TAZEWELL COUNTY ILLINOIS	GENEALOGY TRAILS	Columbia Riverboat

COLLECTION OF ARTICLES
& List of Crew, Orchestra & Passengers
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The Columbia Riverboat Disaster
July 5, 1918 - August 14, 2000
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Peoria Journal Star, August 14, 2000 "Lucille Adcock: Pekin Arts Festival Honors Victims - Last Survivor of Tragedy Dies Hours After Ceremony" Pekin - The purpose of the first Pekin Riverfront Park Arts Festival was to promote the arts in Tazewell County and to honor victims and families of the Columbia Riverboat disaster. It may come to be remembered as the memorial for Lucille Adcock, 106, who was the last known survivor of the tragedy. She died hours after the re dedication ceremony of the Columbia Riverboat State Historical Marker. On July 5, 1918, on a trip back to Kingston Mines, a tree stump in the Illinois River ripped a hole in the steamboat's hull. The ornate riverboat sank as passengers fought for their lives. Eighty-eight people died that night, 57 of whom were from Pekin. The dead were brought to the riverfront, where the marker sits, for identification. The festival, which drew about 1,000 people, was the first of many events to be held by the Tazewell County Historic Places Society in celebration of area arts. "(The festival) helps develop a steady historical and artistic base for our residents," said Christal Dagit, president of the society, which is devoted to preserving the history of Tazewell County. Part of that history is the sinking of the Columbia. The society has held a memorial service for the Columbia for four of the last five years. Last year's memorial wasn't possible because of renovations being made at Miller Park at the riverfront. Family members of the steamboat's passengers and others attended the event, as state Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, read victims' names aloud. A bell was rung for each by the Pekin Firefighters Local 524. Adcock was too ill to attend the ceremony and later died, but her daughters Beverly Bowman, Pat Lohman of Pekin, and Mary Maas, all of Pekin, were there. "We are thankful that she survived," Bowman said. The women are glad the service is held and hope that it continues. The festival also put unique arts and crafts on display. Martha Cather is an art enthusiast who decided to go to the festival to see what they had to offer. "We go to a lot of art festivals, we just enjoy it. It gives us something to do," the Pekin resident said. Others headed to the festival simply to enjoy the weather with their family and friends. The park boasts a large fountain and playground. "It sounded like fun, we really like the fountain," said Lori Miller, a five-year resident of Pekin who was there with three young children. Angie Wallace agreed. "It's great to have somewhere to go with the kids, they love the playground," said Wallace, also of Pekin. The art festival had many other activities for children as well, including T-shirt dyeing, face painting, pastel painting instruction and origami instruction. Other booths presented oil and photography paintings, ceramic vases, jewelry and glass blowing, among other things. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Pekin Daily Times, July 2, 1998 "Residents to Commemorate Sinking of Steamship Sunday" Written by Bridget Coffey Lucille Adcock almost missed a defining moment in local history.  Adcock, then 18 years old, remembers hurrying with her 14 year old brother through Pekin streets to teh Illinois River to board the steamer Columbia on July 5, 1918.  "We almost missed the boat.  I remember we had to run to catch it" said Adcock, now 98.  While she might have been safer if she had missed the boat, the trip has given her a story of a lifetime.  Adcock was one of those who survived when teh steamer struck a submurged tree stump and sank that night.  Eighty seven passengers weren't as lucky.  Fifty seen of those who died were from Pekin.  At the time, teh accident was the worst ever in teh history of inland water navigation. On Sunday, exactly 80 years later, those who died shall be remembered. A memorial service, sponsored by the Tazewell county Historic Places Society, begins at 2 pm at teh foot of court Street in Pkin underneath the John T McNaughton Bridge. Adcock and fellow survivor, Mildred Wagner Deere, shall attend.  "I think thatyoung people today should know what happened on teh river in 1918 because it is a part of pekin's history," Adcock said.  The Pekin Firefighters Honor Guard 524 International Association shall present the colors and ring a bll as the name of each passenger who died that night is read.  Friends and family of the dead are urged to place a flower in teh river for their lost ones. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Peoria Journal Star, August 14, 2006 Lucille Adcock Riverboat Survivor Dies at Age 106 - She was aboard when Columbia Sank in 1918 by Nicole Beard Pekin- The last known survivor of the columbia Riverboat tragedy, died just hours after a ceremony clebrating her amazing survival.  Lucille Adcock, 106, of pekin, died Sunday at pekin Manor Nursing Home, leaving bhind a legacy of strength and courage, according to her daughters.  On July 4, 1918, the steamboat Columbia, laden with 496 holiday excursionists, began its voyage from Kingston Mines to Alfresco Amusement Park in Peoria.  On the return trip early the next day, a hole - 11 ft in length and 2 fet in width - was torn in the hull by a tree stump in the Illinois River.  Eighty eight people died.  Adcock, 18 at the time, survived by hanging onto a flag pole until help arrived.  Adcock lived a full life, said daughter Beverly Bowman of Pekin. Adcock married and had seven children. She worked a variety of jobs from her first job at her grandfather's cigar factory, to running the Old Maid Rite retaurant in pekin.  She again dealt with tragedy, though, in 1950 when her husband died.  Those tragedies changed Adcock's perspective on life, Bowman said.  "(The tragedies) made her stronger.  She was a very strong woman," she said.  On Sunday, the Tazewell County Historical Places Society held an arts festival with a "special event" honoring the victims and survivors of the sinking of the Columbia.  The guest of honor was the only known living survivor, Adcock, who couldn't make it but sent her three daughters in her place.  The women happily attended to celebrate their mother's survival and to remember the victims who weren't so lucky.  A few hours later, about 4:30 pm, Adcock who had been ill for the past couple of years, died.  Adcock, described by her daughters as a "very loving mother," had counted 105 grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, shortly before her death, mentioning how much she loved each of them.  "It was a good day for her to go, when everyone was celebrating her life," Bowman said. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

COLUMBIA CREW LIST JULY 5, 1918

Herman Mehl Tom Williams Dell Shivley George Smith L. W. Logan A. L. Davison August Mehl Ernest Lampton Ray Jones Ernest Hines Robert E Bennett Cal Edwards Henry Tripaer George Stewart Mrs. Herman Mehl Mrs. August Mehl Mrs. Dell Shivley Carl Aiken

Captain Pilot Pilot First Officer Chief Engineer Assistant Engineer Purser Boilerman Fireman Deck Watchman Deck Hand Deck Hand Deck Hand Deck Hand Lunchroom Helper Lunchroom Helper Lunchroom Helper Concession Boy

COLUMBIA ORCHESTRA

Arthur Knapp Charles Race Kenneth Sanders

Drummer               Pianist              Musician

NOTE: click here, for the list of passengers.

