Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-14
LAKE PEOR|A'S DEAD
Include at Least Is Names, IA
Bodies Having Already
Been Counted.
A SHORT, QUICK SQUALL
Strikes a River Steamboat Having
so Picnickers on Board.
THE FRAIL VESSEL is CAPSIZED
And Passengers imprisoned in the Cabin
Have No Way Of Escape.
| SHORT. QUICK SQUALL
THE FRAIL VESSEL is CAPSIZED
And Passengers imprisoned in the Cabin
Have No Way Of Escape.
DIVERS TO SEARCH FOR MORE VICTIMS

PEORIA, ILL, July 13-Never Stree
the Chatsworth railroad disaster of four
wears ago has there been such excitement in
Peoria and Pekin as witnessed to-day over
the disastrous results of last nights tor
nado Half of Pekin's people are now in
Peoria, and half of Peoria's population lines
the river banks
The wrecked pleasure steamer frankie
Folsom is in plain sight, not very far from
shore The scene is where the Peoria
river broadens into what is called Peoria
Lake. Fourteen persons are known to be
dead and others 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 DeIavan.
There were nine smaller pleasure boats out
on the river when the st orm 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, aud all
classes stand about the streets IN little
knots eager to get the latest stories of the
survivors of the disaster.
Passengers See the Approaching Fate.
Just before the storm struck the vessel,
the approaching danger caused considera-
bic alarm among the passengers. They
crowded the decks and anxiously awaited
the coming of the tornado. As the boat
careened they were thrown together, many
striking the water before the vessel cap
sized. As the volume of water rushed into
the cabins frantic efforts were made to
al 1nh
window only TO fall into the lake outside.
The storm burst on the ill-fated craft
with a suddenness that was remarkable.
Scarcely a sign of warning was there.
Above the roar of the wind and the thun-
der, the cries of the ill-starred passengers,
as they clung to spars, guards and pieces of
furniture, could plainly be heard, while at
each succeeding flash of lightning the
boats wreck could be seen by the thousands
of people who lined the river bank.
Though half hundred lives were at
stake, stout men, born and raised on the
river, quailed at setting out to rescue the
precious freight. But the storm was more
of single gust than anything else. 1t
blew up rapidly and as quickly subsided.
Making the Survivors Comfortable.
The rain continued, but the danger was
over. and soon more than a score of tow
boats were slowly bringing passengers to
shore. Everything possible was done by
citizens and officials. Patrol wagons, am
balances and nearly the entire police force
were ordered out to assist in caring for the
rescued.
The bodies recovered have been prepared
for interment and were laid out side bv side,
most of them to be taken to Pekin this
afternoon. The official list of the Coroner
shows the following dead:
REV j. H. McMEEN, Benson.
MRS FRED FISHER and daughter CORA. |
JOHN II. AHRENDS, Pekin.
MARY FLATH. Pekin.
MRS. HENRY DUISDIKER, Pekin.
MRS. W. G. WILLS, Pekin.
MISS LOTTIE SHADE, Shelbyville, Ill.
MISS LOTT1E ROITLER, Pekin.
AN UNKNOWN YOUNG LADY.
Divers who went down to-day saw four
bodies crushed under the wreckage A day
or two will probably pass before the exact
number of casualties are known. The Fol-
som had "a passengers on board and q crew
of six. She is almost a total loss The
river for some distance is strewn with
wreckage. The search for bodies was pros
ecuted all night in the midst of the greatest
dangers.
Peris Of the Work of Rescue. |
A second storm blew up 1t was not as |
severe as the first, but memories of the |
the greatest caution. Miss Heppler, of |
Streator, was rescued in an insensible con-
dition and removed to a house 1t is i'm |
possible to tell whether she will recover or |
not. James Thomas was badly injured and |
is in the hospital. Mrs. Kate Beebe, of |
Pekin, is known to be lost Her father, |
Henry Zuckweiler, was dragged out of the |
water as ne was going down the last time |
John Smith is also believed to have per- |
ished
When the boat capsized most of the |
women were imprisoned in the cabin, hav-
ing sought refuge there from the storm and |
had no means of egress. The river will be |
dragged Immediately. Officials are waiting |
for one of the large Illinois river boats to |
arrive and the Folsom will then be moved. |
1t is expected there are several bodies un- |
der it.
Captain Loesch, master of the boat, gave
a story of the accident. He brought a |
party of about 40 up from Pekin to see
Pains Last Days of Pompeii."
The Gust Strikes the Craft.
After the exhibition thev pulled out, and |
when in the middle OF the river the storm
struck them in all its fury, with scarcely 8
sign of warning. He attempted to head
the steamer toward the shore and as he did
so terrific gust of wind struck the craft
and keeleo IL over In ~ feet oil water.
Sam Sutton, Circuit Clerk of Tazewell
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 condition, but
it is thought she will live. He said the &C.
cident was caused by the pilot becoming
frightened when the storm struck them.
Had he kept the boat headed for the willows
on the opposite bank there would have been
no danger.
Alderman NJ. Goloon, of Pekin, lost his
little son and is raving crazy. He had to be
removed from the bank where the work of
rescue is going on by the police.
As soon as news of the wreck reached the
police station every man on the force was
ordered to the rescue. Mayor Warner or
dered all the hacks in the city to the scene
and as people were brought to the shore
they were taken to the City Hall, where
they were made comfortable.
Two couples were saved at the foot of
Main street. The boats collided and all the
people were thrown out By clinging to
their inverted boats they managed to keep
above water until rescued. A boatman
from up the river came in with six pair of
oars he found floating. As there is no
trace of the boats to which they belonged
it is thought their occupants have been