Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-14
THE PEORIA DlSAS TER.
Nine PIeasure-Seekers Known to be Dead.
sixteen. MISSING
lBy telegraph to tho DlsDatch.l

LBy telcEThph 10 Nno blSphtSusl
PEORIA, Ill. july 13.-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 disastrous results of last night
cyclone.
Half Of Pekin's people are now in Peoria
and half OF PeOrias population line the
river banks. The wrecked pleasuresteamer
frankie Folsom is in plain sight, not very
far from shore. Nine persons are known
10 be dead Sixteen are yet 10
be heard from. Nearly the whole
excursion party on the Folsom was
composed Of the better classes of the
populatIon Of Pekin and Delayan. There
were nine smaller pleasure boats out on
the river at the time the storm came up.
OF these five turned up safely this morn
ing. They report having bad fearful
time among the willows that line the
shore.
ALMOST WITHOUT WANING.
The storm burst on the i!l-fate1 craft
with suddenness that was remarkable.
There was scarcely a sign OF warning.
Above the roar Of the wind and the thun-
der the cries of the ili-starred passengers,
as thev clung 10 the floating wreckage,
could plainly be heard, while, by the
flashes OF lightning the wreck could lie
seen by thousands of people who lined the
river banks, even in the face of the drench-
ing ram.
All but one Of the bodies recovered have
been identified. They are Rev. j. Ii. Nc
Meen. of Benson: Mrs. Fred. Fisher and
daughter Cora; John II. Ahernds. OF Pc
kin. Mary Flath, OF Pekln; Mrs. Henry
DuIsdlker, OF Pekin Mrs. w. q. Willis.
OF Pekin, and Miss Lott!e Shade, OF Shell
byyille, Ill.
THE SAD STORY.
Captain Loesch, master of the boat,
gives the story of the accident. lie
brought party OF about thirty-iour up
from Pekin to see Pains " Last Days OF
Pompeil.n After the exhibition they
pulled out. and when in the mid
die of the river tho storm struck
them with all its fury with scarcely
a sign of warning. The captain attempted
TO head the steamer toward the shore, ana
as he did so terrific gust Of wind struck
the craft and keeled 1t over IN nineteen
feet of water. The scene which followed
beggars description.
EVERYBODY OVERHEARD.
Men and women were thrown into the
water, but the larger part Of them man
aged TO reach the upper guard and cling
there until help reached them. Their
cries OF. distress were heard on shore, and
IN spite OF the heavy WIND num-
Der of skiffs went to their assist
ancc, and gradually they were brought
TO shore. Quickly they were taken to
residences where dry clothes were Sc
cured, and for this reason it was impossi-
bic 10 get their names. Until the list OF
passengers comes from Pekin the exact
number of deaths cannot be told.
THE DROWNED.
The persons drowned were nearly oil in
the cabin when the boat tipped over, as
there was no escape for them. window
was smashed in and one woman dragged
out. She was breathing. but died IN
few seconds Most Of the bodies
recovered from the vessels cabin
show the action of steam. When the YES
sci toppled over the occupants climbed to
the highest part of the cabin. and were
scalded 10 death by escaping steam from
the .boilers. Those who were submerged
and drowned at once were not dishgured.