The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-14
PEORIA'S LOST STEAMER.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SAW HER
KEEL OVER.

--
Nine Persons Known TO &c Dead and
Sixteen Persons Yet to Be Heard
From - The Survivors Saved By
Clinging to the Keel of the Upturned
Boat.
PEORIA, ILL, July 1S.-Never since the
Chatsworth holocaust Of four years ago has
there been such excitement in Peoria and
Pekin as was witnessed to-day over the dis=
sstrous results Of last nights cyclone. Half
of the people of Pekin are now in Peoria
and half of Peoria's population line the
river banks The pleasure-wreoked steamer
frankie Folsom is In plain sight not very
far from the shore. Nine persons are
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 the
river at the time the storm came up. OF
these five turned up safely thfs morning.
They report having had a fearful time
among the willows that line the shore Tho
storm burst on the i'll fated craft with q
suddenness that was remarkable. There
was scarcely sign Of warning.
Above the roar OF the wind and the thun-
der, the cries of the ill-starred passengers
as they clung to floating wreckage could
plainly be heard, while, by the flashes OF
lightning, the wreck could be seen by thes
thousands Of people who lined the river
banks even in the face Of the drenohing
rain
NAMES OF THE DEAD.
ALI but one of the bodies recovered heYe
been identified. They are those of Rev. J. /
ii. McMeen OF Benson, Mrs. Fred Fisher
and her daughter, Cora, John II. Ahrends
Of Pekin. Mary Flath of Pekin. Mrs. Henry
Duisdiker OF Pekin. Mrs. w. g. Willis OF
Pekin and Miss Lottie Shade Of Shelby vile.
Ill.
Capt. Loesoh, the master of the boat,
gives the story of the accident He broughu
party OF about thirty-four up from Pekin
to SEQ Pains Last Days of Pompeii.n
After the exhibition they pulled out aud
when in the middle Of tue river the storm
struck them with all its fury With scarcely q
sign of warning. The captain attempted to
head the steamer toward tho shore and as
he did so terrific gust Of wind struck the
craft and keeled 1t over in 10 feet OF water.
The soene which followed beggars
thrown into the water, but the
larger part of them managed
to reach the upper guard aud cling there
until help reached them. Their cries of
distress wero heard on shore and in spite OF
the heavy wind number of skiffs went to
their assistance and gradually they wsre
brought to shore. They were taken to resi-
dences. where dry clothes we're secured, and
for this reason it WINS impossible to get
their names Until list Of the passengsrs
comes from Pekin the exact number OF
deaths cannot be told The persons drowned
wer0 nearly all in the cabin when
the boat tipped over and there was no es-
cape for them. The window was smashed
in and one woman was dragged out She
was breathing but died in few seconds.
sells cabin show the action Of steam. When
the vessel toppled over the occupants
climbed to the highest point OF the cabin and
we're scaldcd to death by escaping steam
from the boilers. Those who were SUBJ
mergedland drowned at once were not dis
figured by the action Of the steam.