The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23
Cool Heads Prevented a Panic, Steady
ing HystericaI Women and Weak
Nerved Men.
SHORE WAS CLOSE AT HAND
ALL WE'RE LANDED SAFELY WITH
MUDDY SHOES AND WET FEET.
Drowning Horror Only Averted by In
ability to Move Boat Into Mid
die of the River.

Under the weight of 200 people massed at
the stern on the upper deck, the houseboat
of the Indiana polls Aquatic Club sank in
thirteen feet of water at Broad Ripple last
night at about 1920 O'Clock. At the time
of the accident the bow of the boat was
anchored to the east shore, just off the
north end of the landing, and opposite the
stairway, so that the passengers of the
boat were never I'm danger of their lives
and all escaped with nothing more serious
that wet feet, muddy shoes and a scare
When it found the boat was sinking
the greatest excitement and confusion pre-
vailed. About one-half of the people on
board were women, and it took the COM
binod efforts of all the men to hold them
muddy shore, as they poured down the
stairway on to the lower deck Had it
not been for the sight of the shore so near
at hand there would certainly have been
a panic. but as the people rushed from the
sinking stern to the bow and saw the dry
shore beneath them. their fears were
quoted.
CAME WITHOUT WARNING
There was no noise, no warning of the
sinking and the eyes of all on board, as of
the Venetian water parade as it came
down the river, long ribbon of colored
lights, so that almost before the discovery
the dark water had risen over the gum
vale and the keel was on the river bot
tom.
When il was discovered that the boat was
gradually settling, efforts made to
rush the people to the bow but they were
too interested in the beauty of the dazzling
Venetian parade, the head of which had
lust come opposite the houseboat when the
water rushed the lower deck and
Hooded the lower cabins. Before half
the people had escaped from the boat it
was settled on the bottom, tilted offshore.
with only the two upper decks and one side
of the lower deck above the water line.
EXCITEMENT ON SHORE.
The excitement on shore was even greater
than on board. The thousands of people
who lined the river watching the display
word was passed that the houseboat was
sinking and endeavored to assist those on
board. The parade of floats scattered in
every direction when ii was seen that the
houseboat was going down. Those on the
water who had friends the houseboat
| hastened ashore and attempted to get TO
them. 1ne dCClueit, III ldCt, ruined tDe
magnificent parade of floats, which was the
event of the evening, and put a stop to the
evenings programme anG enjoyment. 1t
was known by many on board that the
| boat would tilt if too much weight was con-
centra ted on one side, but they were power
| less i'm keeping the crowd from the side on
which the floats were passing.
1t was the merest chance that the acci-
dent last night was not a terrible catastro-
phe. The houseboat had been moved from
| it's moorings earlier in the evening nearer
| the center of the streari. The plan was To
| hoat IL to the other side of the river where
! the depth is greatest, and there anchor IT,
more on display to the people shore.
| However the boat was pulled back nearer
| the landing to take on several more guests
! from the shore Had IL not been for this
| the houseboat would have gone down. near
| the middle of the river and scores of lives
| would have been lost.
WENT DOWN LIKE y ROCK.
| After the boat began To sink IL went down
] like u rock aud in Hse minutes it was on