Religion: indeterminate
Name: unnamed ship investigators
Classification:
supporting characters
group
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Action Comics (vol. 1) #17 (Oct. 1939): "The Return of the Ultra-Humanite"
Creators: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
Number of Appearances: 1
Type of Organization/Group: investigator
Gender: male
Note: investigated burning of steamship Clarion
The steamship Clarion caught fire under mysterious circumstances. The fire nearly caused it to sink and be lost at sea. Fortunately Superman rescued the ship and all of its passengers by putting the fire out and pushing the ailing ship to shore.
Investigators came to the Clarion, which had settled upon its side on the beach. The men, apparently from a government agency, or perhaps representing the ship line, investigated the cause of the tragedy. The investigators were led by a man who had a moustache and wore a brown checkered suit and a green fedora. Another investigator was clean-shaven, wore a green suit coat and a white fedora. No other investigators were ever seen. Perhaps only two came to the ship. Clark Kent asked the chief investigator if he could accompany him on board. The men allowed the reporter to do so.
On board the ship, Clark Kent and the investigators found that the cause of the fire was arson. There were large quantities of inflammables and broken gasoline cans in the hold which was the source of the fire. The investigators were certain that it was sabotage. As the chief investigator said, "The vessel was deliberately set afire!"
Upon hearing this, Clark Kent excused himself. he wanted to investigate further to find out who would have done such a thing.
The ship investigators appeared in panels 2 through 5 on page 7 of the Superman story in Action Comics #17 (oct. 1939). They were entirely professional. Nothing can be ascertained about their backgrounds, personal beliefs, religious affiliation, etc.
Action Comics (vol. 1) #17 (Oct. 1939): "The Return of the Ultra-Humanite" (4-panel cameo)
Suggested links for further research about this character:
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=60127
- https://www.comics.org/issue/526/