New-York tribune., 1918-07-07
Sixty : three Bodies Are
Found and Triple In
quiry Starts
I
Drinking on Board
Reported as Heavy
Steamer Columbia, Which
Struck Submerged Log,
Condemned in 1911

PEORIA, H., July 6.-With sixty
three bodies recovered and the total
number Of dead tonight estimated at
$50 to 200 persons, government, state
and county officials began searching in
quiries into the cause of the wreck Of
the excursion steamer Columbia in the
Illinois River Friday night.
Survivors have charged that the
steamer, carrying 497 passengers on a
return trip from Peoria to Pekin, H.,
was driven against sand bank scarce
iy ten feet from shore, about five miles
| south of Peoria, during heavy fog.
First repc-ts were that the craft had
struck snag or submerged log
Harry Smith, chief of police of
2ekln, in discussing the disaster said:
reports have come to ME that the
drinking on board the Columbia the
night Of the tragedy was carried to ex-
tremes. This phase of the case will re-
,celve careful attention after we have
buried our dead. The results may be
amazing"
Condemned in 1911
The Columbia was condemned eight
years ago, just before it was purchased
and repaired by Captain Herman Mehl,
according to 4, V. Downes, Federal in
spector of hulls, of st. Louis.
While the orchestra continued to
play on the dance floor, which proved a
death trap to most of the 200 dancers.
the vessel, it was said, backed into
deep water, where it bIo!,e n two and
settled on the bottom of the river, with
only the pilot house and part of the
superstructure showing.
When the first shock came the or
ehestra paused, but a cry Of "On with
the dance" caused the musicians to
continue playing until the electric
nights filckered out and there was a
rush of water through the windows on
one side.
Carried down the steep incline Of
the deck as the boat listed. the crowd.
thrown into a struggling heap, became
wild mob in the darkness fighting to
escape through two narrow doorways.
Those on the lower and upper decks
had better chance and most of them
succeeded in leaping into the swift cur
rent OF the river, after supplying them
selves with life preservers. Many per-
sons succeeded in swimming 20 shore.
The excursion party, numbering 497,
started from Pekin. fifteen miles dis
tant from here. early in the evening,
spent several hours at an amusement
park near this city, and the return trip
to Pekin was about hali completed
when the disaster occurred
The second deck Of the boat. where
the dance hall is located was crowded
when the crash came. 1t was here that
many were crushed to death in the
panic. Ray Jones, fireman on the
steamer, estimates that between $50
and 200 persons were on the dance
,xrla y
the dead bodies have been found here.
When the boat settled on the bottom
the water reached the staterooms i'm
mediately below the pilot house on the
listed side. The pilot. when he found
his boat was sinking. sent distress sig
mails, and within short time boats
came from various directions and be-
gan to pick up those struggling in the
water, but on account of the darkness
their efforts were badly hampered.
AS dawn broke ana the unsettled
mist which hung over the river lifted
volunteer workers vigorously prose-
cuted the search for bodies.
knitting Is Found
Weird memories of an excursion
crowd were seen on every hand Knit
ting. which had engaged the attention
of some industrious matron before the
crash, was found floating between the
uechS Oh the BOAT. Inc needles hung
loose in the wool of the sweater Of
Khaki yarn which she had started.
Shoes, hats, dancing pumps, sweaters
and wraps were hauled from the water
covered checking room in the dance
floor lobby.
Over the uncertain planking ratings
and life rafts-jumbled in an unrecog-
nlzable pile Of wreckage--the search
ers crawled with precarious footsteps.
ha of !
up in queer attitudes of defiance to
the falling deck, protection from i'm
pending death, and fear of the terrible
watery darkness, the bodies were pulled
out from beneath the decks.
II they were identified tags were at
tached TO the baskets in which thew
were placed and then were taken to
shore. Otherwise they we're carefully
covered and hurrid to Pekin.
Divers appeared shortly after 8
o'clock. Because of the battered shane
Of the boat. 1t was believed that sew
eral days would pass before all of the
work of reclaiming the bodies would be
completed.
Could Not Save Wife
August Mehl, brother of Captain H.
+. Mehl, and purser of the boat. who
lost his wife, made the following
statement:
Inc whole thing was over in an
instant: was in the cafe of the boat
when the shock came. knew that we
had struck submerged log and [
heard my brother, the captain, cry out.
Everybody upstairs' The crowd
rushed for the upper decks I rushed
to the engine room to notify the en-
glneers. On my return l saw my wife
running ahead of me up the COM
panlonway. | followed and Just as I
/ got to the second deck the boat listed
TO the lee side and sank quickly. I
saw my wife thrown overheard into
the water I grabbed at her skirt. but
1t slipped from my fingers. Then the
boat was plunged in total darkness.
| ran for a life preserver and got to
the upper deck in time to help the
women and children escape in the life
boats.
"At that time the water was up to
the staterooms, Immediately below the
pilot house on one side and up to the
base of the pilot house on the listed
sider