Pekin Daily Times, Saturday, July 6, 1918 "Steamer Columbia Sinks At Wesley, Scores of Pekin Residents Drown" South Side Social Club Excursion Ends With River Tragedy at Midnight Off Wesley River Bank. Community Stunned, Kingston is Stricken Bulletin At one o'clock this afternoon Red Cross representatives from Bloomington, Peoria and Chicago arrived, and Red Cross nurses from Bloomington and Peoria were assisting local Red Cross workers in making a working card index of the identified dead, the survivors in need of medical attention and arranging to give aid to stricken families and individuals.  At half past one o'clock, forty one of the sixty nine dead bodies recovered from the wreckage had been identified.  The list of known dead will be found in another column.  The steamer Columbia, excursion boat owned by Captain H F Mehl of Peoria, carrying about 450 residents of Kingston Mines and Glasford, sank in twelve feet of water in the Illinois River just off Wesley City, seven miles north of Pekin at midnight Friday night.  News of the disaster, which cost the lives of well over a hundred Pekin men, women and children was received in Pekin at one o'clock and Coroner Lawrence R. Clary was notified. Clary Takes Charge Coroner Clary immediately hurried to the scene of the disaster and took charge of the work of rescue.  Residents of Wesley City who heard the steamer's distress calls rushed to the river bank and aided in bringing the survivors to shore.  At seven o'clock this morning the bodies of Mrs. Al O'Hern, Mrs. John Grewley, Melvin Diepenbrock, Miss Johnson, Mrs. T A McPherson, Miss Ruth Hoskins, Miss Holden, Mrs Cora Moldenhauser, Mrs. Scott King, and James Blackburn had been removed by workmen under Coroner Clary and had been brought to a temporary morgue in the Empire building on Court Street, Pekin.  From there the bodies were removed by the city's undertaking parlors as relatives claimed them. Times Worker Escapes A daughter of E Brader, rescued and brought to her home this morning, was in serious condition at noon today.  Eugene Herbig, who is employed at the Times office, lies at his father's home, having barely escaped with his life.  The tragedy, which is said by some to be due to the pilot, Tom Williams, through lack of skill and by others, old river men, to be due to the condition of the Columbia's hull, has saddened scores of homes in Pekin, as well as Kingston and Glasford and the vicinity.  The South Side Social club of Pekin was host to the excursion party last night. Little Ones Die At nine o'clock this morning, the bodies of Francis and Albert Grewey, aged 3 and 2 months, son and daughter of Mrs. John Grewey, drowned, were recovered by Coroner Clary's crew of workers.  The Columbia is a three deck boat, and many of the victims of the ca strophe were on the lower deck, with scores of others in the enclosed dance hall on, the second deck, who were with a few options, drowned like rats in a trap. Story Of Disaster William Newman, who was dancing when the crash came, tells a graphic story of the sinking.  He said today to a representative of the Times, "We had just passed through the P & P U Bridge near Wesley and had been going to the Wesley side of the river.  I heard someone say that we were so near ashore that one could touch the willows with a fishing pole.  Then I felt a smash, like something had hit the bottom.  I saw the music men dive for the windows and called to them to keep on playing.  They started up and then my girl and I danced twice around the room.  I wanted to get her near the door.  Then I felt the boat swing out to th middle of the river and then, it seemed to me that the pilot must have swung her short around and something tore apart.  Then it was black and I knew I was near dead. "I grabbed my girl and got a big gulp of water and then I felt solid floor under me.  I pushed up and got air.  I broke a window and a fellow reached through and grabbed my girl.  Then I passed two other women to him and he pulled me out and told me it was his turn to get in.  He was Ben Murphy.  Ben got in and passed out another woman and kids to the men at the hole.  "I don't know who reached out and took me, but when I woke up, I was on shore at Wesley.  Then some folks brought coffee and we went back to work  I don't know how many were saved, but there must be lots dead in that dance hall." Peoria Sends Help Coroner Clary was assisted today by Coroner W H Elliott, of Peoria County, and chief of Police Rhoades of Peoria.  Clary sent officers to the scene to prevent any disorder.  sheriff Wilson, with Deputies Hess and McCoy aided the coroner on the shattered steamer.  The sheriff's young son, Joe Wilson, who was on the boat, saved the lives of Mrs. Stanly Everett and her two children, before he was rescued himself.  The big steam launch, city of Pekin, was at th can of the disaster early this forenoon, aiding in the work of recovering victims from the dance hall and the lower deck Ask for Aid Mayor Charles Schnefer, by request of Coroner Clary, sent messages of appeal to Chicago and Springfield, asking for th immediate dispatch of a derrick to raise the submerged wreck.  Two divers from Peoria arrived at 7 o'clock this morning.  E R Barnewolt and H E Fitch, and were busy in taking bodies from the submerged lower deck.  The water of the river was on a level with the floor of the pilot house today and the hull was slowly sinking in the soft mud at the bottom of the Illinois River.  It is a problem whether all the bodies of the victims will be recovered, though precautions have been taken by authorities to prevent any from floating down stream.  Watches taken from the two women's bodies just stopped at 12:05 o'clock this morning.  Kingston residents today estimated the number of passengers on the ill fated steamer from Kingston and Glasford vicinity at sixty two to sixty four.  Those who could talk about the horror were so dazed by the terrible catastrophe that few names could be learned.  It is stated that Mrs. Charles Harbolt and two children are among the dead.  Other victims are Reka Brown, Lilian Schwinn, Ada Sapp, Kenneth Saunders, Edith Lee, Eddie Voll, Hazel Jones, Letha Black, a Peoria woman with a card on the body.  G.W. Luke, seven unidentified women and three unidentified children. Entire Family Drowns Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Witcher and two children, 109 Fayette Street Pekin, drowned in each others arms and their bodies were among those recovered today.  This means the annihilation of an entire family.  Al, Tom, and Ben Meinen were still among the missing at noon today.  Will Freeland, of Kingston, mourns his wife today.  She went alone on the excursion last night and though her body had not been recovered at noon, friends are assured she is dead.  Lizzie Brown and Mrs John Wright and two children of Kingston, are also among the dead, reported this afternoon. Mrs. Haschert Dead. Mrs. George Haschert's name was added to the list of known dead at 11:00 o'clock this morning.  Among the missing at noon was Mrs. John Reuling, and scores of other Pekin men and women.  At noon today, Coroner Clary announced that 69 bodies, many yet unidentified, had been brought to the surface and sent to Pekin to the temporary morgue, for identification and claiming by relatives.  Early this morning Judge Jesse Black, chairman of Pekin's Red cross, offered aid to the coroner in handling the tragic situation, and later received a telegram from Chicago Red Cross offering aid.  A representative of the Chicago Red Cross arrived in pekingese this afternoon and at three o'clock met with the local chapter to devise ways of affording relief to stricken families in this vicinity.  As more and more bodies continued to be taken from the wrecked pleasure craft today, the extent of the tragedy grow in Pekin's comprehension, and the entire city, dazed this morning by the sudden horror, roused itself to appreciate the situation. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Peoria Star, Saturday, July 6, 1918 "100 Drowned In Steamer Columbia Sinking" Fifty Bodies Recovered From Wreck And Survivors Say Total May Reach 200 Charge Boat Was Unfit For Service Bulletin At 1:30 o'clock this afternoon, 65 bodies had been recovered.  Under the forward deck a mass of corpses that may contain a dozen or a score may be seen but can not be reached except by divers.  This is on the main deck.  The belief is that on the boiler deck, where the bar was located, even more lives were lost than on the dancing deck.  No bodies from this deck are yet brought up, but the divers from the Great Lake Drydocks Company, Chicago, will find a ghastly company when they penetrate the depths of this submerged trap.  Estimates of dead are as high as 300.  Undoubtedly scores were swept from the sloping decks into the rushing current of the river. More than 50 bodies had been recovered at 1 o'clock from the wreck of the steamer Columbia which was sunk at midnight in the Illinois River one-half mile below Wesley city, and it was conservatively estimated that the dead would number more than 100.  Some survivors say that the death list will reach 200.  