The Times Herald from Port Huron, Michigan • Page 1

ri 73 riMES WEATHER S3 PfRT HtT-V TIMES. ST ST TEAR TUE itEKAl-D. 2ZSO YEAR FORT HURON, MICHIGAN, MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1922. TWELVE PAGES TODAY PRICE THREE CENTS i no i Ik in i Si in rli -t' Circulation List Week 15.00S POST WT7TR.ON r-rr rx i-U-J I Li Li -j 1 i hi rnn rv) r. iiit Li Llj Li 4 KILLED, 7 HURT, FERRY TORN TO BITSj i THE PICTURE STORY OF THE EXPLOSION 'r i I i 5 i i TvV 3 Engineer.

Fireman, ed Rums of Conger Damage Estimated at $88,200 if II BROTHS PLEAB GUILTY: snap soei Frinter-Burglars In Police, Circuit Courts This Morning Frank arn.1 N'onaan Davis, trother. who confessed Satunlay tl breakins anJ entering a long i.st of stores and city durin? the last st-veral riontiis, may be sentenced by Judge Harvey Tappaa Tufsday morain. They pleaded guilty before Jadce" Tappan this morning to a rhargo of robbery while armed. The specific oharsre against the hrother ia that they entered X. j.

Webb's bakery. 2339 Cherry street. Thursday night and stole The judge explained to the prisoners that they could plead not guilty or stand nrnte if they wanted a jury trial on the charge against them. Otherwise they should admit the crime and plead guilty, he explained. Frank and then Norman answered "guilty when Judge Tap-pan asked for their plea, Tfce judge remanded the boys to Jail stating that he would in-restigate the case and sentence them Tuesday morning unless other matter interfered.

Scores of persons who attended police court this morning; witnessed a most unusual and pathetic scene. They saw two brothers, handcuffed together, stand before Justics (Continued on Page 5) With a detonation that rocked the business part of the city the boiler of the ferry, Omar D. Conger exploded Sunday afternoon at 2:20 p. hurtling through the air for a distance of 300 feet left death and disaster in its wake. Four men dead, several people maimed and injured and property damage estimated at $88,200 is the toll of the tragedy.

The shattered hulk of the steamer "Conger now lies on the bottom of Black river, and entombed in the wreckage is believed to be the bodies of Ransome A. Campbell, engineer, and Clifford D. Althouse, fireman, of the ill-fated craft. At Falk's undertaking rooms is the broken and flame K. Crandall.

deckhand, and at Kar- rer's morgue is the body of Thomas Buckner, fourth member of'the crew to die in the blast. The ferry Omar D. Conger was to have started on its first trip for the day Sunday at 3 p. m. Aboard the boat were Campbell, Althouse, Buckner and Crandall.

Capt. William P. Major, who was to take .5 -j L-Jr 1 a- if fr I s- "N-x i i C'-: 4 I 1 V- i Muw.T -tri Lf iJ Tiflfr Ititii? fnrn fir "TTtT 4r THE PROPERTY LOSS THE BEAD Ransoine A. CampbeS, 60, married, 160S Howard street, chiet engineer, body buried in wreckage. Clifford D.

Althouse, 2 14 Fort street, married, fireman, body buried in wreckage. Thomas Buckner, 1 Fort street, unmarried, deckhand, body found on coal pile, dead when found. Kenneth K. CrandaC. 524 Huron street, unmarried, deckhand, body found on pile, died on way to hospital.

Port Huron Sarnia Ferry Co. Omar D. "Conger (uninsured) Damage to ferry dock and offices 1,000 Windows in downtown stores, at least 5,000 Detroit Edison poles and wires 2,000 William Casello, house at 305 Fort St. 2,000 Albert A. Falk, damage to chapel 500 Michigan State Telephone poles and 500 William Casello, house at 103 Fort St 500 William Smith, household 500 Port Huron Press building, rear wall caved in 500 Atlantic House, Quay 400 Peg Tire shop, roof and partitions smashed 300 Total Buried in, Twist- command of the boat at that hour was passing Falk's undertaking room when ttjp boiler let go.

