Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-07-07
Mostly Women Taken From
Excursion Steamer
Near Peoria.
INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY
Survivors Say Boat Driven
Against Sand Bank; Drink
ing Is Reported.

PEORIA, H., July 6,--With 90
bodies recovered and the total num-
! ber of dead tonight estimated at
| from 100 to $50 persons, government,
state and county officials began
searching inquiries into the cause of
the wreck of the excursion steamer
Columbia Friday night.
Survivors have charged that the
big steamer carrying 500 passengers
on a return trip from Peoria to Pc
kin. ILL.,, was driven against a sand
bank scarcely ten feet from shore
and about five miles south of Peoria
during a heavy fog. First reports
were that the craft had strucle snag
or submerged log.
While the Orchestra continued to
play on the dance floor. which
proved n death trap to scores OF
the two hundred dancers, the vessel.
1t was said, backed into deep water
1 where II suddenly broke in two and
Immediately settled on the bottom
of the river with only TIE pilot house
and part OF the superstructure ap-
pearing above the water.
Investigation Starts.
John Dougherty, assistant district
| attorney. c. +. Mansfield, assistant
attorney general Of Illinois, and
Coroner Clary OF Tazewell county.
after visit to the crumpled mass of
ship tlmbers. began Investigations OF
the collapse of the vessel, and why
| - % Of
first indication OF trouble.
Harry Smith. chief of police of
Pekin, 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 extremes. This phase of the case
| will receive rigid attention after we
have buried our dead. The results
may be amazing.
Condemned Eight Years Ago.
The Columbia, which was one of
I the most popular pleasure craft on
the river, owned and sailed fer the
past seven years by Captain Herman
Mehl, the boat was condemned
eight years ago just before 1t was
purchased and repaired by Captain
Mehl, according to r. " Downes,
federal inspector OF hulls Of St Louis,
and his assistant. G.. II. Bowers, who
also began an investigation of the
accident.
1t was on the return trip TO Pekin
from Peoria Friday night that a
faint jar extended from stem to
stern, gave the first intimauon OF
the onrushing tragedy.
Investigation Promised.
One woman who was among the
two hundred persons in the dance
hall, which because of Its two narrow
doorways proved a death trop to
scores OF merry-makers, said that
after the first slight shock OF the
collision the orchestra faltered ana
many dancers paused.
Dance Goes On.
Someone then cried: "On with the
dance" and the music continued un-
I'll suddenly the boat lurched over
on its side and water began rushing
] through the windows The widest
| panic followed. Out Of the first "a
bodies recovered, only one was that
of a man. two were children ana the
majority were those of girls between
10 and 20 years old. Most or those
on board were from Pekin.
An investigation by the Jniteu
States government into the SINKING
of the excursion steamer Coluinpld
last night with the loss OF 100 10
I $50 lives, mostly women, was prom
ised by John Dougherty, assistant
district attorney, this afternoon. .
Survivors of the disaster charged
that the steamer, loaded with nearly
five hundred excursi6nists ran on
/ sandbar in n dense fog and ala hot
hit a sunken snag as was AT ilrsl
reported. It was declared that al.
though the ship was within ten leet
of shore at this time, she was baCkeu
out into deep water without WAN
10 ascertain the extent OF the m
| juries she has sustained. As the
ship reached mid stream she sud-
denly broke in two and sank.
State Investigate.
Frank C. Ewald, chief engineer or
the Illinois public utilities comhlS-
sion announced today he was SEND
ing representative Of the commits
sion TO investigate on behalf OF
Wesley City kf the excursion steamer
Columbia Jurisdiction Of the stare
government, be said. extends over an
passenger steamers in inuasthte
traffic.
Dawn disclosed the mist-enshroud-
ed upper decks OF the boats to the
watchers on the bank.
Collapsed and shattered, its super
structure stood out aginst the morn -
ing sky. Flaunting their imitation
waves in the faint breeze the Two
electrically lighted flags whlch
adorned the Texas of the Ship when
upright Under the direction or
Sheriff Jack Wilson of TazeweIl
county. volunteer workers scrambled
! aboard the craft Weird memories