Pekin and Kingston Mines people, of whom 563 were on board  made up the passenger list of the excursion boat.  Charges that the Columbia was unfit for service were being made by the relatives of survivors and Coroner Clary of Pekin, who is in charge of the inquest, will make a special inquiry into the condition of the steamer. Assert Steamer Broke In Two River men say that the Columbia apparently hit a big sand bar near the place where she went down, that her steel braces broke and that she virtually snapped in two.  The vessel was badly wrecked when she settled on the bottom.  Bodies were taken from the wreck throughout the morning by men working with axes and grappling hooks.  Barnewalt, a Peoria diver, was on the scene at 8 o'clock and a force of twelve divers from Chicago reached Peoria by 2 pm.  They were rushed by special train to Wesley City. Forty-five identified and eight unidentified persons were in the morgue at noon.  Five identified and one unidentified were in Peoria undertaking establishments and the remainder in Pekin. Chief of Police, Rhoades was among those who believe that the steamer buckled.  "This is probably the way it happened." He said. "When the Columbia rammed the sand bar the impact broke one of the hog chains." (The steel rods arching from stem to stern on either side) "The man at the wheel instead of letting the boat lay on the band until it was found whether it was injured, backed up into deep water.  Then without th hog chain support on one side, she buckled and sank. Cool Heads Stop Panic Panic and confusion ensued when the steamer started to sink, but after she settled cool headed officers and passengers quieted the excursionists and the women and children were gotten away first.  Passengers and members of the crew behaved well.  Signals of distress were sounded by the steamer and River men put out from shore in skiffs.  Several motor boats reached the scene and gave valuable assistance.  The Julia Bell Swain started to aid in the rescue.  It got though the lower free bridge but encountered a heavy fog down stream and was unable to proceed safely.  The excursion was promoted by the South Side Social club of Pekin of which B F Mennan is president.  Tickets sold, according to members of the club numbered 563.  One hundred persons were picked up at Kingston Mines and the remainder at Pekin.  The steamer brought the crowd to the Allied Fraternal Society carnival here and left Peoria shortly after 11 o'clock. Deep Fog Met Down Stream The fog settled over the river about this time and became more dense as the boat went down stream. Captain Tom Williams of Theodosian, for years an Illinois river pilot, was in charge of the wheel.  At a point half a mile below Wesley City, the steamer got close to shore and Williams swung the flashlight to assist him in locating his position.  Just then the branches of willows growing close to the shore, swiped the side of the vessel near the stern and smashed several window panes.  According to Captain Mehl and Pilot Williams, the steamer was moving on a "slow bell".  Officers and passengers felt the momentum of the steamer checked and it appeared to be scraping the bottom of the river. There was no perceptible jolt.  Williams backed the Columbia off to clear and swung her nose down stream.  Captain Mehl observed that she was listing slightly.  "Run her ashore, damn her, run her ashore!" Mehl shouted to the pilot. Tries for Tazewell Shore The Columbia was near the Peoria side, but the river is narrow and he could make the Tazewell side quicker than he could turn and run ashore on the west side of the river.  He ordered full speed ahead but the water was coming up over the first deck and it was seen that she rapidly sinking.  "Everybody get on the top deck, quick!" called out Captain Mehl.  The alarm was spread and the passengers who were on the lower decks scrambled toward the top.  Lights went out when the water hit the engine room and men, women, and children were groping wildly in the dark.  Within a few minutes the vessel settled and went suddenly to the bottom, however, remaining almost upright.  Screams of women, shouts of men, cries of children, together with loud commands of officers mingled in wild confusion.  Some prayed and others swore.  Women were pulled out of the water from the cabin decks by strong armed men and placed safely in the hurricane deck.  The crew was trying to launch the life boats and getting life preservers to passengers.  Within a few minutes the first oat got away and other craft from the shore came out and took off as many as they could carry.  Work of landing the survivors continued for nearly two hours.  Two young women did not wait for life boats, but jumped into the river and swam ashore.  The Peoria police sent ambulances and patrol cars to the scene and removed the injured to the hospital  Special trains, made up by the Peoria and Pekin railway, helped take survivors to Pekin.  Others went in volunteer automobiles.  Fog Hangs Until 6 O'Clock before the sun dispelled the fog sufficiently to enable Captain Mehl and members of the crew to start organized efforts to recover bodies from the wreck.  Father Sullivas, a priest of Pekin, arrived before six o'clock and offered his services to Captain Mehl.  Captain Charles Hefels and Lance Hardin was on the scene and aided in the work of rescue.  H R Palmer and William Egan, others on the scene early, assisted in rowing skiff loads of survivors to the shore.  August Mehl, brother of the captain, and Mrs August Mehl were on the steamer.  Mrs. Mehl was missed after the boat went down and she was considered among the list.  captain Mehl did not know until 4 o'clock that she had been saved. Hundred Still In Wreckage Earl R Barnewalt, the local diver, claimed that upward of a hundred bodies have been removed from the wreckage and that more than another hundred are still pinned in the lower deck.  Aided by his brother, Ora, young barnewalt has done valiant work in removing dead bodies.  He started to work early this morning and continued without a moment's rest throughout the day.  Spectators who gathered along the river in motor boats were in communication with barnewalt, and it is alleged, that he said at least a hundred bodies remain in the lower deck.  Barnewalt is the son of Mrs N R Barnewalt, 613 Lincoln Avenue.  He is an automobile repair man and resides on Holmes Street.  Chief of Police, W W Rhoades, received a message at 11 o'clock that a diving outfit with men from th Great Lakes Drydock company of Chicago, left that city on the Rock Island.  They arrived at 1 o'clock this afternoon and General Manager Johnson of the P & P U had cars and an engine ready and rushed them through to the wreck.  Current Sweeps Many Away It is thought that many people were swept away from the decks of the boat by the rushing current, which a half mile below Wesley City runs like a hill-race.  Scores were thrown into the water as the boat listed to starboard as she sank..Thes e bodies will be carried down stream and found probably miles below.  It is understood that below where the tragedy occurred, nets are being placed across the channel some weighted to rest on the bottom and others at the surface and that the Pekin other nets will be hung for same purpose.  In this weather, bodies will rise to the surface in three to five days.  Drifting down stream this morning was all manner of wreckage, useless life preservers few had time to grasp and fewer still knew how to adjust, life floats, pieces of broken Gingerbread ornamental woodwork, hats, handkerchiefs, and miscellaneous fragments mutely testifying to the way the boat went to pieces as she backed to her doom instead of laying still on Bar No. 11 where she grounded.  On the port side, toward the Tazewell shore, the hog chains --steel overhead braces running from stem to stern, and carrying the load of boilers in front and engines in the stern, hangs loose and sagging while on the starboard side these hog chains are under a tremendous strain, carrying the weight of the cabins and super structure thrown upon them as the boat listed and sank. These bear mutual testimony that the hull beneath the water was buckled under the impact on the bar in the dense fog.  "She sank in three minutes." is the statement that is  made by survivors. Fifty Bodies Arrive At 11 o'clock this morning, fifty bodies had been received at Pekin and identified.  The ambulances could not take care of the bodies, which arrived by boat, and express wagons; and delivery trucks were pressed into service.  Lieutenant buck, home from army on a visit to the Flowers family, was one of the heroes of the disaster and saved a number of lives before he was compelled to stop thru exhaustion.  There was a persistent report that he had been lost, but it proved untrue.  Verah Flowers, whom accompanied him on the excursion, is among the dad.  Gordon Gay, Jake Becker, Edward Volla another well known Pekin men were among the identified dead. Red Cross To Aid Relief The Pekin Chapter of the Red Cross has called a meeting for this afternoon and will take charge of the relief work.  