The steamer was berthed a few feet west of the ferry landing. According to eye witnesses -vho were standing on the ferry flock and to passengers on the ferry City of Cheboygan, which was coming-up Black river, there was a detonation as though a ton of dynamite had let go. A shower of debris' started heavenward, and the 25-ton boiler was lifted from Its bed and hurlting through the air fell on the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, Quay street, directly opposite t'-e ferry house.

The Smith home was crushed as though, it were but an eggshell, and.thw wreckage caught fire from ths; molten mass of twisted tubes, braces and shattered shell. Stuns Men Blocks Away Pedestrians within a radius of several blocks the disaste- were stunned. Many of them fell to their knees from the shock. Th air was filled with flying devris. Pieces of timber and metaL life rafts and other equipment from the steamer Conger lell on th roofs of buildings or in the open streets, imperiling the lives of many people.

Some of the flying missiles found their mark swelling the list of injured in the tragedy. Within a few minutes after the explosion hundreds of people swarmed into Quay street to get first hand glimpse of the damage that had been wrought. Their lives were in danger from live wires (Continued on Page Seven) EXPLAINS QUEER HOW BREAKS Science Instructor Tells Why Blast Played Odd Tricks Charles Southern, instructor In physics and chemistry in Port Huron high school, talked today from his bed in Port Huron hospital where he is sick with tonsilitis on the scientific explanation of the freak actions of the blast yesterday, which broke windows blocks away and left many nearby Mostly New Windows Mr. Southern said that construction, hape and setting would all be factors, as well as the solidity of the building's foundations. It was pointed out that most of the windows broken were new ones, more or less recently set, and Mr.

Southern said that a window takes time to settle into place and adjust itself to its framework, and that before this is accomplished. It Is much more likely to break. Air Currents Important Atmospheric conditions would also have a decided effect, Mr. Southern declared. Air currents-would carry the concussions much better in one direction than ia others.

The actual explosion would out force in all directions llr. Southern said, but these waves of sound would follow the line of least resistance. Rebounded From Water Passing over the water of Black river would also be a factor in calculating the effect of the blast, he stated. Not only the sound waves but parts of the wrecked boat undoubtedly rebounded from the surface of the river. Mr.

Southern said. Probably Dry Boiler The probable explanation of the explosion itself is a dry boiler, he believes, into which cold water was poured. Inspector Hull In Quiet Inquiry Earl B. Hull, federal inspector of boi'ers, refused to make any statement toJav but merely stated that he was "investigating." "We our deas at this time but we don't want them made public," Mr. Hull said.

The local inspectors, Hull tnd McCallum are being assisted by Fred J. Meno, supervising Inspector, Detroit, in determining the cause of the explosion. THE INJURED Mrs. Granville Goddajrd, 1661 Water street, collar bone broken, ribs broken, struck by flying splinters in Falk funeral chapel. Mrs.

V. Price Cargon. 27, of 1616 Griswold street, eye cut by flying glass in Falk chapel. May lose sight "of eve. Mrs.

Madalinc P. Hbuser, 3547 Gratiot avenue. Nose broken in Falk chapel. Mr. and Mrs.

Harold Biddiecomb, Sarnia, cut about head by flying glass. Stanley McGowan, 32, 1914 Stone street, skull fractured, hit by flying timber while walking on Water street. Dr. Frank' D. Carmoney.

1007 Erie street, knocked down by fragment, cutsi and injured back. URINE EXPERTS CALLED AS JURY TO PROBE BLAST Testimony April Low Water In Boiler Cause, Is Public Belief The jury impaneled by Coroner A. Falk at 10 m. today to investigate the cause of the disaster resulting from the explosion of the boiler of the ferry OmarD. Conger and to place the responsibility if any.

is composed of marine men and others who are familiar with marine boilers and machinery. The personnel of the jury is as follows: James H. Fitzgerald, owner and manager of the Dry Dock Iron Works. Willard A. Moudy, 1432 eventh street, former marine engineer.

Hugh Bonner, plumber, 718 Min" ne street. K. G. Harris, marine engineer, 1420 Washington avenue. Ij.

FJ. Moore, former marine engineer, now superintendent of the water works plant. The members of the jury today inspected the wreck of the boiler Low Water Not Cause, Belief A committee of marine engineers from Port Huron, consisting of I. Li- Bingham, T. W.

