Still Missing: Rethinking the D.B. Cooper Case and Other Mysterious Unsolved Disappearances (23 page)

WHEELSMAN JAILED

Joe Collins, wheelsman, who escaped the fate of his shipmates on the
Andaste
by the merest chance, got into trouble with the police when his language to a lady on the street became disorderly following a too glorious celebration of his good fortune which left him a little under the weather.

He was taken to the county jail and arraigned before Justice C E. Burr at 4:30 p.m. Friday. He admitted his guilt and was fined $30.15 or 15 days in jail.

Most of his belongings went down with the ship and his funds are low, so he was forced to spend the night in jail but expects to be released today.

Across the lake, the
Milwaukee Sentinel
published an article which originated in Holland, Michigan, dated September 16 1929. It was exactly one week since the
Andaste
set sail:

OFFICER DENIES LIFEBOATS ON SHIP USELESS

ANDASTE
MYSTERY TO BE UNSOLVED, SAYS INSPECTION CHIEF

Holland, Mich.. Sept. 15.—(A.P.)—Although the wreckage of the freighter
Andaste
washed up on the shore here tells the story of a vessel pounded to pieces in the storm. Why none of its crew of twenty-five escaped in lifeboats probably will never be known.

“The men who could tell the tragedy went down with the ship.” said U.P. Milligan, in charge of the federal steamboat inspection service, who already has begun an investigation.

Mulligan took issue with the statement Saturday of John Van Ingen, United States coast guardsman here, and a former member of the
Andaste
’s crew, that the freighter’s lifeboat gear was so badly rusted as to preclude use in an emergency.

“I was one of those who inspected the
Andaste
April 22 and 23.” Mulligan said. “I don’t believe the davits would have become rusted since.”

That the freighter did not sink without warning was the conclusion drawn from the fact that the body of Ralph Wiley, second engineer, washed ashore yesterday was clad in a life jacket and two life rings.

Hatch covers, letters addressed to members of the crew, an oar bearing the name of the
Andaste
, pieces of the cabin and other bits of wreckage litter the shore from Holland to Saugatuck, a distance of twelve miles. Thousands of tourists came to the lake shore Sunday to pick up relics of the wreck.

Grand Haven Daily Tribune
Sept. 17, 1929

BODIES RECOVERED

(SATURDAY AFTERNOON)

Ralph Wiley, Benton Harbor, South of Holland

Capt. Charles Brown, Grand Haven, First Mate, South of Holland

(TODAY)

J. J. McCadde, Cleveland, Second Mate, south of Grand Haven Piers

Theodor Torgensen, Owen, Wis., 2 ½ miles south Grand Haven

William Jolins, address unknown, 2 ½ miles south Grand Haven

George Watts, address unknown, 3 ½ miles south of here near Sunset Terrace

M. Green, address unknown, two miles south at Kieft Cottage

Fred Nienhouse, Ferrysburg, two miles north of Piers

Two more bodies, unidentified as yet, were found on the lake shore two miles south, about 4:30 p.m.

WRECKAGE OF
ANDASTE
HERE

THE DAILY TRIBUNE CONTAINS DISPLAY OF SALVAGED PIECES OF VESSEL

Andaste
wreckage fills the window of the
Grand Haven Daily Tribune
. It was gathered from the shore of Lake Michigan south of Castle Park, a resort a little below Holland, by Ray Swartz, M. Wierenga and staff members.

Two life preservers, a ring buoy and cork jacket, are most interesting as they bear evidences of having been used. Hair clung to one when it was picked up. Both have been damaged by the battle in the big waves.

The rudder of the life boat bears the name of the lost vessel and is a most interesting exhibit.

A letter to the chief engineer salvaged from a cabinet and some money taken with engineering papers from a metal box in a large cabinet are shown.

A door panel and closet cover from a stateroom, a panel from the clerk’s room, a pilot house step, part of a screen door and a pilot house ornamental piece of wood work, are among the wreckage.