The Peoria chapter generously offered assistance and the Holt Manufacturing Company tendered any assistance in its power to give.  The Pekin and Peoria bridges have been closed to prevent river traffic and the consequential dislodgement of bodies still in the wreckage.  The work of taking out the bodies is preceding as rapidly as possible, but it may be tomorrow or later before the last are found.  The toll of the dead may run over 150.  It was thought at noon.  Captain Dell Sivley, a pilot off watch, was aroused from sleep by is wife.  He got out on top in time to assist in the work of rescue. Man Imprisoned For Hour One man was imprisoned for nearly an hour in the wreckage above the water line.  His feet were caught and he was unable to help his rescuers.  Axes provided in case of accident were below the water line and few axes were available.  The prisoner talked coolly during the work of rescuer and asked them only to "hurry".  His wife watched the efforts to release him.  Finally enough planking was torn away to extricate him.  The more severely insured were taken to St. Francis Hospital in Peoria. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Peoria Star, Sunday July 7, 1918 "Grand Jury Probe Threatened In Disaster" Governor Lowden Backs Inquiry Aimed To Place Responsibility For Steamer Columbia Sinking Sends State Waterway Chairman Sackett To Put Machinery In Motion Asks Aid Of Prosecutors A Grand Jury investigation of the steamer Columbia disaster with the power of Governor Lowden and Attorney General Brumage behind it, was threatened last night.  Coming at the request of the governor, William L Sackett, state superintendent of waterways, put in motion machinery for a sweeping inquiry into the cause of the tragedy that cost probably more than one hundred lives of Peoria and Tazewell county residents.   He told Coroner Clary of Tazewell county that the state demanded that the full facts be known. Calls for Prosecutors' Aid He made it known that he wished State's Attorney McNemar of Peoria County and State's Attorney Black of Tazewell Co to co-operate with the coroner.  He wired Attorney General Brundage that he desired the assistance of a special attorney from the attorney general's office in conducting the inquest and any subsequent investigations.  With county, state and federal inquiries under way, the investigation of the state government gave evidence of being the most sensational.  Mr. Sackett did not hesitate to say he thought the loss of life on the Columbia called for a most rigid report and searching examination into the causes of the disaster.  He declared plainly that responsibility for the accident should be established, and if it were shown that the law had not been fully complied with and that due precautions for the safety of passengers had not been taken that the persons guilty of neglect or carelessness, if any were found, should be brought to account. Instructions from Lowden Mr. Sackett was at his home in Morris today when he was called by Governor Lowden who gave him certain instructions and requested him personally to visit Peoria to see that nothing was omitted to insure a complete investigation.  "I have talked with river men who know pretty well the causes of steamboat accidents" said Sackett, who had just returned to the Jefferson hotel from a visit to the wreck of the Columbia.  "I believe that this disaster should have a full investigation." U.S. Hearing Begins Today Captain George R Bowen and R V Downs, federal inspectors of St. Louis, arrived shortly after noon and started a preliminary inquiry.  They announced that examination of Captain Herman Mehl, owner of the Columbia would begin at 10:30 o'clock this morning at the Mayer Hotel.  C N Posegate, railroad engineer of the state public utilities commission, came from Springfield on an afternoon train and shall be here throughout the coroners inquest.  Captain Bowen, Mr. Downs and Mr. Postegate visited the wreck of the excursion steamer in the Illinois river below Wesley City and watched a score of men working to release bodies of the dead from decks below the water.  The Tazewell Co Coroner late yesterday announced that he would begin the inquest probably on Wednesday.  He wishes first to claim all the bodies from the river in order that a single examination of witnesses may be held.  Both federal and state investigators shall attend the hearing. Seventy-one Bodies Recovered Seventy-one bodies had been recovered from the sunken steamer when the rain and windstorm interrupted the workers at 8:25 o'clock last night.  Four bodies were recovered shortly before that hour. The government steamer Comanche arrived at the scene at 630 o'clock from La Salle and rendered valuable service with her hawser in opening up wreckage in which bodies were pinned. It was after these operations that the bodies were recovered.  The storm struck the wreck with sudden fury and Coroner Clary and his co-workers had difficulty in getting away and keeping launches and skiffs from being torn loose.  The Comanche drew away to avoid a collision.  She shall return to the wreck today and under direction of U S Engineer Brainerd a derrick shall be used to raise portions of the upper decks.  Mr. Posegate of the state utilities commission three years ago made an examination of the Columbia immediately after the Eastland disaster and found that it met the requirements of the commission which inquired especially into its measures for safety of its passengers. The Columbia had received the O.K. of federal inspectors, who examined the hull and the boilers. Duty To See Law Is Obeyed. "The idea is to investigate and ascertain if the law has been complied with," said Mr. Posegate in explanation of his mission.  "Only by investigating such accidents can we make recommendations for future laws.  It is our duty to investigate all such accidents since river transportation is under our supervision as well as railroad transportation."  "Might this disaster suggest some new legislation?" Mr Posegate was asked.  "Possibly," he replied. "When the Eastland disaster occurred, we prepared some bills we thought ought to be passed but they never were."  Mr Posegate indicated that he would investigate reports that the Columbia broke in two as a result of collapse of one of its steel braces or "hog chains."  After it went aground on a sand bar or struck an obstruction in the river.  captain Mehl last evening said there were still a few bodies in the wreck. Coroner Clary estimated that probably ten more bodies would be recovered from the hull.  He said several more might have gone down stream.  Fifteen Reported Missing. With fifteen reported missing and seventy-one already recovered, officials agreed that the death list would be at least above 85 and that it might reach or pass 100.  Federal Inspector Downs said neither he nor Captain Bower could express an opinion as to the cause of the accident.  Their report shall be made to the steamboat Inspection service of the department of commerce and the findings shall be announced by the department. "Our inquiry is aimed especially to see whether there was any carelessness on the part of licensed officers of the steamer or members of the crew," explained Mr. Downs. The hearing today shall be private.  Mr. Downs asserted that the steamer Columbia was issued a license certificate in May of this year.  "It was a terrible thing and we want to do everything we can," said Mr. Downs. U.S. Attorney Awaits Report Assistant District Attorney John Daugherty last evening said the disaster had not been called officially to his attention.  "I am waiting for a report from the inspection department," he said.  Mrs. Mehl, wife of the captain, was confined in bed last evening at her home, 109 Ayers avenue, and was under the care of a physician. Her cognition is not serious, but she is suffering from severe bruises.   Captain Mehl declared last night that no iron braces on the Columbia had broken before she sank.  He said any report to that effect was without foundation in fact. Score of Volunteer Workers Valiant service was performed by a score of volunteer workers throughout the day.  Several who started at daylight were the last to quit at dusk.  F. W. McFarland, 208 State street who was deputized by Coroner Clary, kept persons not on useful missions away from the wreck, was responsible for the recovery of twenty-four persons, one a baby.  He found most of them on the boiler deck under the state rooms.  J. L. Knowles, of Peoria Heights, an employee of the Central Illinois Light Company, was early on the scene, working in the fear that his wife and two children might be among the victims.  When he left his work, he learned that his family had not returned home.  He had one report that somebody had seen them and that they were not lost on the Columbia, but he continued to work through the day, clad only in his underwear. Two Men Find 32 Bodies W. H. Potter, 906 South Adams street, and Charles Wittlinger, 2202 South Adams street, together located and recovered thirty-two bodies.  J.H. Donahoe, 603 Sixth avenue, and J. E. Scheffler, 2629 South Adams Street, took bodies of victims to Pekin in a lauch.  