The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-07

bodies recovered and the total mum
Der of dead tonight estimated at
100 to $50 persons, government, state
and county officials began search
ing inquiries into the cause OF the
wreck Friday night of the excursion
steamer Columbia.
Survivors have charged that the
big steamer carrying 500 passen-
gers on a return trip from Peoria
to Pekin, Ill.,, was driven during a
fog against sand bank scarcely
ten feet from shore and about five
miles south OF Peoria. First re-
ports were that the craft had struck
a snag or submerged log.
While the orchestra continued to
play on the dance floor which
proved a death trap to scores OF the
200 dancers, the vessel, it was said,
backed into deep water, where it
suddenly broke in two and immedi-
ately sank to the bottom of the
river with only the pilot house and
part of the superstructure appear
ing about water.
John Dougherty, assistant dis
trict attorney, c. +. Mansfield, as
sistant attorney general OF Illinois,
and Coroner Clary OF Tazwell coun-
ty. after a visit to the crumpled mass
OF ship timbers, began investigations
of the compass of the vessel and
why the vessel was not beached at
the first indication of trouble.
Alleges Drunkenness.
Harry Smith, chief of police of
Pekin, in discussing the disaster,
said:
Reports have come to me that
drinking on board the Columbia the
night of the tragedy was carried to
extremes. This phase of the inves-
tigation will receive rigid attention
after we have buried our dead. The
results may be amazing"
The Columbia which was known
as one OF the most popular pleas
ure craft on the river, was owned
and sailed for the past seven years
by Capt. Newman Mehl. The bow
was condemned eight years ago just
before it was purchased and re-
paired by Captain Mehl, accord
ing to r. V. Downes, federal in
spector of hulls OF St. Louis, and
his assistant, G.. r. Bowers, who
also began an investigation of the
accident.
1t was on the return trip to Pc
kin from Peoria Friday night that
a faint jar, extending from stem
to stern, gave the first intimation of
the on-rushing tragedy.
at was not hard blow" Cap
tain Mehl said. She had worked
over pretty we'll to the Peoria side
IF the river because of the heavy
Jog, which probably was the cause
IF the crash. The then backed off,
squared away and headed down
stream again. Lots Of people rushed
o the starboard side and she listed
| bit. Then the lights went out and
'he settled in couple OF minutes"
Running on Slow Bell.
l.. l.. Dawson, second engineer of !
he vessel, who was on watch at
he time she struck at ll:5S p. m. |
'aid he was running on SLOW
,ell,' and that after the crash the !
blot, Tom Williams, gave him the |
stop bell
Then, he said, the ship backed off /
md again headed down stream on
| SLOW bell \ few minutes later
he waite reached the dynamos and |
he lights went out.
The tragedy came without warn /
ng when the 500 merrymakers 1
board, after a nights outing at Al I.
Fresco Park in Peoria. were end
ng the evenings amusement with !
and concerts by the orches-
ra. According 10 survivors. there |
we're about 200 dancers on the in
,losed floor on the second deck |
when the first shock came.
For an instant the orchestra /
but a cry OF "On with the |
lance" cause them TO continue |
,laying until suddenly the electric !
lights flickered out and there was
rush of water through the win /
lows on one side.
Carried down the steep incline |
# the deck in a struggling heap.
he crowd became a howling mob |
n the darkness. fighting to escape |
through two narrow doorways.
Many Leap in River.
Those on the lower and upper
lecks had better chance and most
# them succeeded in leaping into /
he swift current OF the river after
themselves with life pre-
TverS.
Screams of survivors attracted |
ttention OF residents -of Wesley |
-ity, opposite the scene of the /