The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-14

ProRiA, Ill, July 1S.-Peo:la lake
was last evening the scene Of horrible
catastrophe. A cyclone struck 1t about
1890 p. m. and capsized the frankie
Folsom, an excursion steamer, with a
party from Pekin. There were about
forty persons on board. All but
eighteen of them have been accounted
for and it is believed that these are
dead, It's known positively that fully
a dozen persisted.
Up to 2 o'clock this morning news
has been received from the wreck OF
the frankie Folsom, and the search
still continues. The list of casualties
so far is Mrs. Frank Fisher and daughs
ter Cora, Mrs. Henry Duisdicker, John
Ahrends, Miss Cory, Mrs. VIM. Wiley,
Maud Ford and two unidentified bodies,
one woman and the other man. 1t
is believed that there are at least six
more in the water, but it will likely be
daylight before this can be learned;
The river bank presents an animated
appearance. Grief stricken citizens OF
Pekin are there in quest OF missing
relatives and many Of them are nearly
frantic, Captain Loesch, master OF the
boat, gave story of the accident He
brought a part OF about forty from
Pekin to see PAINS Last Days of Pom.
peii. After the exhibition they pulled
out and when in the middle OF the river
the storm struck them with scarcely a
sign Of warning.
He attempted to head the steamer to-
ward the shore and as he did so ter
rifle gust OF wind struck the craft and
keeled It over in nineteen feet OF water.
The scene which followed beggars de-
scription. Men and women were
thrown into the water, but the larger
part OF them managed to reach the up
per guard and cling there until help
reached them. Their cries Of distress
were heard on shore and in spite OF the
heavy wind number Of skiffs went to
their assistance and gradually they
were brought to shore. Quickly they
were taken to residences where dry
clothes were secured, and in this way
it was impossible to get any Of their
names. Until list of the missing comes
from Pekin the exact number OF deaths
cannot be told. The persons drowned
were nearly all in the cabin when the
boat tipped over and there was no es-
cape for them. Every one perished.
A window was smashed in and one
woman pulled out. She was breathing,
but died in few seconds.
THRILLING TALES.
The survivors all tell the most thrill
ling tales OF the disaster and there were
many narrow escapes. Men and women
were bulled into boats half drowned and
it is feared some Of them will die from
excitement and exposure. Sam Sutton,
circuit clerk OF Tazewell county, was in
the second boat off from the wreck. he
brought her up in sensele=s condition
but it is thought she will live. He says
the accident was caused by the pilot be-
coming frightened when the storm
struck them. Had he kept the boat
headed for the pillows on the opposite
bank there would have been no damage.
Mr.. Sutton SAYS he is sure the following
are drowned for he saw their liteless
bodies floating in the water OF the cabin;
Misses Fanny and Ann Poeble, VIM.
Ripberger, Mrs. William Wiles, John
Ahrends, Miss Mary Fiath, Mrs. Fred
Fisher, Miss Cora Fisher, Mrs. Outside
ker and two girls unknown. Mrs. Bee
be. Those on the boat who have been
brought to shore are sure that there
were at least eighteen persons drowned.
So far there have been five bodies re-
covered.
When the storm broke the lake and
river were filed with every description
of boats There are over 200 pleasure
boats ut the yards and so far 9S Of them
have been accounted for. John Hard,
q salesman, was caught about a hundred
yards from shore and had great diff
Guilty in getting ashore. 1t ~ feared
that several OF the persons out in small
boats have been lost
There are now eight bodies at the
morgue, taken of the steamer Folsom.
Five OF them are women and only three
of them have been identified. They are
those who were caught near the escap-
ing steam and their features are cooked
until they are unacceptable.
A LATER REPORT.
Nine persons arc known to be dead
and sixteen persons are yet to be heard
from. Nearly the whole excursion
party on the Folsom was composed Of
the better class of the population OF
Pekin and Delavan.
There were nine smaller pleasure
boats out on tho river at the tive the
storm came up. OF these five turned
up safely this morning. They report
having had fearful! time among the
willows that line the shore. Business
is practically suspended and all clssses
stand about the streets in little knots to
get the latest stories Of the survivors OF
tho disaster.
The scenes witnessed at the morgue