Other volunteers included Robert Hudson, 1602 South Adams Street, John Chance, Wesley City, who was on the job within a few minutes after the boat went down; A Beck, 510 Charlton Street; Frank E Hewitt, 502 State Street Charles H Bell, 2112 South Washington Street; Walter Parker, 1027 South Washington; Joe Grant, Ray Whittier, 313 Cornhill Street. Babe and Mother Together. James Lane, 1304 Broadway, a volunteer worker, found a woman with a baby closely clasped to her breast during the morning.  He first took the infant from the arms of the mother and then pulled the woman out.  R. E. Bennett, aged 18 years, a deck hand on the Columbia, rescued nine adults and one child immediately after the steamer went down.  He also found the body of a little boy who had drowned near the wreck.  Carl Aiden, a concession boy, reported missing early in the day, escaped and is alive and well.  Ora Barnewolt, of the Barnwolt Construction company, was engaged by Captain Herman Mehl to supervise the workers.  He directed the tearing out of parts of the pilot house in order that bodies might be reached.  Captain T A Collins and Lieutenant C Stanley, of th  Holt inspection department, volunteered their services and remained on the wreck during the greater part of the day. Recovers $3,000 from a small iron safe.  It was submerged but raised with ropes. Currency was badly water soaked.  U.S. Custom Inspector J. M. Schmitt sent instructions to coroner Clary int eh afternoon that the wreck must be protected day and night. He authorized Dr. Clary to report to him the names of any persons who refused to obey orders to stay away from the wreck.  City Patrolmen Shemas, Couch, Snedden, Schwarting and Kuecks were assigned by Chief of Police Rhoades to do duty on the Columbia and the river bank.  They assisted materially in keeping the crowd away from the sunken steamer and straightened out traffic tangles in the narrow roadway.  sheriff Wilson, of Tazewell County, also was on the wreck during the afternoon and the services of the boat and crew were tendered to Captain Mehl. Thousands Visit Scene. Thousands were attracted to the scene, the greater numbers arriving in the late afternoon.  They went by motorboat, skiff, automobile, auto truck, in buggies and on foot.  The Peoria & Pekin Union train that left Peoria at 2 o'clock carried several hundred persons who got off at Wesley City and walked the remainder of the distance.  The sandy roadway on the Tazewell county side of the river is very narrow and only a few places is it possible for a machine to turn.  In many places two cars can not pass. A constant steam of cars that skidded and dodged along the uneven road carried capacity loads of spectators to and from the scene.  Maurice Feinberg, formerly a carrier boy on The Journal Star, changed his plans for St. Louis on Friday, and stayed for the excursion on the Columbia, Friday instead.  He was on the top deck with a companion, when the companion suggested to him that they take off their shoes and swim to shore.  "No. I can't swim." Replied Feinberg.  "I might just as well die here." Police Give Aid Quickly "Whatever we can do we shall do," Chief of Police Rhoades says, concerning the sinking of the Columbia.  "We shall not bother about technicalities.  We shall do all we can."  The police did great work.  When the alarm first reached the city hall, Patrolmen Horn, Huff, Schemel, Feinholz and Schnebly, in the emergency car, left at once for the scene.  When they arrived they found a scene of chaos. There were no lights and the police flashlights made ghostly shafts. There were people from along the river bank doing what they could which was little.  Then miners, with their lamps, began to arrive.  The police and other workers helped people from the river.  Girls and women, men and children, some with life preservers, some without. They waddled into the water and helped th unfortunate ashore. Children and girls were frantically screaming for aid to find their parents or friends.  They threw their arms around the officers' necks and begged to be taken home. Put 400 people on Trains The P & P U ran a special train that made two trips to Pekin.  "We loaded over 400 people on the trains."  Patrolman Schnelby says.  "We put 100 more in automobiles and then they were taken to Pekin.  When the automobiles arrived on that narrow road, deep in sand, there was confusion that we straightened out as best as we could.  "Mrs. Mehl told me that they had about 600 people on board.  500 from Pekin and 100 from Kingston Mines."  Patrolmen Payne and Garrets went down by boat to do what they could and others went on the Julia Bell Swain, but the Swain boat could do but little. To have approached too close in that currant and fog would have ben to crush the small boats taking off people or to have crushed into the wreck.  The shall was there but conditions were impossible. Victim Former Peoria Girl Miss Bessie Shmel, aged 25 years, daughter of Mr & Mrs James Shemel, Rosedale, southern suburb of Pekin, is one of the victims in the disaster.  The deceased was born in peoria on September 30, 1893, and had lived in this city until a short time ago, when she moved with her parents to Rosedale.  Since her graduation from Douglas School of Peoria, she has remained at home assisting her mother.   Her sweet womanliness and pleasing personality has endeared her to a large circle of friends, who deeply regret her passing.  Besides hr parents, she is survived by one brother, Fred Shemel of Pekin.  Miss Shemel had gone on the excursion in the company of Mr & Mrs George Sickles.  Mr. Sickles also lost his life.  Kenneth Sanders, 19-year-old son of C. A. Sanders, 306 South Garfield avenue, is numbered among the dead.  Young Sanders was the drummer of the Columbia boat orchestra.  He was born in this city in 1899 and has since made this his home.  He was a graduate of the Washington School at the corner of Moss and Garfield avenues. He is survived by his father.  Funeral from the residence, 306 South Garfield avenue, Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Please omit flowers.  Earl Barnewolt, the Peoria Driver, who lives at 206 Helen street, continued his work yesterday afternoon, but located no bodies.  He went down to the boiler deck and also explored the lower deck on the port side.  He expects today to work between the decks on the starboard side.  Barnewolt worked form a launch near the bow end of the Columbia. He was assisted by Herbert Fitch. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Peoria Star, July 7, 1918 "Diver Makes Useless Trip" Coroner Finds Wreckage Renders Under-Water Work Difficult And Chicagoan Goes Home. Harry Halverson, a Chicago diver who took 263  dead out of the hull of the Eastland, came to peoria yesterday afternoon to assist in removing dead from the steamer Columbia , but returned to Chicago on the next train without getting an opportunity to demonstrate his skill.  Coroner Clary of Tazewell County, found that the wrecked condition of the deck structures did not permit a diver to work to advantage and after thanking Mr. Halversen for his trip to Peoria and making arrangements to compensate him, told the Chicagoan his services would not be required.  Halversen, accompanied by his assistant, Axel Dellistrom, brought a a ton or more of equipment and was apparently ready for a big job.  He was mighty cheerful about it and admitted that t would be a difficult undertaking to work down in the wreckage of the hold.  The driver, who is a good natured Norwegian, arrived with his teammate, over the Rock Island at 2 oclock General Manager Johnson of the Peoria & Penkin Union railway company held a train to Pekin for ten minutes and Halversen with his baggage was taken to a special stop below Wesley City nearest the point at which the Columbia went down.  Two heavy chests contained his equipment.  Part of it had been taken by skiff out to the wreck when Halversen got there.  He conferred a short time with Coroner Clary and after looking over the steamer for a few minutes he returned to shore.  Halversen is employed by the Great Lakes Dredge Docks co.  And came to Peoria on short notice.  The diver is 6 feet in height and weighs more than 200 pounds. He apologized to Peorians who greeted him because he had not had time to shave off a stubby growth of sandy beard. The Chicagoan had been in the diving game for ten years and has gained a big reputation throughout the Great Lakes region.  He gained fame during three weeks of work in and about the hull of the Eastland.  He personally brought up 263 of the 850 bodies of persons lost in the disaster.  The Eastland went down on July 24, 1915.  Halversen worked in his deepest water in Georgian Bay, Ontario, he said to a Star reporter on the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway train.  He was doing work preliminary to raising a coal boat.  he worked also to rescue victims of the crib disaster in Lake Michigan off Chicago in 1909.  At that time he recovered 46 bodies.  One of his recent feats was to bring up bodies of four persons pinned under an automobile that went off the Twelfth Street bridge in Chicago, eighteen months ago.  Eight were lost in this accident.  