Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-20
SEVEN ARE LOST
WHEN RIVER BOAT
SINKS IN STORM
Government Steamer Henry
Bose, Wrecked in Violent
Gale at Keokuk.
CABIN IS DEATH TRAP
Victims Lose Lives Unable 70 Escape
from Sleeping Rooms-chiid
Of Eight Among Lost.

Seven people were drowned while
asleep in their cabins and seven 9th.
ers narrowly escaped death yester.
day afternoon when the government
steamer Henry Bosse, in charge OF the
Rock Island division OF the river i'm
provement work, was overturned in
the middle OF the Mississippi opposite
Bloody Run, a creek about a mile
below the Keokuk dam.
THE DEAD.
TOM NOONAN, Keokuk, Iowa.
GEORGE 8lckEL, Carthage, III.
WILLIAM JONES, Quincy, III.
HUGH BEAVER, Quincy, III.
NETTIE BEAVER, his s-year-old
sister.
W. c. WEIGH, ST. Louis.
ANNA WEIGH, his wife.
On the boat at the time but who es-
capped death by clinging to the wreck
age OF the shattered boat were:
Capt. Gus Seifert.
Glenn Slice, assistant pilot.
Charles Henderson, engineer.
William Hull, deckhand.
Charles H. Guthrie, fireman.
Helmer Swenholt, inspector.
Ray Morris, fireman.
DROWNED WHILE ASLEEP.
All those who we're drowned formed
the night watch and were drowned
while asleep in their cabins. Hugh
Beaver. and his little sister,
were awakened by the sound Of the
water rushing over the boa: but were
unable to extricate themselves from
the wreck.
Captain Seifert was at the wheel
when the boat overturned. He
succeeded in clearing the wreck and
swimming ashore. All the others
saved were also On deck at the time
Of the accident and by clinging to
pieces Of wreckage managed to keep
ahoat until help arrived.
BUILDING WING DAM.
The Henry Bosse was engaged in
building a wing dam when the mishaI
occurred The overcast sky warned
Captain Seifert OF his danger and he
ordered the boat to start for the lows
shore.
HIS warning came too late, however
for The boat had succeeded in getting
no farther than the channel when &
terrific storm blew up.
A startled cry came from the lipi
OF those on the decks when the boa
listed violently to port. One Of thu
men started for the cabins to warn thu
victims OF their danger but anothe
gust CT wind sent the boat almost OF
its side and swept the man OF the decl
Others attempted in turn to save III,
lives Of their comrades but withou
avail.
CABIN Is DEATH TRAP.
Tho occupants OF the cabins wer
csugh. like rats in trap. The ittl
Beaver girl first awoke to the DANCE
and cried 10 her brother for help.
Her brother found the cabi
filled with water and the boat almos
overturned. He called to the other
10 warn them OF their peril ana sell
ing the child rushed 20 the hatchwa!
The storm by this time was ragin
furiously Tho boat had been S
turned that the hatchway was close
tightly.
The pathetic cries OF the child a
she begged piteously for aid could b
plainly heard by those on deck an
another effort was made TO free thos
in the cabin from their peril.
An exceptionally violent gust {
wind came az this time, howeve
and the boat was turned completed
over. washing those who were clinl
ing TO its decks into the river an
sending the others TO their death
the cabin.
CAPTAIN BADLY INJURED.
Chnging desperately 10 wreckag
the seven men who had been on dec
we're picked up one by one.
Captain Seifert had been throw
from his post az the wheel for a di
lance Of IS feet into the river. A