The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-03
SING CAILY
AS CAPITOL
SEEKS PORT
Fearing the Rapids, Pilot
Lands Steamer on
Iowa Side.

led How Glad We Are to Get Back
10 Rock Island" and I'VE Hate to
Say Goodbye and otherwise max
Ink the best Of an unfortunate sit
uation several thousand knights
Templar who had taken part in the
field day exercises on the arsenal
drill grounds in the afternoon, re-
turned to the city about $3.50 last
night by means of automobiles,
street cars and all manner of con-
veyance from below Mcclellan
! Heights in Davenport. where the
steamer Capitol on which they were
b return was forced to land be-
cause darkness prevented a safe
passage over the rapids.
The grand review was scheduled
to be completed shortly after five
o'clock, but it was found impossible
TO keep to the program and it was
e:l5 before the knights had all
boarded the boat for the return
trip. The Capitol was headed up
the river in the Moline pool when
Z 1t took on the passengers and with
the capacity load and with little
current in the pool it was found
difficult to turn it around.
Pilots Refuse Responsibility.
A trip was made to the upper end
Of the pool and with difficulty the
large craft was headed down
stream. BY the time 1t had passed
through thsslnek~agaisi -s1a1B~lthe
main channel darkness had des-
cended. A conference of pilots was
then called. according TO officials
Of the Streckfus line, and Captain
0ren Smith. rapids pilot. Captain
v. Hunter and Captain w. 4. Blair
{ecided that they would not dare
take the responsibility of guiding
the Capitol over the rapids in the
dark, especially since government
work in the river is said to have
made navigation of the rapids even
more difficult than usual at the
present time. Accordingly the boat
was steered to the only landing
place above the rapids and was
docked about S:45 on the Iowa side
Just below Mcclellan Heights in
Davenport.
AlIege Profteering.
Many who were on the boat de-
clare that the larders were filled
and the object Of holding up the
boat was to delay the return to the
city in order to sell the food to the
passengers at exhorbitant prices.
others seem to be under the i'm
preston that all was not right with
the steamers machinery.
Both Purser Vern Streckfus and
|, Captain c. McGee, master of the
\ Capitol, declared this morning that
there was nothing wrong with the
Yoat and that it was for the safety
cf the craft and its many passen-
gers that the precaution was taken.
Excursion boats have never made
: practice OF passing over the rap
'ds after dark. When the trip was
planned they say that the return
vas scheduled for much earlier and
IN addition the difficulty in turning
IN the quiet waters Of the pool was
not anticipated.
Many Rumors Afloat.
Many rumors were circulated in
tne city last evening when hun
eieds waited for The return of the
Sspitol. Some believed the boat
uao been disabled, some thought 1t
uaa struck a rock, others heard
mat there had been trouble in get
uns through the lock and more ru-
mors stated that there was no in
.ention on returning. the boat TAX
'as moonlight excursion up the
nver. Food which had been pre-
pared to feed the thousands on
ueir return from the drill had to
oe kept warm and there was gen.
sIai CONSERVATION on the part Of
%ose who were waiting to carry on
.ue evening program Of the grand
sail on board the boat.
As soon as word Of the plight OF
e capitol reached Carl A. Hall
sen' commander Of Rock Island
~mmandery. No. IS, he gave .
sarry-up order for street cars to
sent to Davenport and automp-
uies from all over the city were
~mmandeered to make the trip to
4 10 ~ a.