The auto contained a party of settlement workers. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Peoria Star, July 7 1917 "Saved 32 Women And Children" William E Eagan of Peoria Makes Seven Trips From Ill-Fated Steamer To Shore In Skiff Thirty-Two women and children were rescued by William Eagan of Peoria from the ill-fated steamer Columbia. Eagan made seven trips from steamer to shore and on each trip carried a number of panic stricken excursionists. He and Fritzi Pugh, the auto taxi driver, were among the first to arrive at the scene.  An old fisherman offered Eagan one of his boats and he took the other and the two started out in the dense fog and darkness toward the steamer.  Cries and screams from women and children, which could be heard for blocks confronted the rescuers.  They could scarcely see their hands in front of them.  The boat was in complete darkness with the exception of a red and green lantern on the boat's how.  Electric lights on the boat went out when the water hit the boilers.  One man stood on the top of the boat and yelled: "Women and children first."  Not a man attempted to crowd into the small skiffs.  They climbed to the the top deck, took off most of their clothing and donned life preservers in preparation to make their escape when th time came.  Eagan declared that he saw several women drown within five feet of him, but the speedy current, together with the jarring of his boat caused by the women and children jumping and climbing in prevented him from attempting to reach them.  The current was so strong at that point that it made rowing rather difficult.  Eagan's hands are covered with blisters and cuts received while engaged in the rescue work.  Each time they came within ten feet of the sore, the rescued persons became frantic and yelled for their children, husbands, fathers, brothers, sisters or sweethearts who had not been accounted for.  They ran out into the water and grabbed people from the boats in an effort to locate their lost loved ones.  Water carried in b the clothing together with the tipping of the boat each time someone jumped in, made it necessary to drain the skiff each time they struck shore and also greatly handicapped the rescuers. Often times the boats were half filled with water when trips were made from the boat to land.  One woman fainted in Eagan's boat, but the others maintained coolness until they reached safety.  They then realized the great danger which they had passed through and a large number appeared half dead. Eagan hauled seven to safety in his first trip--four women and three small children.  On the second trip he took five and on th five succeeding trips he hauled four.  Eagan declared that he saw two women jump from the steamer.  One came up and made a grab for the Columbia's wheel, but the other never appeared on the surface.  He made a grab for the one who came up, but missed.  Neither wore life preservers. "It was the most ghastly sight I ever saw," remarked Eagan last evening while relating his experience, "I would not go through that again for $1000.  The screams and cries of women and children were the most pathetic appeals I ever heard in my life."  Eagan spoke words of praise for the men passengers on the boats. He stated that none attempted to board the rescuing skiffs, but aided in leading the women and children in them.  He said he saw one man standing on the top deck with the top of his head split open.  He too, aided in rescue work. Two men wearing miner's lamps also aided in the rescue work.  They furnished practically the only light available.  A man wearing a life preserver and swimming about the steamer picked up a small child which had been wrapped in a life preserver and threw it in Eagan's boat. In another skiff carrying rescued women was its frantic mother.  Eagan declared that the reunion of the mother and child was the most appealing and pathetic sight he had ever witnessed.  The woman told rescuers that she had tied the life preserver about the urchin and threw it overboard when danger appeared evident.  While Eagan was engaged in rescuing the women the women and children, Fritzi Pugh was hauling the rescued people to Pekin in large numbers.  He threw his car into service and on each trip packed it full with rescued persons.  The Peoria hero declared that it was an hour before the Columbia sank. Five life boats were lowered from the steamer, but only one man was put in to man the huge boats and as a result only one-third the number could be taken on the trip that the boat would hold had two men been placed to man the oars.  While loading his boat the last time, Eagan saw men at work with grappling hooks and in one haul they brought out a woman holding an infant in her arms.  The child had its arms placed about its mother's neck.  They were evidently trapped as the woman had not received a life preserver.  Mr. Eagan is one of the proprietors of the E. & R. buffet in the Jefferson building. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Pekin Daily Times, July 9, 1918 "Pekin's Ministers Offer Last Prayers For River Victims" Tuesday Has Been A Day Of Death For Pekin At nine o'clock this morning for a common funeral service for four victims of the Columbia river tragedy was held from St. Joseph's church.  The Rev. Father D J Sullivan sang solemn requiem high mass for the repose of the souls of Mrs. Ivy Brown O'Hern, Mrs. Frank Callahan, Miss Mary Holden and Joseph Kumpf.  Rev. Father Fennen, of East Peoria, assisted in the celebration of the mass, and the sermon for the occasion, was preached by the Vicar-General of Peoria Catholic Diocese, the Very Reverend James V Shannon.  Internment was made in the Catholic cemetery at Lakeside.  At the same hour, services for Miss Louise Behrends were held from Sacred Heart Church, in charge was Rev. Frank Grusel.  At ten o'clock this morning a funeral service for Miss Theresa Gunion was held from the home, 602 Margaret Street, with the Rev A. T. Shaw of the Pekin Christian Church officiating.  Rev. Tuschoff, of the Grace Methodist Church assisted by two singers Mesdames William Eden and C. E. Schneider, officiated at ten funerals today as follows:  Henry Neavear and Louise Neavear, at noon, from residence, 111 Susannah Street.  At two o'clock, services for Mrs. Amy Witcher and two little sons Donald and Richard Witcher, were held from the residence on Fayette Street.  At 3:30 o'clock, services were held from residence, 409 South Third Street, for Clara Elizabeth Franklin. At 4:30 o'clock, services were held for Chris Sickles from residence, 301 Elizabeth Street.  At 6 o'clock this afternoon, services for Mrs. Clarence Hill and her son and daughter, Clarence Hill and Mrs. Alvin Jacobs, were held from the Noel Funeral Home.  Internment of all these ten victims of the tragedy was made in Lakeside cemetery, Pekin, Illinois.  At 10 o'clock this morning service from the home at 1110 Market street, was held for Harriet Johnson, Rev. Goebel officiated. Services for Mrs. John Diepenbrook, Norman Diepenbrook, and Melvin Diepenbrook, were held this afternoon from residence on Caroline Street.  Rev Goebel also officiated at the service for Mrs. Lottie Reuling, held at 2 o'clock pm from residence on Eight and Hillyer Street.  Rev R V Kearns officiated at services for Miss Letha Black, held from the home at 1215 Oak Ridge Avenue.  At three o'clock, Rev R. V. Kearns held a service for Gordon Gay from residence at 1205 Caroline Street. Services for Mrs. Elizabeth maser on East Bluff, were held at two o'clock. At 5 o'clock, service for Dorothy White were held from the residence at 1225 Court Street.  A Christian Science reader from Peoria was in charge. Services for James Blackburn were held at 3 o'clock from his residence at 115 Catherine Street. Services for George and Myrtle Gillott were held this afternoon from their home in Kingston Mines. Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, funeral services for Mrs. A. B. Loomis, will be held from home at 223 St. Marys St., with internment in Lakeside Cemetery. Services: Mrs. Sam Neavor, 327 Catherine Street, 10 o'clock. Miss Ada Rumsey, residence, 2 o'clock pm Mrs. John Mogga, 1521 Market Street, 1 o'clock Mrs. Harry Thurman, Clyde Thurman & Ruby Thurman, from 315 St. Mary's Street, 2 o'clock Miss Ada Lowry, 306 Mechanic Street, 3 o'clock. Miss Mayme Bohlander, 406 Main Street, 3 o'clock Miss Mabel Stout, 508 South Second Street, 4 o'clock Rudolph Poebel, from Mission Sunday School, 3 o'clock The Rev E. T. Munns of Peoria was in charge of today's services.  Internment of all Pekin dead who were buried today, was made in Lakeside Cemetery.  Funeral services for George Schuster, 4 pm, July 8, from residence at 1034 Humbolt Street in Peoria Illinois. Kingston Mines inhabitants all turned out for the funeral services at Maple Ridge Cemetery.  Rev. Wolfe of Glasford conducted the morning and afternoon funerals. Glasford and Green Valley were also cities of mourning today. The funeral of Miss Hazel Bowlby was held at 3 o'clock this afternoon from the Presbyterian Church in Green Valley, and internment was made in the Green Valley Cemetery submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay.

