Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-14
THE PEORIA LAKE DISASTER.
Particulars Of the Wreck Of
the frankie Folsom.
The Vessel Capsized by a Storm In
Deep Water.
Ton Bodies Recovered and Four Under
the Wrsck-several others Miles,
iDg-A Destructive Cyclone
at Springfield. o,
By the Associated Pres,.i

By the Associated Press.]
PEORIA, ILL.,, July 1S.-The following
is a connected story of the disaster here
last night, an imperfect account of
which was sent late last night:
The steamer frankie Folsom came
up from Pekin last evening " 18th an ex-
cursion party to attend the production
of the Last Days OF Pompeii, at Lake
View park. The performance was over
at 10 o'clock, and the passengers hur-
ried back to the boat. as a storm was
coming up. There were thirty-two from
Pekin, and two got on at Peoria. The
crew numbered FIVE. When the boat
reached the middle of the stream the
storm burst with great violence. Capt.
Edward Loesch attempted to head the
boat for the shore, and in doing so
turned full broadside to the wind
and the boat capsized. Most of those
on the deck rushed to the upper side of
the vessel. Captain Loesch assisted in
distributing the life-preservers. Break
ing in the windows OF the cabin, in
which all the women were imprisoned,
having taken refuge there from the
storm, he drew out three women, one of
whom died very soon afterwards.
The cries of the people on board at
! tracted attention from the shore, and as
the storm quickly subsidized, boats put
out to rescue the imperiled people on
the boat. The vessel lay 100 yards from
! the shore in sixteen feet of water, and
was two-thirds under. The first boat
that arrived was nearly swamped by the
half-drowned people who tried to get on
board. The boatmen were compelled to
drive the desperate people back with
the oars to save the little craft. -Four
persons were taken on board and
brought to the shore. Other boats
joing the work of rescue were rapidly
carried forward. As fast as the people
were brought to the shore they were
placed in hacks and driven to places ol
shelter. Twenty-six were thus saved
but it was hours before anything like q
correct statement of the number of dead
and missing could be obtained.
4 Today business was almost suspended
half the population of Pekin and Peo
/ ria lined the river banks. So far as now
known, the list of drowned numberI
nine. Sixteen persons are yet to heal
from.
In addition there were nine pleasure
boats out on the river at the time of the
storm, of these five have turned up
having had dreadful experience in the
willows along the shore.
Following is the list of dead: Rev
J. H. McMeen, of Peoria; Mrs. Free
Fisher and daughter Cora, John All
rends, Mary Plats, Mrs. Henry Buis
dicker, Mrs. w. I'll. Wills, all of Pekin
Lottie Shade, Shelbyville, I'll.
One body was identified as Maud Fore
OF Pekin, but this is now known to be &
mistake, and the identity is unknown
Kate Beebe of Pekin is missing, and ii
supposed to be lost, as is John Smith.
| The officials are waiting for one of the
large river boats to arrive, when th'
Folsom will be removed. 1t is supposed
several bodies are under it.
The river will be dragged today. The
inquest has begun. Several persons wht
were out in small boats at the time art
| reported missing.
| Another body has been recovered, thai
of Lottie Reitler, making the number
ten.
Divers went down near the wreck thil
morning and saw four bodies pinned
under the wreckage. They cannot bt
gotten until the boat shall be turned
over, which will be done today.