Ba-berdee and A. M. Bartow, in commenting on the explosion of the Conger's boiler, had the the following to say in an interview with The Times-Herald. "Having heard numerous comments on th water being the cause of the Conger disaster, we wish to say in justice our deceased brother, R. A.

Campbell, engineer of the ferry, that it is practically impossible for a marine boiler to explode Irom low water. The government requires each marine boiler to be fitted with a fusible plug, which in case of low water will melt and allow the steam and water from the boiler to blow directly into the fire and deaden it. This boiler was inspected recently and a fusibj3 plug being an important part certainly must have been in good condition. We have examined the boiler and fird no evidence of low water and do not want such a reflection cast upon our departed brother." as it lay amid the ruins of the Smith home on Quay street, and also the wreckage of the ferry Conger. It was decided to adjourn the first hearing of the in-(Continued on Page Eighty Spike Wonders At Close Escape Ralph W.

Spike of the Spike Furniture store Grand River we-mie, marvels that the windows of his building escaped. He says: "We were just eating dinner when the boiler let go. Our whole building shook. In an instant the air was filled with flying debris. "It seems funny we have had much trouble with out plate glass windows and several times they have been blown by high wind.

but they withstood yesterday's shock." i 125-Pound Valve Crashes Into Store Crashing through the roof of the Higer store, Huron avenue, a 125-pound valve from the boiler of the ill-fated Omar D. Conger, fell into the ladies department and rested on a counter, following Sunday's terrific explosion. The valve is on exhibition in a front window of the store. Beantifcl hieh srmiJe eelert (Materials are mied only In our CIL-NELli PIANOS. 3-28 II reus in ffi'S CHAPEL 11 PANIC Preacher Comments On Life's Uncertainty As Shock Came Just S.

Trediimick as commenting" on the uncertain- ty of lif at the funeral services i for the late Henry T. Biddiecomb, which were in progress at Talk's i chapel ifunaay afternoon, there as a crash and through the rear windows of the undertaking establishment came hurtling a 200-pound radintor. It was an echo of the blast which shattered the ferry Omar D. Conger and sent four men to their death. Over 20 people were seated in Folk's chapel at the moment of the crash.

They were friends and relatives of the late Mr. Eiddie-c-jirtb. The living; were paying-their last tribute io the dead. In the casket reposed the remains of the man for whom they mourned, in a twirklir.s the scene of sadness was changed to one of tragedy and panic Women Shriek, Faint Women shrieked and some fainted. There was a stampede fur the Military street exit of the HUuin-.

In a moment the mourn-rs at the funeral -were in a jam. some trying to go one way and sense another. Georse C. Chambers, former chief of police, and several Elks In attendance at the service? took in the situation in a Stance and began to shove the excited people into their chairs, at the time calling upon every-(ft i remain cool and keep their seats. A storm of broken glass fell on the funeral party.

The heavy radiator wh. had been sent hurt-1 thitjJth tlie air from the force of the explosion on the steamer t'on-fr had carried away the sash ork. glass and framework of two larr ear windows of the fa lk Continued on Page Eight) Hearing On ScuHy Sanity Held Today The hearing to determine the sanity of Anthony Scully. who killed his father Cornelius Scully February and wounded his sister, was being held this afternoon before Judse Harvey Tappan. He has been examined by Ir.

Theodore Heaver rich and Pr. B. James and thev were to make their report. Dr. W.

j. Roblr.son. superintendent of the hospital for the insane at Londo. Ontario, where ScnUy T5-as at orla time confined, was to testify. Henry Paird, prosecuting attorney said he would Produce six other witnesses to testify as to Scully's sanity.

L. Jenks represents Scully. Ferry Clock Stops At Explosion Hour A clock a wooden case which aboard th steamer Omar D. Conger was picked up floating flown stream in St. Clair river Sun-afternoon by a youth whose name was not learned.

The hands of thee lock showed that the mechanism had stopped at 2:22 p. m. hich Is the hour and the minute when the boiler of the steamer ex-Plodea. e-ort is being made to locate the young man who was 'it In a rowboat picking up life Preservers and other articles of ''luipment from the steamer. of the explosion.

