The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-07-21
SANK WITH THE FOLSOM
OVER A SCORE LOST IN THE
PEORIA DISASTER.
Many Persons Yet Umaccounicd For ISc-
ltcved to BE in the Cabin of the Over
turned lsaat-StOry of the Accident =
The Storm Came Up with Awful
kaps slity.
Found Watcry Graves.

Found Watcry Graves
Twelve bodies have already been re-
covered from the wrecked steamer
frankie Folsom, and sixteen persons
are yet to hear from, telcgraphs a Peo-
ria, H., correspondent. The bodies of
the following named persons ar" recor-
cred: The Rev. j. II. Meme. n. Benson;
Mrs. Fred Fisher; Cora Fisher; John II.
Arends, Pekin; Mary Flatt, Pckin; Mrs.
Henry Duisdeckcr, Pckin; Mrs. W. q.
Willis, Pekin; Miss Lottic Shade. Shell
byville; Miss Lottie Rutler, Pckin; Mrs.
hate Beebc, Pekin; Grant Heppler,
Streator; unknown body of a young girl.
Divers who were sent down ncars the
wreck reported seeing four bodies
crushed under the wreckage. These
cannot bc gotten at until the boat is
rightel. Nearly the whole excursion
party was composed of the better class
of the population OF Pckin and Delayau.
Never since the Chatsw, nth disaster
has there been any such excitement
here. The storm burst with remarkable
suddenncss. Above the roar of the
wind and thunder the cries of the pas
sengers on the Folsom, as they cluny t.
spars, guards, and pieces Of furniture,
could plainly be heard, while at each
succeeding flash If lightning tha wreck
could be seen by thousands who l.ned
the river bank in the face If the drcnch-
ing rain.
The storm did not last long. 1t blew
up with rapidity little short of marvel
Gus, and as quickly subsidized. The rain
continued, but the danger was over.
and soon more than score of rbwboats
were slowly bringing passengers To the
shore. Everything possible was done
10y the citizens and fiji i:ials. Patrol
| wagons, ambulances, and nearly the
entire police force were ordered out t.
assist in caring for the rescued.
Miss Heppler, of Strcator, was rescued
in an inss nsiblc condition and removed
to a house. 1t is impossible to tell
whether she will recover or not. James
Thomas is in the hospital. A swinging
timber struck him, terribly crushing a
leg. The search for bodies was prose-
cuted all night. Mrs. Kate Becbc. o.
Pekin, is known to have been lost. She
was on deck at the time o. the accident
| and must have been washed overpCa Il.
Her father, Fred Zuckweiler, was drag
gei cut of the water as he was -oinS
down the last time. No trace of
the daughter has since been found, and
| all thou yht> of finding her alive havo
been abandoned. John Smith has not
been seen since the accident, and he too
must have rerished. immediately on
| the appr, ach OF the storm women took
| refuge in the cabin, a small room. closed
| the doors and shut the windows. When
the b pat capsized they were as il in u
prison with no means of egrtss.
Was Returning from Lake View Park.
The steamer was returning from Lake
View Park, where a spectacular preduc-
ton of the Last Days of P.mpeii' had
been given. The crew numbered Eve.
The evening hal been pleasant, but
during the latter part of the perform
| ance there We're mutterings of il storm.
| 1t burst suddenly with great violence
| when the Loaf had gotten out in the
middle of the river. Edward Loesch.
| the captain, was in the pilot hous" when
the storm struck. He attempted 10 head
| the boat for the shore. and as he d d SO
the wind caught it and capsizcd il.
Most of those who were ON deck rushed
TO the upper side. and were in this way
| saved. Capt. Loesch helped ali he ould
| to put on life preservers. He pulled up
| two women who were struggling out of
| the cabin.
| When the beat began to sink a whis-
tie was sent up for aid, hut in Il few mo-
ments the boilers were under water.
Word was sent to the police station AMI
| Mayor Warner ordered out at once all
| the policemen, the patrol wagon, and
ambulance. The Folsom lay about 100
Yards from shore in sixteen feet OF
water, and was about two-thirds under
| water careened overon TIE SIDE. There
was not an available tug in the city.
The Lonyfellow, which was struggling
near the Folsom. made landing as
soon as she could, AMI hurried her pas
sengers ashore. 1t was the intention TO
go t. the aid of the sinking boat. but
the wheel got caught in some manner,
and great difficulty was experienced in
getting away.
Meanwhile numerous small boats We're
put out, although the rough condition of
the river rendered the mission very per
ilous. Rain fell in torrents, and the
| wind blew in fierce gusts. All of the
steamer above water was covered by
haif-drownsd passengers clinging to the
upper deck, one side of which showed
just above the surface.
When the first relief boat appeared,
men and women leaped from the steamer
and swan to the boat. SO many at
tempted this that they had to be driven
back with oars in order to keep the little
toats from being swamped. -Four per-
sons were brought off in the first boat.
an after this the work of rescue went
on rapidly. Mayor Warner had ordered
out q number of hacks, and as fast as
the people were brought off the steamer
they were placed in hacks and driven to
places of shelter. The river is being
dragged for the bodies of those that are
still missing.