMAN, chief engineer of the No. 17, HARMON SMITH, master carpenter of the Pere Marquette line, and EDWARD UNGERS of the Northwestern Commissary Company of Chicago. CAPTAIN KILTY was born in Beaver Island 50 years ago and had been a sailor practically all his life. He had been employed with the Pere Marquette company during the past thir- teen years and on Lake Michigan about twenty- four years. He was brave, kind, faithful and ever thoughtful of his crew. The grief stricken wife, - son CLAUDE, and daughter ELIZABETH have the deepest sympathy of the entire community. Those who attended the funeral were MR. and MRS. M. J. BONNER of Beaver Island, MR. and MRS. MANDERS of Manistee, both sisters of the deceased, MICHAEL and ANNA KILTY of Chicago, cousins of CAPTAIN KILTY, MRS. NACKERMAN of Chicago, FRANK CRANE of Chicago, JOSEPH NACK- ERMAN and son MICHAEL and JOHN NACKERMAN of Elk Rapids and HERBERT HIRE of Chicago whose brother PETER, a watchman, is numbered among the missing. MRS. KILTY is in poor health and the shock was almost more than she could endure, although she bore up bravely through the trying ordeal. NELS BERTRAND, the carpet and awning man was aboard Carferry 18 laying carpets the Company had purchased from him. It is thought MR. BER- TRAND was killed by piece of wreckage. MR. BER- TRAND'S body was recovered and conveyed to this city on Carferry 17 Friday evening. The body accompanied by the bereaved widow and mother was taken to Bay City for burial. The home of WALTER H. BROWN, second mate, and chief engineer ROSS LEEDHAM and PAUL RENNER, second assistant engineer, are saddened and grief stricken by this disaster. The anxious wives still have hopes that the bodies of their husbands will be restored to them. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Ludington Chronicle Wednesday, September 14, 1910 DIED AT HIS POST Stern Sense of Duty Leading Characteristic of CAPT. KILTY - Enviable Record Here. CAPT. PETER KILTY, whose name will ever be associated with that of the flagship of the Pere Marquette, whose death was caused by the vessels foundering was one of the pioneer car- ferry men and sailors in this city. Yesterday funeral service which was the first for the ferry victims was held at St. Simons church and though the hour was early to enable mourn- ers to take a morning train to Manistee the church was filled to the doors. Scarcely a dry eye could be seen as the body of the brave captain was born down the aisle past hundreds of people. The casket was borne by fellow or former employees of the Pere Marquette and included CHIEF STEWARD F. J. YOUNG and JAS. FAYE, cook on the No. 18, both of whom were with the captain when he lost his life; E. H. MOWEN, chief clerk in the office of SUPT. W. L. MERCEREAU. FINLEY MacLAREN, chief engineer of the Pere Marquette, A. W. ACKERMAN, chief engineer on carferry 17, and ED UNGERS, formerly purser on 18 now in the employ of the Chicago Commissary company, HERMAN SMITH, mas- ter carpenter of the company and CAPT. DORITY, master of the steamer City of South Haven which plies between Chicago and South Haven, and an old friend of CAPT. KILTY. FATHER MALONE, the new priest of St. Simons parish celebrated requiem high mass and the funeral oration was delivered by FATHER VOGT the assistant priest whose residence in Lud- ington gave him intimate acquaintance with the captain. In glowing words did he portray the bravery and heroism of the master of Carferry 18. He pictured the scene on the deck of the ship where 62 human souls with implicit trust in the good judgement and wisdom of the cap- tain obeyed his commands, of the confidence the company placed in his judgement and how he had always conserved their interests. It was an eloquent and deserved tribute to a brave man and there was scarcely a dry eye in the church when he concluded. The remains were taken to Manistee accom- panied by the widow, daughter MISS ELIZABETH, son CLAUDE, the captain's sisters, MRS. MANDER and daughter of Manistee, MRS. BONNER and CAPT. BONNER of St. James, Beaver Island, a nephew HERBERT HIRE of Chicago, whose brother JOHN was among the wreck victims, and is still missing, MRS. KILTY'S mother and FRANK CRANE a brother- in-law. CAPT. KILTY'S second son ALFRED ship- ped on a steamer going to DULUTH and after reaching that port left the boat. His where- abouts is unknown and he does not know of his father's death. CAPT. KILTY was brought up amid early sur- roundings which specially fitted him for his chosen life work and one particular trait, that of staunch loyalty to his employers, more than anything else is responsible for the fact that he gave up his life. Born, at St. James, Beaver Island, in 1860, he remained there attending the public schools until he was 20 years of age. His father, a sailor and fisherman all his life then moved to Onekema where the young man allied himself with the fishing interests of the place acquiring a familiarity with the different phases of navigation that proved of inestimable value in later years. The life of a fisherman was a hard school for the young man but it made him self reliant and intensly practical and resource- ful. Frequently he found employment on small schoon- ers and in 1889 was made a captain of a fishing tug at Lake Onekema. Later he shipped as mate of the passenger steamer Adrian trading between Manistee and Onekema, remaining on her for three years. He next took charge of the passenger steam- er John D. Moore for one season and the spent six seasons as mate on the Northern Michigan steamer Petosky plying between Chicago and northern Michi- gan ports. On February 12, 1896 CAPT. KILTY be- came master of Ann Arbor carferry No. 1, remaining on her three years, until the Pere Marquette com- pany in casting about for a good man to sail their new steel carferry No. 15, proffered him the posi- tion which he accepted. He took command May 20, 1898 since which time he has sailed one or the other of the ferries for the company, sailing suc- cessively the Nos. 15, 17 and 18. CAPT. KILTY was in every sense a fit man for the command of the Pere Marquette flagship, and his worth was appreciated not only by the employing owners but by every man connected with the line as well. No man in the company's employ was more re- spected, more looked up to, or more universally popular than the modest agreeable, gentlemanly skipper of the flagship. For 12 long years he has been in command (remainder of line is illegible) regarded as not the least pleasurable phase of this wearing life. The steady confinement and relentless grind, monotonous routine and the absolute uncer- tainty of movements - these are conditiouns surround- ing the life of a carferry sailor that irritate, con- sume and depress. CAPT. KILTY was a man among men. His temperament was disturbed by nothing. Good natured always, he accepted with resignation the varried fortunes or adversities that pursued him in his daily life (***) there was one characteristic which stood out above all others it was his realizing sense of the re- sponsibility with which he was charged. He knew his duty and he did it. Never was a man more loyal to an employer more or faithful and conscientious in the discharge of a trust. When the boat was ready, the captain never had to be summoned, but was on the bridge waiting for the word to go. If the weather was threatening or the boat disabled it was nothing for him to lose a night's rest and endure the dis- comfort of outdoor exposure. Subordinates may have handled the boat as well as himself but CAPT. KILTY never forgot that he was master and had to answer for her safe passage. The accident which cost his life and one of the finest ships that ever sailed the lakes was the first CAPT. KILTY experienced in his 15 years of service where long chances were taken and dangers lurked everywhere. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================