Peat Ten 3-31 Tfc Pytilan Sl-tera 111 sTe a "nriae party ln K. p. hall, lur. nmlne, March 3-27 WEATHER steamer Omar JD. Conger as shej anp--? civ, fl-iity terps b-iF I'ort Snrnia.

of the boat was taken while it was steaming; across the St. Clair river. left hnd corner View of the shattered boiler of the steamer Omar D. Conger after it has crushed, the home of William Smith corner of Quay and. Fort streets, and buried itself in the debris.

Lower ri'ht hand corner. View of the wreckage of the steamer Omar P. Conger following the Mat which pert it to the bottom a shattered hulk. Ln-sver left hand corner View of shattered elootric li.uht polo which will pive the reader an idea of the mass nf wires nnd poles which cluttered Quay street. PLATE GLASS I oiie Fragments Litter Business I District After Tragedy Damage to plate glass caused by Sunday's explosion Is estimated at $5,000 by A.

J. Smith Sons, contractors, who have taken contracts for replacing most of the glass. Flat glass windows in more than 25 places of business along Military street, Huron avenue, Water street and Quay street were broken either from flying pieces of Iron or from the tense concus- sion. The concussion waves played queer pranks. Judging from one side of a street to the other and back ayain.

The workings of the waves were more freakish than lightening. The Knox Dry Goods Military and Water streets, suffered the heaviest loss from broken piate glass. It Is estimated at $900, with two large lights in the front broken, one on the second floor and three transom lights. Other concerns, which sustained plate glass losses are: J. A Davidson Furniture store.

Military St. two front light broken damage $S00. Brennan's Furniture store, Huron avenue two light broken-damage $500. Patterson's Jewelry store. light broken damage $150.

MacTaggart's bookstore one light broken, $lu0. Bszlev's market. Military street ore light damn. ere $200. H.

A. Smith grocery. Military street two lights damage $150. United Cigar store, near Military street bridge one light-damage, $150. Charles A.

Sturmer. hardware store two lights damage $250. Snover Electric Quay street damnge to trlasa, $300. IC. II.

Hubbard, jeweler, Water street damage to glass. $200. Kichhorn Hogan. Water street pla-ss damage. $150.

Boyce Hardware store. Military street glass damage, Windows in the F.odney tea room, 411 Quay street, were broken by the force of the the business district hundreds of small lights of glass crashed with the terrific force of the concussion. No windows were broken in the Federal Commercial Savings bank, although it is close to the scene of the accident. Bill PREPARES TO FII BODIES happened in connection with the water in the Conger's boiler before the blast remains for the coroner's jury to determine. The steamer Conger was named after the late Omar D.

Conger, who for many years was congressman from the seventh congressional district and later became United States senator from Michigan. Two Boys Reported Missing Are Found During- the excitement following the blast aboard the Conger rumors missing people spread like wildfire. zOne report that Earl Bond, son of Capt. Fred Bond, had been blown into the river from the ferry dock and had been drowned. Young Bond was located at his home some time after the disaster.

Another report which gained wide circulation was to the effect that a newsboy was aboard the Conger at the time of the blast. This report was punctured by the announcement that but four members of the crew were on the Conger when the boiler let go. A careful check-up on the reports of missing men and boys confined the death list to i the four members of the crew. Fireman Felt Death Coming "Something is going to happen to me; I know it," Charles Alt-house, fireman on the Omar D. Conger, whose body has not yet been recovered, told his wife Saturday.

Mrs. Althouse said that her husband has been depressed of late; that he has freauentlv said that he believed he would quit. 'If anything happens," he told her, "I wouldn't have a chance in the world. I'd be blown to atoms." When her husband left the house Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Alt-house said that he came back to say good-bye for the second time.

"He never did that before," she said. Mr. Althouse was not jet 39 years old. He had been in the employ of the McMorran Company for nearly 20 years. Xot ho niany- hnt how eood.

GRIWELL BROS, build a auperior piano. 3-ZS RER RESTS BR 1ST 1 History of Tragedy Craft Told By Mariners It is a strange co-incidence that the steamer Omar D. Conger should today rest on the bottom of Black river, a torn and twisted hulk within about 150 feet of the spot where in 1S82 she slid gracefully from the ways into the waters of Black river, one of "the trimmest crafts afloat. Old time marine men today recalled the days when the Omar D. Congor was constructed at the Muir shipyard, then located on the north bank of Black river about 150 feet east of the present ferry landing.

