KENNETH F. DOREY

ABANDON HOPE THAT CLIFTON STILL AFLOAT
Lake Tragedy Claimed Three Known Here Is Now Feared
CLEVELAND, Sept. 26--A hydroplane, tug and beach patrols were added today to
the agencies being employed to find some trace of the whale-back freighter
Clifton, now definitely believed to have foundered with her crew of 28 officers
and men in the gale which swept Lake Huron Sunday night.
“We have abandoned virtually all hope for the safety of the Clifton and her
Crew,” E.R, Schneider, general manager of the Progress Steamship company,
Cleveland owners, said.
Schneider added, however, that officials of his company as well as marine men
were unable to understand why, if the Clifton did founder, no wreckage or other
evidences of the tragedy had been tossed up on the shores or had not floated to
the surface of the lake. In an effort to find some traces of the Clifton, the
owners were arranging through the Glenn L. Martin company here to dispatch a
hydroplane from Detroit to fly over Lake Huron and its shore lines.
Three From Here Aboard.
In addition to Chief Engineer W. J. Oertling, former Manitowoc man, two others
well known in this city, one a local boy, were aboard the ill-fated vessel and
may have lost their lives. Kenneth Dorey, a son of Thomas Dorsey and brother of
James Dorey, was second engineer on the Clifton and George Maples of Sturgeon
Bay, employed as an oiler aboard the boat, is a brother of Mrs. Aaron Peterson.
Dorey, who was 22 years of age and unmarried, had been on the Clifton this season
and sailed aboard the boat from Sturgeon Bay with the other 27 members of the
crew. Relatives here have received no word from the owners of the boat, although
dispatches have been sent to Cleveland asking for definite information. Mrs.
Peterson has also communicated with Cleveland in an effort to confirm reports
that her brother Mr. Maples, was aboard the boat.
W. J. Oertling, former local man was chief engineer of the vessel.
Boat Given O.K.
A dispatch from Sturgeon Bay says that the boat was inspected two weeks ago and
pronounced in first class condition. The wife of the steward, Sam Stevenson, and
her infant son, and the father of Capt. Gallagher were aboard the boat according
to offices of the Smith Steamship Co., part owners of the Clifton.
Manitowoc Herald News, September 26, 1924 P.1
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SIGHT WRECKAGE OF LOST CLIFTON
BELIEVE CREW OF 28 WENT DOWN WITH STEAMER
First Reports Which Seem to Confirm Loss Today
CLEVELAND, Sept. 27—Painted sticks of wood possibly part of the railing or wheel
house of the whale back freighter Clifton missing since last Sunday were sighted
last night twenty-four miles east of Point Au-Barques, Lake Huron, A.E.R. Schneider,
general manager of the Progress Steamship Co. Cleveland owners of the vessel, said
today. The sticks of wood, painted white, were seen by Captain Frank Perew of the
Steamer Peter White, another of the Progress fleet, but his message to headquarters
today said the seas were so rough that he was unable to recover the wood for closer
examination to determine if it was part of the Clifton…
No word Received Here
Cleveland dispatches today stating that wreckage of the Clifton had been sighted
shattered hope of relatives of Kenneth Dorey, Manitowoc boy who was a member of the
crew that the vessel might have escaped. Mrs. A. Peterson, whose brother, George
Maples of Sturgeon Bay, was also a member of the crew was another to whom the
dispatch brought death of hope which she has entertained that her brother lives.
No word has been received by the Dorey family or Mrs. Peterson in response to messages
to owners of the Clifton at Cleveland yesterday and it is presumed that they are
waiting definite information of the fate of the vessel before replying.
Manitowoc Herald News, September 27, 1924 P.1
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LOSS OF THE CLIFTON CONFIRMED
WRECKAGE ON LAKE TELLS OF FATE OF BOAT
Part of Pilot House And Hatches Missing Vessel Found
With the finding of hatch covers and the forward end of the pilot house of the
steamer Clifton on Lake Huron Sunday, loss of the boat in the storm over the lakes
last Sunday is established beyond question. Cleveland, O., dispatches today report
the finding of the wreckage of the Clifton by the steamer Glencarin of the Great
Lakes Transportation company. No bodes have been recovered.
Publication of the dispatches from Cleveland forces abandonment of hope by relatives
here that Kenneth Dorey and W. J. Oertling, of this city, members of the crew of the
boat, are alive as a week has passed with no word of the locating of members of the
crew, if any escaped. George Maples of Sturgeon Bay also lost on the Clifton, is a
brother of Mrs. Peterson, wife of Patrolman Aaron Peterson, of the police department.
Report of Finding Wreckage.
Report of Capt. Hudson of the Glencarin relative to finding of wreckage of the Clifton
was made at Cleveland yesterday and says:
Encountered wreckage at 4 p.m. on Saturday about seventy miles from Goderich on the
detour Goderich course. The wreckage consists of broken hatch covers. In hopes of
finding something that could be identified as belonging to some particular vessel
we cruised around about two hours. Finally picked up forward end of a pilot house.
The pilot house clock and searchlight were attached.
The clock registered 4 o’clock Capt. Hudson told Mr. Schneider over the long distance
telephone from Goderich, Ontario but whether the boat sank Sunday afternoon or Monday
morning is not known. She was last seen passing Mackinaw at 10:20 a.m. Sunday morning
enroute from Sturgeon Bay to Detroit laden with stone.
Search for Bodies
Richard A. Harrison, traveling commissioner for the Lake Carrier’s association, who
will have charge of the work of searching for the bodies of the twenty-eight victims
left for Goderich late Sunday. He is due to arrive today. In the belief that the
bodies will be carried to the Canadian shore, a thorough search will be made there…
Manitowoc Herald News, September 29, 1924 P.1
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HURON KEEPS VICTIMS OF THE CLIFTON
Lake Fails to Yield Up Bodies of the Men Lost on the Vessels
Solemn Requiem Mass Is Read at Sturgeon Bay for Victims—
Lakes Patrolled and Shores Watched for the Bodies.
Bodies of the Clifton disaster, one of the worst on the Great Lakes this year, have
yet to be recovered and it is possible they may drift to American or Canadian shores.
In the meantime families of Walter Oertling, George Maples, Jr., and Kenneth Dorey
are anxiously awaiting news of their discovery. There appears to be little hope that
any of the bodies will be recovered, although diligent search is being instituted by
lake boats while the shores are being patrolled.
Requiem high mass was sung for members of the sunken ship and crew at St. Joseph’s
Catholic church at Sturgeon Bay on Tuesday. Mourners of other members of the crew not
of Catholic affiliation were at the services which constituted a memorial for all who
lost their lives on the ill-fated Clifton.
The complete list of the 30 victims as secured from the Progress Steamship company is
as follows…Kenneth Dorey, handyman, Manitowoc, Wis…
Manitowoc Herald News, October 7, 1924 P.8