Boards from various parts of the superstructure and cabins complete the display which is attracting much attention.

WIND BRINGS VICTIMS OFF LOCAL SHORE

SIX ARE FOUND HERE TODAY
AFTER TWO TURNED UP IN HOLLAND LATE SATURDAY

WRECKAGE COVERING SHORE

A southwest wind this morning rolled six bodies from the
Andaste
wreck up on the shore around Grand Haven from 3 ½ miles South of the piers to two miles North of them. These made eight bodies in all recovered up to noon today, one late Saturday afternoon and one that evening having been recovered at Holland and Castle Park, six miles South.

Six bodies had been identified at noon. In order of recovery they were: Ralph Wiley, Capt Charles Brown, J. J. McCadde, John Anderson, William Jolins and George Watts. Addresses and other information are tabulated elsewhere on this page.

The coat of Capt. A L. Anderson, identified by a bank book therein, was recovered south of here today.

Wreckage still continues to come ashore, the southwest wind today driving it along this section of the beach. Sunday a large part of the ship’s rail was washed in near the J. F. Johnston cottage at Briar Beach. A pillow in a white case also was washed up.

Today the fish tug
C. J. Bos
brought in a part of the pilot house, which they found about three miles out. A rope was found dangling which the crew said looked as if it might have been tied to a body.

Saturday afternoon at Castle Park, six miles South of Holland, Deputy John Kuipers sighted and brought to shore the body of Ralph Wiley of Benton Harbor.

About 7 p.m. Saturday at the Holland State Park the body of Capt. Charles Brown of Grand Haven the first mate, washed up. It had no life belt on but the Wiley body was held high in the water.

Many small boats searched the lake for bodies and crowds combed the shore which was strewn with wreckage. Today the southwest wind brought the bodies, gradually released as the
Andaste
breaks up, up this way, one being found far north of the piers.

The first body to be found here was J. J. McMcadde, of Cleveland, first mate. It came in 200 feet South of the pier about 9:00 a.m. There was no life preserver on, but the body was in fair condition. The man had been dead some time, said the coroner.

William Jolins, a fireman, and T. Torgensen were found within an hour with life preservers on about three miles south. They were identified by men who have been sailing on the
Andaste
.

George Watts, second cook, 60 years old, was brought in from near SunSet Terrace opposite Agnew. His home has been in the city at the home of Thomas Madigan on Pennoyer Avenue. His face showed a deep welt and some were of the opinion he had held a knot in his mouth.

The body of M. Green, residence unknown, was picked up near the Kieft brothers’ cottage about two miles South.

Fred Nienhouse of Ferrysbuy was found last, two miles north of the pier.

T. Torgensen was at first identified as John Anderson. He is a deck hand and his residence is not known. William Jolins a fireman, leaves no relatives. His last home was in Australia and he is known as “Australian Bill.”

The
Grand Haven Daily Tribune
published the following article on September 17, showing just how personal this tragedy was to the people of West Michigan:

BODY FLOATS TO IT’S HOME

FRED NIENHOUSE IS RECOVERED FROM LAKE MICHIGAN NEAR FERRYSBURG FARM

The body of Fred Nienhouse, recovered from the
Andaste
Monday afternoon within a few hundred feet of the farm belonging to his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Louis Nienhouse, the place of his birth, was taken to the Ringold Funeral Home in Spring Lake and will remain there until Wednesday night, for friends to view it.

Funeral services will be held from the home on U.S. 31, just three miles north of Ferrysburg. Thursday at 2:30 p.m. and Rev. C. Lepaltak will officiate. Burial will be in Spring Lake.

The deceased was born on the farm and would have been 30 years old Oct. 13. He has been sailing for the past year but up to that time was employed with his father on the farm. He attended the rural and Ferrrysburg schools. He is survived by the parents and the following sisters and brothers: Mrs. John Vincent, Grand Rapids: Mrs. Garrit Vander Ploeg, Chicago: Mrs. Fred Dobb, Muskegon. And John, Harry, Sab, Dick and Tracie of Spring Lake and Spring Lake Township.