The steamer was constructed for the late D. E. Runnels and the late Capt. James Moffet, who were then engaged in operating ferry boats between Port Huron and Sarnia. Robert Cameron, 3517 Conger street, for a number of years engineer on the steamer Conger, this morning related to a Times-Herald, reporter some of the details in connection with tho history of the boat.

Mr. Cameron selected the timber from which the boat was constructed. In the spring of 1882 she slid from the ways of the Muir shipyard into the water of Black river. The boat was honestly constructed, and none but the best of materials went into the hull and cabin work. The dimensions of the Conger, which was of wooden construction are as follows: keel length, 92 feet; beam, 26 feet; depth, 11 feet; gross tonnage, 199 tons.

At the time the boat was built the Muir shipyard was located about 150 feet east of the spot of. where the Conger now lies on the river bottom. Sheriff H. W. Malnes was the first engineer of the Conger.

Robt. Cameron was also engineer of the craft for several years. He was succeeded by Ransome A. Campbell, whose body is now believed to be in the wreckage of the boat. The boiler of the Conger was usually filled with hot water by opening a valve, or with cold water by operating a pump.

Just what ME Lower Michigan: P.ain ln soutn and rain or snow ln north portion tonight and Tuesday; not much chance In temperature; fresh northeast winds. Weather Koreeaurt For Fort Huron and vicinity: nain tonight and Tuesday: not muca change in temperature; fresh, north-vast winds. Weather Condition Rain was falling this morning from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois eastward across the southern portion of Michigan and on into New York and Pennsylvania. There Is a region of high barometer over the Canadian Northwest with below zero temperatures, while there Is a low of considerable Intensity over Colorado with an extension running- east Into the Ohio Valley Kain is expected to continue tonight ami Tuesday without much change in temperature. Kelntlve Hnmldlty Yesterday Today 12:30 pm 8pm 8 a Dry 40.0 33.6 35.

(1 Woe 35.9 31.3 34.2 Rel. Hum 67 pet TSpct 93 pet Tern pe rat are Snnrlse. sunset. 6.50. Moon will set at 6:13 SUNDAY MONDAY 1 p.

2 p. 3 p. 4 p. m. 5 p.

6 p. m. 7 p. p. p.

1" p. 11 p. Midnleht. ...39 ...33 ...37 ...35 ...34 ...34 ...34 ...34 1 a 2 a. m.

3 a. m. .33 .33 ..33 4 m. ,5 a 6 a. 7 a.

8 a. a. 10 a. .34 .34 .31 .35 11 a. 34 Noon 3T Highest 39: lowest.

33 Precipitation from noon to noon was .05 of an Inch. On year nsro today the b'ehest. was 63 and the lowest was 3S. R. C.

WEST. CRIWELli BTII.T riAXOS Are Better 3-28 VViliiim Thompson Searches River Bed Today William Thompson, the yo'ungesf submarine diver along the chain of great lakes will this nfrnoon attempt to explore the hold of the sunken steamer Omar 1). Conner in search of the bodies of Karnsome A. Campbell, engineer, and Clifford D. Althouse.

firemen, which are- believed to be in the wreck. Considerable debris has to be cleared away before the diver get into the hold, and it may be late this afternoon before Thomp-soa ons his diving suit. The crew of the barge Atmosphere, which is moored alongside of the wreck, has been at work since early morning- loading the mass of timbers and debris onto the barge with the aid of a powerful crane. The cabin deck of the steamer lies on the marn deck, the supports have been torn away. It will be necessary to move the main deck before the diver oan get Into the hold of the boat.

The hurricane deck fcf the steamer was practically blown off by the blast. Hundreds of people have stood in the rain for hours watching the workers clear away the debris. Somewhere in the wreehage under the cabin deck or in the hold of the steamer is believed to be the bodies of Campbell and Alt-house. LIFETIME The Grinnrll Piano eWdure 3-2S TORIES TU1 IN TO VRECK PICTURES: AM FOR.