The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-07-06
75 LIVES
ARE LOST
IN RIVER
7 ODAY
Columbia Sunk When II Hits
Submerged Log Not Far
from Peoria

lDi United RRESS
PEORIA, ILL, July o.-Profes-
sional divers late today will search
the submerged decks and saloons
OF the excursion ship Columbia
which sunk in the Illinois river
shortly after midnight with sos
persons aboard.
Ihirty-three bodies have been
recovered today, twenty-six of
which have been identified. 1t is
believed certain many more lie be-
tween the decks of the vessel.
Nearly hundred persons were un-
accounted for. Dozens of men and
women had leaped into the water
and others were thrown into it
when the boat turned over
Judge Jesse Black. chairman Of the
Red Cross at Pekin. Ill. where most OF
the victims lived. believes the death toll
was between so and rs
SURVIVORS RUSEED TO PEKrN.
= coroner's jury was called TO in
vestigate the disaster
Many survivors rescued by small
boats circling around the stricken yes
sci were rushed TO Pekin in automobiles
The Columbia was carrying the mem
bers Of Pekin social club homeward
pound on river excursion when she
struck submerged log on q sand bank.
The boat overturned and sank in five
minutes while scores of terrified pas
sengers dancing on deck ran to the port
rail The boat was $50 feet long and
owned by H. F. Mehl Excursion Co. of
Peoria. It was reported the Submerged
log tore a hole amidship
TERRIBLE SCENES WITNESSED.
Shrieks Of the survivors who swcre
padding about the wreck were heard in
the village of Wesley. Calls for help
were sent by telephone to Peoria and
Pekin and launches sent out for the
wreck \ special train carrying nurses
and physicians was sent out from
Peoria. Survivors declared that four
babies left on the upper deck during the
dancing perished.
Telephone messages were sent to Chi
cago for professional aid and Harry
Halderson, professional diver who
brought scores of bodies from the
steamer Eastiand that took hundreds to
their death when she overturned in the
Chicago river two years ago, started for
Peoria with his diving apparatus
CIVILIAN RED CROSS AIDING.
Captain John Anderson of the United
States coast guard service and nine
men also left for Peoria TO aid in re-
covering bodies Of the victims. Coroner
investigation during the morning. His
first witnesses are expected to be Can
tain Herman Meh1. one of the CoIum-
bias owners, and Thomas Williams. her
pilot.
Red Cross officials at Pekin tele-
graphed Chicago Red Cross officials to-
day asking that blankets and other sup
plies be sent to Peain- UpNn receipt of
the telegram. c. c. Sullman, director
of civilian relief for the Red Cross in
Chicago. started at once for Pekin with
five workers and necessary supplies.
SCENES OF HORROR ON RIVER.
Sobbing crowds thronged the three
undertaking establishments in Pekin
where the bodies were taken Men and
women. half crazed by grief, searched
for loved ones. Half the population of
Wesley rushed to the river bank. Sew
eral women collapsed
Heart rendering scenes were enacted
as each body was brought ashore.
Frantic people struggled to view the
corpses.
Efforts were being made TO check the
surviving persons for whom tickets for
the excursion had been sold. The coro-
ner held to his belief that not more than
100 persons had perished but others were
certain the death list would exceed that
figure.
WILD ESTIMATES OF DEAD.
Wild estimates OF the number OF dead
were made by those who escaped.
That the boat sank within five min
utes after water was discovered in the
hull of the Columbia was the statement
made by Allan B. Davidson. second en-
gineer of the steamer.
We were travelling under a slow bell
through the fog" he said I felt q
slight shock but paid little attention to
#. It was hardly noticeable. Then I
and back the boat. Within a few sec
onds I received another signal to go
ahead slowly Shortly after a watch
man came down ipto the engine room
and asked that the light be thrown in
TO the hull Of the boat.
DANGER NOT REALIZED.
When I looked in there I saw the
hull half full CT water We were then
backing away from tho Wesley shore.
Within two minutes the boat listed -
the star board side and l climbed over
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