Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-07-20
WENT DOWN TN A GALE.
Pleasure Steamer Sunk at Peoria, H.
Twenty-Five Lives Lost.

Twenty-Five Lives Lost.
PEORIA, ILL.,, July 13.-The pleasure
steamer frankie Folsom was sunk at
this point last night during a tornado,
and twenty-five lives were lost. Never
since the Chatsworth holocaust of four
years ago has there been such excite
ment in Peoria and Pekin as vas wit
messed o-day over the disastrous results
of last nights cyclone. Half of
Pekin's people are now in Peoria and
half Of Peoria's people line the river
banks. The wrecked pleasure steamer
is IN plain sight, not very far from
shore. Nine persons are known
to be dead and sixteen persons
are yet to be heard from.
The steamer brought party of about
forty up from Pekin to see PAINS Last
Days of Pompeii." After the exhibit
ton they pulled out, and when in the
middle of the river the storm struck
them IN all It's fury, with scarcely q sign
of warning. The captain attempted to
head the steamer toward the shore, and
as he did so q terrific gust Of
wind struck the craft and keeled it
over IN nineteen feet of water.
The scene which followed was terrible.
Men and women were thrown into the
water, but the larger part Of them man
aged to reach the upper guard and cling
there until help reached them. Their
cries of distress were heard from the
shore, sed in spite of the heavy wind
number of skiffs went to their assist
ance, and gradually they were brought
to shore. Quickly they were taken to
81 al 1Nc
secured, and owing to this 1t was lmpos-
sible to get any of their names.
The exact number of deaths cannot
be told. The persons drowned were
nearly all IN the cabin. When the boat
tipped over there was almost no escape
for them. A window was smashed IN
and one woman pulled out. She was
breathing, but died in a few seconds.
Men and women were pulled out halt
drowned. and il is feared some of them
will die from excitement and exposure.
When the storm struck the lake and
river the water was covered with small
rowboats loaded with merry makers.
The fury of the gale dashed the water
into foam, and the frail shells bobbe0
up and down in the heavy sea like
corks. Most of the boatmen were
inexperienced, and as soon as
the gale burst upon them they
lost control of the boats, which
were driven along before the wind.
Many of the boats filed with water and
were swamped, their occupants having
to take to the water and swim for the
shore. Some of the boats were over
turned. The women and children were
the greatest sufferers. People on the
shore rescued many of these from
watery graves. 1t is believed that not
a few have persisted.
When the cyclone had passed, the
people, seeming to realize that help
would be needed at the lake, rushed to
the shore. The banks were soon lined
with men, women and children. They
stood watching the efforts of those on
the water to reach land, but utterly I'M
able to do thing to assist
save raise their voices in en-
couraging cries. All the small boats
were in use before the storm
came, and not one could be had to 90
TO the rescue of those who were float
ing helpless about in the water. Some
lines were secured and some Of those
who had managed to swim or had foated
towards shore were helped in this way,
but lack Of experience in casting lines
made this even of little avail
Among those on the bank were
the relatives and friends OF
many who were battling for
life in the water. Their agony was in
tense. Now and then al inverted small
boat would float ashore. These were
fight for possession. Springing into the
little craft, they would push off to save
their dear ones, only to find that they
we're helpless in the sea, or when
the b oats capsized the oars were lost,
and they could not be guided by the
willing would-be rescuers.
Just befare the storm kstruck the YES
sci, the approaching danger caused con-
siderable alarm among the passengers.
They crowded the decks and anXiously
awaited the coming of the cyclone. AS
the boat careened they were thrown to-
gether, many striking the water before
the boat was fully capsized. As the VOL
ume of water rushed into the cabins,
frantic efforts were made to escape.
One man clambered through WinvOw
only to land in the lake outside. Fur
niture was shifted about, and number
injured so that they were unable to
make any efforts at escape.
The storm abated somewhat as the
morning come on. and the rescuing
parties were able TO get to the over
turned hull. Graphing irons were
brought and the bodies Of those in the
cabin was taken out rs rapidly as it was
possible for the men gathered about the
craft to work. Of the first eight bodies
recovered five were those of wom-
en-. All had fed to the high side ofthe
craft as it careened and their faces were
badly burned. The flesh fell from their
faces and the features are undstinguist.
able The small boats, as they made
the trips from the wreck to the shore
CARRYING the bodies of those recovered
were met by anxious inquiries and the
bearers were hardly able to push
below lights were rugged and anxious
watchers stationed 10 grapple for any
bodies seen floating down the river.