FUNERAL FOR F. KASPERSON

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON IS SET ASIDE FOR SERVICES FOR MAN LOST ON
ANDASTE

The body of Frank Kasperson, which was recovered from Lake Michigan near Pontaluna Beach Monday night will be taken to the home of a brother, Ernest Kasperson, 205 Clinton street, where it will remain until Wednesday when funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. with burial in Lake Forrest Cemetery.

He was born in Milwaukee in 1897 and spent his boyhood there, going through the public schools. He later went to Chicago where he was employed in the Undertaking establishment of A. Sbarbaro, a municipal judge. He has been sailing for the past three years.

He had been employed as a watch on the
Andaste
for the past two years making his home when in the city with his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. And Mrs. Ernest Kasperson. He was never married.

He is survived by four brothers, Clarence of Ludington, George and Julian of Milwaukee and Ernest of Grand Haven.

FOURTEEN IN BEFORE WIND TURNS TODAY

LAST RECOVERY HERE AT 1 A.M. TODAY; TOO HEAVY FOR BOATS TO GO OUT

LOOK FOR THEM SOUTH NOW

The work of recovering the bodies of the men who went down with the
Andaste
went on far into the night, one being brought to the morgue about 1 a.m. Fourteen bodies have been washed ashore until then since Saturday, when the first one was found near Holland.

It is doubtful whether any more bodies will be washed in near here today as the wind has shifted into the north and a high sea is running.

The Coast Guard are not able to get out and the tugs
Freedom
and
Liberty
, belonging to the Construction Materials Co., are held in on account of weather. It is the opinion of the Coast Guard that the 11 bodies which have not been recovered yet will be washed in farther south.

The body of Capt. Albert L. Anderson was found about 4:30 p.m. two miles south of the pier near the Stickney cottages. Mr. Stickney discovered the body floating out some distance and watched it until it was near enough to shore to recover.

There was no life preserver on it. The head had several gashes, which may have been received from wreckage during the days it floated. There was $479 in bills in a wallet, a flash light, fountain pen, glasses and a few letters. The bills were wet through but were easily salvaged.

The men found between that time and 1 a.m. were Grank Kasperson, from this city, a watch, whose body was found near Pontaluna Beach; George Radcliffe, residence unknown; C. Kibbey, chief engineer, Fennville; T. Godas, fireman, and C. Gould, an oiler. The bodies were picked up with great difficulty, necessitating the use of teams and men who dragged the bodies some distance before they could be placed in the ambulance. The beach, washed away in many places, made it difficult.

The Coast Guard assisted with the surf boat and brought some of the last ones around the pier and to the foot of Washington street.

Five morticians are employed by Coroner Van Zantwick to take care of the bodies which rolled in all Monday in the southwest wind. He worked feverishly to give all coming into the Funeral Home attention and to relieve the anxiety of relatives and friends.

Last night officers had to be called to keep the crowds back, and clear the streets as hundreds flocked there to see the bodies which had been in Lake Michigan since the fateful night a week ago when the
Andaste
made her last trip and went down in one of the worst early fall storms experienced in years.

With the exception of Capt Anderson and the mates, Brown and

13 STILL MISSING

Thirteen other victims of the
Andaste
Disaster still are missing—12 men and a boy, Earl Zietlow, 15, of Grand Haven, who had quit school against the advice of his father to make his first voyage as a sailor.

Frank Barnett and Peter Boet, employee of the Construction Materials company here, lessees of the
Andaste
, identified bodies as they were recovered today.

Roy A, Brinkman, superintendent of the company, in a message from the Chicago office today declared his company would provide caskets for all dead and assume the expense of shipping bodies to any point in the United States which relatives may desire.