Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-07-14
STRUCK BY A CYCLONE.
An Excursion Steamer Filled With
People Capsized.

! to j O'Clock this morning nine bodies
have been recovered from the wreck
and the search continues.
Captain Lasch, Of the boat, gives
the story of the accident. He brought
a party Of about 40 up from Pekin to
see the Last Days of Pompeii" AT.
ter the exhibition they pulled out.
aud when in the middle Of the river
the storm struck them in all its fury,
with scarcely sigu of warning. He
attempted to head the steamer tO.
ward shore, and as he did 50 ter
rfic gust of wind struck the craft
and keeled it over in 10 feet of water.
The scene that followed beggars de-
scriptiOn. Men and women were
thrown into the water, but larger
part of them managed to reach the
upper guard and cling there until
help reached them. Their cries OF
distress were heard from shore, and
in spite of the heavy wind number
Of shiffs went to their assistance, and
gradually they were brought to
shore. Uutil the list of missing
comes to Pekln, the exact number Of
deaths cannot be told. The persons
drowned were nearly all in the cabin
when the boat turned over. There
was no escape for them and every
one perished. The survi, ors all tell
the most thrilling tales of the disas-
ter, and there were many narrow es-
capes. Men and women were pullt d
to the boat half drowned, and it is
feared some of them will die from
excitement and exposure.
Sam Sutton, circuit clerk of Taze-
well county, was in the second boat
off from the wreck. He saved his
wife by diving down into the
cabin of the sunken boat. He
brought her up in senseless condi-
ion, but it is thought she will live.
He said the accident WAS caused by
the pilot becoming scared when tue
storm struck them. Had he kep
his boat headed for the willows o.
the opposite bank there would have
been no danger of capsizing. When
the storm struck the boat there was
the widest scene imaginable. Men
and women huddled to the side
from the shore, and when the boat
careened over many were swept off.
The vessel settled rapidly to tue
bottom of the river, and every gust
of the tornado would sweep some
poor unfortunate off into the wave.
The wind was blowing directly eft
shore, but the screams of the women
and hOarse shouts of the men could
he heard above the fury of the ter
riole storm. Sutton says he is sure
the following are drowned, for he
saw their lifeless bodies floating in
the water of the cabin: Misses FAN
ny and Anna Poebel, William Rip.
berger, Mrs. William Wiles, JOHN
Adrends, Miss Mary Flath, Mrs.
Fred Fisher, Miss Cora Fisher, Mrs.
Disdecker, Mrs. BeeLe, aud two girls
unknown. Those on the boat who
have beeu brought to shore are sure
there are over IS persons drowned.
So far there have been five bodies
rescued.
Alderman Goioon, of Perkin, losl
his little son, and is laving crazy.
He had to be removed from where
the work of rescuing was going on
by the police. AS soon as the news
of the wreck reached the police sta
ton, every man on the force was |
ordered to the scene. Mayor War.
ner ordered all the hacks in the |
'ity TO the scene, and as the people
are brought TO the shore they are
Iaken TO the city hall, where they
ire made comfortable. The scene
It the river bank is pitful in the ex-
,reme. Friends of those on the
boat stand out in the storm await
ny the return of the rescuing par
les.
When the storm broke, the lake
md river We're filed with every de-
cription ca Loats. Over 200 pleas
're-boats We're at the yard, and 50
ar only 96 of them are accounted
or. Several small boats were seen
down the river, and there
but little doubt that their occu-
'ants found grave in the angry
water.