Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-06


heard ~ persons far from the river
The entire scene was turned from gay.
ely and pleasure irto a hideous night,
mare OF horror.
Many men leaped into the river
and swan ashore and women and
children either leaped into the water
on were j0stled overheard by me panic
stricken jewellers Others clung ~
terror 10 the f0undered steam boa,
News Of the disaster flashed thru
the district and hundreds this morn.
ing thronged the shores of the river
seeking for their friends and rela
tives who were aboard the boat.
IL is estimated that 400 people were
dancing on the center deck of IN.
boat when she grounded. Water
quickly poured over the decks and
scores were trapped as they vainiy
tried TO breast the torrents of water
that poured down companionways ann
blocked the exits to the upper decks.
Children were thrown far from the
boat into the river and mothers fran
ticslly sought their children in The
panic stricken throng.
The band had Just begun the strains
OF Home, Sweet Home the fina,
dance, when the boat grounded
With the lights of the boat ex,
tinguished lanterns of rescuers on the
shore and the headlights of ANTONIO
biles that quickly gathered along The
river cast a wierd glare out over the /
tragic waters and afforded the onI, |
light available to aid the rescuers IN
their heart breaking task. A lack o,
rowboats near the scene of the trae
edy was another hampering factor.
Accounts of the tragedy told bs
survivors are stories in lsht ana
shade--the gay. pleasure taking crowd
dancing and singing, suddenly cbane
ed into terror stricken. screamine
mob. struggling and fighting for safe
ty.
The first deck was given over OK.
ciusiyeiy to dancing said Mrs. Marv
Brew. cook on the steamboat. VIII,
although asleep AT the time OF IN.
crash, was rescued. 1T was thronged
] could hardly have been asleep mr.
teen minutes and The last thing Il
remember the band was PLAYING.
The crowd was laughing and many
We're singing The dance airs. Hardly
any OF them could have escaped. The
second deck was given over TO coup,es
who we're strolling about. When the
boat submerged the water dasheG
over that deck too. but more time
was gwen couples to put on life belts
Inc panic was terrible, and few
could take advantage of Delts An
ABOUT me were men, women and chm
dren jumping overheard managed
to reach the rail how ! do not know
and leaped overheard.
All about me were persons swim.
ming. Some of them vanished in the
log. The steamboat settled into the
river very swiftly ! saw il sinklns
Is rowboat picked me up and car.
lied me to safety. turned nv fac.
away"
IL was all over before ! could saw {,
scat, tersely explained Mrs. Herman
Nenl, wife of the boats captain ,
August Mehl. purser and brother o.
ne captain, told of the horror az
Watching his wife drown. IL
! was In the cafe he said: when I
felt a shock. The whole disaster
vas enacted in an instant raced ND q
ne companlonway to the promenade J
eck. There saw my wife. clutch. a
. her skirt as she rushed toward the .
AL pushed on by the crowd. which
vas frantic with terror.
Don't jump" | cried. Stay near
ne.
But her skirt slipped from nv :.
myers and ! saw her carried beyouc :,
~ reach. | struggled to reach no, y
was crazed with fear for her. Ru. :,
saw the rail give way. Ascore q, :,
ersons iell into the water and then ,
" wlie was thrust over. too a
me panic was awful The crew a
"a the best It could, but il was now. h
fiess against The panic-stricken men
M women Many OF the men also b
ere apparently ont of their senses II
women were carried past me m d
le throng. Tried to equip them as 81
est could, but the time was an foo a
REF. I
Many OF them must have been
fo"hed without a chance to save
lemseIves. n
Wnen saw that further effort wa,
'eiess' leaped into the water. Sc ;.
'ho me, on the deck were manv "
omen and children, and to be caught
'ere meant death, for the hurricane
EEK settled down over them like the =
OF huge coffin" ;,
J do not believe many of the per ~
ms VINO We're on the first two decksl A.
'uid possibly have escaped" saidI -
anllne Binshol OF pekin, H.. who es. =,
ped from the sinking pleasure crau =,
! was chatting with friends when N
felt the boat rise ont OF The riyeri FRI
ilch was so ciouded with fog almost,
thing could be spen abe.d rhor -,