The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-06

AS PANIC UPSETS
RIVER STEAMBOAT
CONTINUED from First Page.)

ANOhNlHutu AIOul IAASl abN-l
big wall of water swept over the
deck. She was carried against the
rail and overheard, and in spite OF
all could do, l saw her sink. Then
the boat sank and / jumped"
Mrs. Mehl was found today among the
survivors. She was picked up by a
skin. She will recover.
Mrs. Elizabeth Frew. a stewardess,
was asleep when the boat struck.
She hurried to the deck and tried to
calm the terrified women passengers
Everybody was fighting 10 get to
the rail-" said Mrs. Frew. They
were struggling and clutching each
other. Many jumped overheard. 4
saw some Of them go down. Others
swan around until boats picked them
up. Soon 1 found myself in a boat.
GOD knows how 1 got there"
Dead May Total 100.
Coroner Clary, OF Pekin. said today
that It was impossible to make &C.
curate estimate of thu death toll. He
said he. believed It would reach 100.
He had been told by members OF the
crew that scores OF persons were be-
low decks when the boat struck. II
that Is true. he said. few OF them
probably escaped. Many survivors
were still huddled on the river bank
at daylight They were being AIKEN
% Pekin as fast as motor cars could
make the run Wild estimates OF the
number OF dead were made by those
who escaped
Many asserted that less than 800
survivors had been accounted for out
OF the 693 persons aboard. Tele-
phone messages were sent to Chi
cago for professional divers. The boat
lay in midstream with her super
structure above water. Expert swim
mers were trying to locate bodies on
the upper deck. Most OF the victims
however. were believed to lie on the
lower decks. and It was regarded as
unlikely that many other bodies
could be recovered without diving
apparatus.
Darkness Adds To Horror.
After striking the log the steam
boat sank rapidly. and horror was
added to the scene when the lights
OF the boat went out, throwing the
entire surroundings into inky dark
ness. Darkness and the dense fog Sc
riously hampered the work OF rescue
ing the victims.
Horror at the scene OF the wreck !
was indescribable, as the passengers, !
gayly dancing on the deck OF the bat, |
we're plunged into the water. Their |
screams and cries OF terror were |
heard by persons far from the river.
The entire scene was turned from /
gayety and pleasure into a hideous
of horror.
Many men leaped into the river and
swan ashore, and women and chill
dren either leaped into the water or
were Jostled overheard by the panic
stricken revelers- Others chung In /
terror to the foundered steamboat
News Of the disaster flashed through |
the District. and hundreds early today
thronged the shores OF the river seek
ing for their friends and relatives
who were aboard the boat
II is estimated that 400 people were
dancing on the center deck Of the boat
when she grounded Water quickly
poured over the decks and scores were }
trapped as they vainly tried to breast
the torrents OF water that poured
down companion ways and blocked
the exits to the upper decks. Children
were thrown far from the boat into
the river, and mothers frantically
sought their children in the panic
stricken throng.
Home. Sweet HOme.S
The band had just begun the strains
of Home, Sweet Home" the final
dance, when the boat grounded.
With the lights OF the boat exiting
uished, lanterns OF rescuerS on the
shore and the headlights of automo-
biles that quickly gathered along the
ricer, cast a weird glare out over the
tragic waters and afforded the only
light available to aid the rescuers in
their heartbreaking task A lack OF
rowboats near the scene OF the trag-
edy was another hampering factor.
Coroner Clary swore In jury at
Pekin early today and stated he
would begin his official investigation
during the morning. His first wit
nesses were expected to be Capt.
Herman Mehl, one of the Columbia
owners, and Thomas Williams, her