The record-union., 1892-07-14
FRANKIE FOLSOM DISASTER.
NINE PERSONS KNOWN TO HAVE
BEEN DROWNED.
Sixteen Others Yet to be Heard From
Persons in Small Boats Re-
ported Missing.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
PEORIA, July 13.-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 with an excur-
sion party to attend production of 1.-THE
Last Days of Pompeii' at Lakeview
Park. The performance was over at 10
o'clock, and the passengers hurried back
to the boat as a storm was coming up.
There were thirty-two passengers 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. Captain Edward Loesch at
tempted to head the boat for the shore
and in doing so he turned her full broad
side to the wind and the boat capsized,
Most of those on deck rushed to the up
per side of the vessel and Captain Loesch
assisted in the distribution of life pre-
servers. He broke in the window in the
cabin in which ali the women were i'm
prisoned, having taken refuge there from
the storm. He drew out three women,
one of whom died very soon afterWard
The cries Of the people on board at
tracted attention from the shore. and as
the storm quickly subsidized boats were
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 their oars to
save the little craft.
Four persons were taken on board and
I Y. = +< II,
the work of rescue, which was rapidly
carried forward. AS fast as the people
were brought to shore they were placed
In hacks and driven to places of shelter.
Twenty-siX were thus saved, but it was
hours before anything like correct state
ment of the number OF the dead and miss
ing could be obtained.
To-day business is almost suspended,
and half the population of Pekin and
Peoria lined the river banks. AS far as
known the list OF the drowned mum bar
nine. and there are sixteen persons vet to
hear from. In addition there were nine
pleasure boats out on the river at the
time of the storm, and of these five have
turned I'D after having had a dreadful
eyperience in the willows along the
shore.
The following is a list of the dead: Rev.
J. II. McMeen of Penson, Mrs. Fred
Fisher and her daughter Cora, John H.
Ahrends, Mary Flats, Mrs. Henry Buis-
dieker and Mrs. w. II. Wills, all of Pc
kin. and Lottie Shade of ShelbyvilIe. III.
The Identification of one body last night
as Maud Ford of Pekin was a mistake,
and identity of the bodyis still unknown.
Kate Bebee of PeLin is missing. and is
supposed TO be lost, rs is also John Smith.
The officials are waiting for one Of the
large river boats to arrive, when the Fol-
som will be removed. It is supposed
that several bodies are under it.
Several persons who We're out in small
boats at the time are reported to be miss
ing.
Search for the dead was prosecuted dur
ing the entire day, but only one body
was recovered, that of Miss Lettie Renter,
aged 10. of Pekin. 1t Is positively known
that at least two more are under the de-
bris. They are Miss Bebee of Duluth,
Mimi, and Grant Heppen of Eureka.
An unsuccessful effort was made to
raise the Folsom this afternoon and re-
lease the bodies held underneath.
The inquest commenced to-day. and
three witnesses were examined. There
was nothing at al TO show any respons-
ibility for the disaster.
Norah Metcalf of Pekin has reported
her brother missing. a large number
who sustained injuries are in the hos
pitals. Nearly all OF the bodies were to-
day shipped 10 their homes.