Pekin Daily Times, July 11, 1918 "Mehl Was Hero; Says Pekin Man" Coolness and Courage of Columbia's Captain Did Much to Save Lives in River Tragedy Last Friday at Wesley City. Guy McIntire Tells of Dancers Death Coroner Clary announced this afternoon that the inquest into the Columbia disaster would begin Friday, July 12.  Guy McIntyre, 708 South seventh Street, Pekin, who is employed as a steam-fitter at the Globe Distillery here, declares that Herman Mehl, captain of the Columbia, was on the boat at the time of the disaster, and that the captain's coolness and courage did much to save the lives of those who escaped death. Mr. McIntire said today to the Times, "I want to say that the stories of drunkenness on the Columbia, so far as I could see, are all false.  Captain Mehl was not intoxicated and neither, I am confident, was Tom Williams." Saw Blanketed Man "There may have been beds in the pilot house, I cannot say.  This I saw, the white blanketed man, however, as he came from the pilot house. I asked Captain Mehl who the man was."  captain Mehl said it was his pilot, Tom Williams.  I saw no woman up on the pilot house roof."  "Just after we passed through the P & P U Bridge above Wesley City, we encountered a dense fog. It was like going from sunshine into darkness.  I was on the Peoria side of the boat as she headed down stream.  I had gone to the lower deck to get a cigar and had stopped, being a machinist, as I passed the engine. i noticed that the piston rods were moving very slowly.  I felt a thud as she struck something.  She then appeared to bounce off the object and seemed to recover.  I hurried upstairs to find my wife. The boat appeared to have balanced.  I found my wife hovered with others on the dance floor. I told them that we had merely gone into the mud in the fog and that everything was all right."  "Then the black water appeared with a rush. I caught hold of a pillar and pulled myself and the women I could reach, out of the water. The lights went out. I stretched my free hand out and found a cross beam that goes across the upper part of the dancing room near the ceiling. I pulled my wife and two other women up on this.   Then I pounded on the ceiling three times and hands reached through and clutched mine."  "There was another man with a woman on the beam.  The screams, prayers, and sobs of the trapped ones about us had stopped and it was very quiet except for the low moans of the women in our little band on the beam.  Suddenly I saw a light as part of the ceiling crashed apart, and I yelled for help.  Hands came through and i pushed Bolle out.  He helped the women out, those who were alive, and then he pulled me through the hole. I was near the water line and th boat was sinking fast.  I looked up and saw Captain Mehl on the upper deck. He was throwing life preservers to people as fast as he could. He called to me, 'Is that you Mr. McIntyre?' I answered yes. He said 'Take charge down there and do what you can to get these people to shore alive.' " McIntire At Work I went to work, and men helped to put women and children in the boats which had com to our help.  My wife was the last one to go.  "Then I looked up and saw a man in a white blanket coming from the pilot house and asked Captain Mehl who it was.  "That is my pilot Tom Williams" said Mehl. Wife Saw Williams My wife has told me since that she saw the man in the blanket, and other men who were on the boat and who kept cool heads, can tell the same thing. There may have been beds in the pilot house, I don't know, but I know that Captain Mehl, who was on the boat all the time, kept the situation in hand and behaved with courage and cool headed bravery through all the horror of the night.  "Whatever others may say of him, i can say that he acted as an officer and a true man." submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Pekin Daily Times, July 11, 1918 "First Ride Near Tragedy...Second Trip Brings Death" William Capoot and his wife are two of the victims of the Columbia disaster.  They took their first ride on the excursion boat twenty-six years ago, when the steamer Frankie Folsom carried scores of Pekin residents to see the "Last Days of Pompeii" in Peoria.  They barely escaped with their lives at that time and Capoot often said in the hearing of Pekin neighbors, "No more boat rides for me."  Last Friday, however, he and his wife overcame their repulsion for a river trip and bought tickets on the ill fated Columbia.  "Lightening never strikes twice in the same place." Capoot told his wife as they boarded the steamer at Pekin.  Friday night both Capoot and his wife perished in the waters of the Illinois River.  Today their bodies lie in Lakeside Cemetery. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Pekin Daily Times, July 12, 1918 "Real Probe of Columbia Is Started" Columbia Hull Remains Embedded In River Mud Commissioner Sackett, Assistant Attorney General Mansfield, Coroner Clary, Sherrif Wilson and States Attorney Black, at scene.  Diver Dunscombe makes on descent at 11 o'clock this morning, Makes no statement as to findings. Inquest set for ten o'clock Saturday Here. Decisive action in determining the condition of the Columbia's hull was begun at ten o'clock this morning. Commissioner W L Sackett of the State Waterways, accompanied by Assistant Attorney General C F Mansfield, arrived at the sight of the Columbia tragedy, a half mile below Wesley City at ten o'clock this forenoon.  They came on the government boat Comanche from Peoria.  Sheriff Wilson was in charge of the wreckage when they arrived and had already taken charge of two suit cases brought up from the debris. One came covered suit case had in it, two Prudential Life Insurance policies belonging to Ernest F. C. Hines, Springfield, and among these effects were two hotel keys, one from the Columbia hotel, Urbana, Illinois, and one from the Hotel Jefferson, Peoria.  The Jefferson hotel key was for room 711. Hines' Risk Paid An insurance receipt book showed that Hines' insurance was paid up til July 1918, the last payment in the water soaked book being dated June 25.  Shortly after the arrival of the state officers in the Comanche, Coroner Clary and State's Attorney F.F. Black of Tazewell county, arrived from Pekin.  The state officers had brought with them a diver, W.F. Dunscombe of St. Louis, recommended by General W.I. Bibby, chief of the Mississippi River commission, and who is a brigadier general of the United States army, retired; but recalled to activity by the press of war business. Diver Dunscombe Diver Dunscombe lost no time in donning his diving suit and making a preliminary examination of the wreckage.  He descended at 11 o'clock, and remained beneath the surface of the river for a half hour, bubbles indicated that he was about the vicinity of the paddle wheel.  He came up at 113 o'clock and made no statement, though a river man who was on the Comanche barge from which the diver worked, declared this noon he heard the diver mutter that he would not go down again til the wreckage was towed to a safer position.  The Columbia hull, engines, boilers and lower deck debris this morning, lay in the Illinois.  Her stern had swung around approximately 100 feet from the stern position where she sank.  The prow off the boat today, was still embedded in the mud at the bottom, at least fifteen feet below the surface, and not more than twenty feet from the position in which the prow settled when the sinking occurred. Stern Swings Around Until last night at 5 o'clock, the wreckage had laid with the stern up.  Attorney Mansfield today stated that all doubt of jurisdiction for inquest purpose was removed by a study of legislation. Peoria county, organized in 1825, is bound by the center of the Illinois River.  Tazewell county was originally bounded by the river, but subsequent legislation made the Tazewell boundary the middle of the stream.  This gives Tazewell jurisdiction.  It is stated.  Coroner Clary this morning declared the formal Inquest into the cause of the disaster would be begun here at ten o'clock Saturday morning July 13.  