The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-07-11

Excursion Steamer Columbia
Strikes Obstacle In illinois
River and Goes to
BettOm.
MANI BODIES RECOVERED
Sinking Vessel Is Overturned
When Panicky Passengers
Rush to Boat Side-Div-
ers Are at Work.

Peoria, H., July 6.-FTfty-six
bodies, mostly those of women, had
been taken by divers from the
wreck of the excursion steamer
Columbia up to 3 O lock this after
noon. At that time 1t vas esti-
mated tina nearly 100 more bodies
remain liz the ~wreckage. More than
75 survivors are in hospitals in
Peoria I'M Pekin suffering minor
injuries.
Peoria, Ill, July e.-Government in
Vestigation. Of the sinking of the ex-
[cursion steamer Columbia last night,
with the loss OF from 100 to 800 lives,
mostly women, was promised by John
Dcushcrty, assistant district attorney,
this afternoon. &.
At1i:15 o'clock this morning 81 bod
ies had been recovered by divers.
Survivors of tho disaster charged
that tho steamer, loaded with nearly
Goo Cxcursionists ran on a sandbar
in u dense fog. and did not
hit a sunken snag as at FIRST reported.
1t il declared that, although the ship
was within Is feet Of shore at this
time, she was backed out into deep
waite. without waiting 10 ascertain the
kextcns Of tho injuries she had sus-
|taiucd. AS the ship reached midstrcam
she suddenly broke in two and sank.
Twenty bodies had beer recovered at
daylight and telephone messages from
tina scene of the wreck Indicated that
other bodies had beer located between
the decks of the vessel.
Five i1rdrcd and siXty-three persons
beSi6es the cie,y Of 30 were believed
to ha?o been aboard tho vessel. Scores
Of s@rv.vore, some of them injured, are
~ being cared for. at lek!n.
IEe Co!"mbia was n three deck ex-
1ursion steamer, I5o feet long. 1t was
owned W the Fl. +. Mchi Excursion
[co:apany. cf Peoria. II was under
kchar.er TO tho South Side Social CLUB
OF rci;ir.
TIE ves.e! was returning to Pekin
ffcam Al Fresco, a suinmer resort. a
"A dense Fog lay over the river.
Passengers Overturn Boat.
With the cXcursionists dancing on
the upper deck to the strains OF O band,
the Columbia ran on q sand bank. she
was promptly backed of but immedl-
lately began to list. Later .epoTts indi-
Heated slie had struck 4 submerged log
and torn q mole amidsh.pS.
Panic stricken, the excursionists
rushed TO the ports!6e Of the boat in
Esp.te OF the efforts of the crew to keep
the deck load evenly balanced. il.
Less thar five minutes after she had
kstruck tine bar the Columbia overturned
II II Iilktt liz U Al I'm
81 Dozens of men and women had
Fleaped into the water and others were
"A throaH into the water when the boat
81 turned over. Many We're between decks,
karlG 4 was believed certain that they
n went down with toe o
Il Iha second deck of the boat, where
zfthe ,is hall is located, was crowded
n wft.l 'ie crash came, n it was here
n that many were crushed to death in The
XraEtc.
II Ray Jones', fireman on the steamer
81 est mates that between $50 cnd 200
persons were on the dance floor when
NJ the boat struck and lie believed many
Eros these mad persisted.
"a wen the boat scttlcd on the bottom
"A the water reached the state rooms i'm
mcJtate.y below the pilot house OF the
listed eide. The pilot when he found
lis boat was sinking cent distress sig
N rails anc within a short time oatS
from various directions came to the
yescue snd began 10 Dic': UP those
II r~t-ucS.ing IN the water. but on account
ar the darkness t!;eir efforts were badly
n h.i,npcred.
Over {, An instant.
August :.fehl, brother os captain II.
+. Mehl and pu.scr Of ti,g boat. who
ao5t hls hife In the disaster. made the
following statement:
The whole thing was over in an in
stant. | was in the cafe cf the boat
when tho shock came. knew that we
had struck a submerged Jog and /
n hea.a my brother the captain. cry out
Everybody upstairs Che crowd
ruslei Tor the upper iecss. flushed TO
the ciSine roor) &c notify IT,. engineers.
On my return I saw my VIE running
ahead OF nc UP ire comransonway.
followed and ipst a. : got &C. the second
dcck the boat listed tc ess lee side and
sank quickly. I saw my Ni:e thrown
II overheard INFO the rttec. ] grabbed
al lcI skirt Jlt It si,cse. from my
fingers then the Uoes W.: 2lu2ecd into
total darkness -a1 .cr q l!fe pre-
Server and got Ia the upper iecx IN
n Tune H. help tho wor.. escaca IA tae
d!fo boats.
AZ .kas tire :ne water VS. up 10
the s,ate-ooms Immediately below tire
Fl PILOT house on one aide and up 10 The
bas" Of he pilot house CT the listed
4 side
Few Bodie. Recovered.
Dell S!vely. the pilot o!: watch ut
the limo OF the disaster. was asleep
in his aia.erocn. His vile. in chaige
of the lunch counter. rushed to her
husbands rom and awakened him.
They reached the deck. grabbed life
preservers. jumped overheard and were
Saved.
Mrs. Herman Mehl. wife OF the cap
tain. was bleeding from a wound on
N'S e'NS ~ JIG IVAN "IAC0 oiC koiu
her story nj tho accident.
II WAS on tho lance floor deck at
the me ahs ca'J. 1T was all over
before ..eu eou!s say scat. When tie
boat listed something must have struck
me on the head. I came 20 in the
water ArG grabbed s. hand rail OH the
boat. just h,u ss.se enough 20 pull
myself H. aud get o life preserver.
Holding IN VIII ora band TO the boa
;hs other &c the prcserver. I kept
Rfloat Until san.s men pulled me in
Search Tor bodies was abandoned at
O'Clock this no.rin. until daylight
came. Approximately 29~had been re-
covcrHd. only Z portion Of whom had
be.,, identified.
Tc:s mo:ni,.S only tic hurricane deck
" s.sih:r atcvc lbs water Of the !l:i-
nois
W., she sr,Ak q: day two Divers
wctt 10 W, into iho s..al;e, wreck OF
fhc :'oi.'rSia te bring Up bodies Of the
ef,;i.,.s
Am:o: st HE Same lin, s..asses be-