The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-03
Edward GrafstrOm, Santa Fe
Mechanical Engineer browns.
Only One of the Crew OF Seven
Who Wasn't Rescued.
THE LAUNCH CAPSIZED
Santa Fe Boat Had Done Good
Work.
Lost Man Was One of Rising
Santa Fe Officials.

about $50 Tuesday afternoon. -he
gasoline launch running between North
Topeka and the Sardou avenue landing
struck a tree near the north side of the
river channel and capsized. throwing the
crew of seven men into the water. all of
whom We're saved except Edward
Grafstrom, mechanical engineer of the
Santa Fe railway shops who has not
been seen since the accident. He is pro-
badly drowned though there is some
hope he has hoated down the river and
win turn up safe later Grafstrom is
an old sailor. and fine swimmer but
he wore hip boots and was heavily
dressed.
The other men in the launch. who
managed TO cling to trees and drift
wood, and were saved were G. w. Bon
ny, Harry Hobson. William Havens,
Frank Ecclesdon Lou Barnett Clarence
E. Heer.
The gasoline launch is the one which
was built by some old boatmakers at
the Santa Fe shops, and equipped with
gasoline engines by the Smith Automo-
bile factory 1t proved itself to be d
very good craft. and did splendid work
all day bringing over refugees in large
numbers.
It's last trip for the day had been
made. and it was returning after hav-
ing landed a boauoad of deputy sher-
IFS at the Western Wooden mills. No
one was in the boat except the crew,
and it is said that because it was SO
lightly laden. the propeller did not dip
deep enough in the water to give the
Eteersman good control Of the craft II
was passing through the trees which
line what used to be the north bank OF
the river. There are two punches of
trees there, and the boat passed through
the first without accident. The current
SIS very strong in the open space be-
tween the trees. and the man at the
helm made a mistake in trying 10 send
the boat straight across instead of quar-
terine il against the current The cur
rent struck the boat broadside, and
swept it out of line and into the tree.
When the boat struck the tree il
dipped and filled with water, and thu
crew jumped The boat sank to the
bottom of the river.
G. W. Bonny says: II got clear of
the boat and managed to get hold of "A
telephone pole which had lodged be-
tween two trees. I saw GrafstrOm go
into the water and saw him swept
against a lot of drift which had lodged
among the trees. That is the last time
I saw him. If he went down under that
drift J don't see how he could get out.
i climbed one tree. and the other men
climbed another. except Hobson. who
was carried down the river some dis
lance. The launch was all smashed to
pieces"
n Hobson says that when he was
tipped over he struck out for something
to got hold of, and saw Grafstrom
swimming some yards behind him
Whether this was before or after Graf
strom struck the irift is not known
Mr. Alobson VINO IS signal officer fo.'
the santa Fe. was carried far down the
river and caught in tree
The SIX members of the crew who
caught hold of trees were soon taken
off safely by boats.
One of the crew. c. f. Heer. was
found sitting in his tree. comDlacently
smoking a cigar. He had occupied his
time while waiting to be rescued by
carving his name on the limb upon
which he was Derched. He SAYS that
he saw Mr. Grafstrom sink after three
times rising to the surface.
Freeman Sardou and two other boat
men set out in three boats and search
ed up and down the river for a mile for
traces of Grafstrom. They received no
response TO their shouts.
Edward Grafstrorn was one Of the