It is possible that more preliminary affidavits may be taken this evening. Take Soundings In the meantime, today civil engineers are continuing the work of taking soundings and measurements about the disaster scene.  These men are J.R. Fountain, formerly of Pekin, H.C. Backman, representing the United States Geological survey, an expert on current velocity, Frank E Kane, and Walter Fluegel, of Pekin, who was a passenger of the Columbia July 5.  Another official at the scene was Hugh Crudor, representing the State Public Utilities commission. To Stay On Job commissioner Sackett and Attorney Mansfield declared this morning that they would stay off the job until the diver they had brought, had made a thorough investigation of the hull of the Columbia.  They will then cooperate with the Tazewell coroner, Dr. L.R. Clary, in directing the inquest to begin here tomorrow morning.  Dago Pete Sansone declared this morning that he had touched the yielding body of a human being this morning near to where the Hines valise was recovered in the rods and pipes of the Columbia engine.  The bodies of Eugene Bailey, Pekin pianist, and Charles Race, South Pekin, were recovered from the wreck in the area just before the stern. Inspectors File Report St. Louis, Missouri July 12 Federal Steamboat inspectors, Rees V Downs and George R Bower, announced last night that they had forwarded their official report of their probe into the causes of the sinking of the steamer Columbia, to Washington D.C.  They refused to give out the text of the report or discuss their findings in any of their phases. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Pekin Daily Times, July 13, 1918 "Mehl Minimized Danger To Boat" Rudolph G. Lohman, Pekin, Tells How Captain Of Columbia Said "Only A Log" as Boat Was Sinking Fast Went From Safe Shallows To Death This morning Rudolph Lohman, 516 Court Street, Pekin, told of the Columbia sinking and declared Captain H.F. Mehl said to him after the boat struck, "Only a log," in in such a manner as to attempt to minimize the deadly danger the steamer's load of 700 passengers were in.  Lohman was the second witness called by coroner L.R. Clary of Tazewell County.  The inquest was begun at 20 minutes after ten o'clock, the sessions being held in the circuit court room of the Tazewell county court house. c.F. Mansfield, assistant to Attorney General Brundage of Illinois, with State's Attorney Black of Tazewell county, and Commissioner W.L. Sackett, representing Governor Lowden, are here for the inquest and will remain until the probe is finished. Says Mehl Cursed The evidence given by three witnesses this forenoon was considered to be of extreme importance.  Mrs. Pearl Harvey 346 Ann Eliza Street, declared that after a crash which littered the back stairway from the cabaret or lower deck to the dance floor or second deck above, Captain Mehl ordered her away from the stairway, saying "Stay down, you damn fool."  Mrs Harvey then made her way up to the bow of the boat, going up the forward companion way and into the ladies dressing room on the second floor, where she remained until she was rescued. First Witness The first witness called was Thomas E Miller, 130 Park Avenue, Pekin.  Most of his time, he said, was passed on the dance floor, which he left for a breath of air just before the crash of glass.  He declared under oath, that he saw no fog, but did see a cloud of steam after the boat lurched and sank. Millers Story He declared that the crash came on the right hand side of the boat, the Peoria side, going down stream, he said in part.  "I was a passenger on the Columbia.  I got off at Al Fresco but got back on and remained til I was taken from the paddle wheel by rescuers.  I first came down to the bar room from the dance floor on the home trip, when I heard a loud crash and saw willows.  I heard a loud voice say 'Get out of here and get on top!' I don't know who said it Hit The Stairs I saw water on the bar room floor and running I hit the stairs.  I went up hollering 'get on top!' Then I went up to th third deck and grabbed the splash board near the big stern paddle wheel.  Then I went on my knees.  I got my friend Albert Holmes and the next thing I know I was on the paddle wheel.  I could see steam, but no fog.  I could see lights on the Tazewell shore and could see the willows on the Peoria shore.  I looked up at the sky and the stars were out.  I looked at my watch and it was about 12:30.  I should judge that when the crash of glass came, we were about thirty or forty feet from the Peoria shore.  I did not see captain Mehl at all at the time of the crash and the only thing of anyone trying to get the people was that one voice that said to 'get on top!' " Lohmans Evidence Rudolph Lohman of Pekin stated he was sitting next to the piano at the front of the cabaret facing backward, when the hard jolt came.  He got up and saw willow trees about ten feet away.  He said, "The willow limbs were swiping the boat."  I met Fred Gobbe and said, "Fred, we're on shore."  Gobbe had looked at the fog and could see a cloud of white smoke inside. Mehl Came By Just then Captain Mehl came and said "just a log" and was looking as if nothing was the matter but I began to be alarmed.  I gaged the water as well as I could and it was about ten inches from the gunwale or edge of the deck floor.  I went back to the bar and came forward again and then the water was over the side.  "I got up the stairs in front as far as I could and as I was going, a boat policeman tapped me on the hip and said "top deck". Boat Caves In I got up on the third deck and grabbed the iron post at the stairway. Then the floor seemed to go away from me and the middle of the boat appeared to cave in after the boat turned over on her side.  She went sideways and then there was a crash, then horrible cries, then another crashing and a pocket seemed to open in the dim blackness, in front of where I hung onto the post.  "Do you think," asked Attorney Mansfield, "That if the boat had stopped where it struck on the Peoria Shore in the willows, most of the lives of those on board could have been saved?"  "Undoubtedly" responded Lohman with conviction.  Mrs. Pearl Harvey declared that when the crash came, she thought the boat was landing. Lack of direction "Did Captain Mehl or any of the officers of the Columbia direct the people what to do?" asked Attorney Mansfield of this witness.  "No," replied Mrs. Harvey. "There was one man on the lower deck who had a bottle of whiskey she said, and a slim dark fellow boat employee whom I would know.  I could see him, told the man not to let anyone see him drinking it.  The last witness called this forenoon was Ralph Hoffman, who lives on Margaret Street in Pekin. He had just left at pekin when the Columbia started for peoria.  He declared that a carpenter named Brown and another man whose name he did not know, put new timbers under the boiler in the hull recently, and that some of the timbers they brought out were "beginning to decay" he declared. "He had been in the hall about a dozen times during his five weeks of service as a fireman, but so far as he could tell, the hull was all right." Recess at Noon At noon Coroner Clary announced that the Inquest would be continued until the full facts of the tragedy are brought to light.  Coroner Clary is determined that no stone shall be left unturned.  State's Attorney Black and sheriff Wilson, are still on the quest for evidence and the presence here of Mr. Mansfield and Mr. Sackett is an assurance of full cooperation of the state in the probe now under way. Diver Dunscombe told the coroner's jury, Saturday night, that the Columbia in his opinion was unsafe for passengers.  He declared that he had found a hole approximately eleven feet long and two feet wide, in the hull of the wrecked pleasure boat.  He declared that timbers inside the hull were rotten and in poor condition.  Immediately after giving his testimony Saturday evening, he left for Minnesota where he is working on a government job. submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay

Information contained on this page obtained from original newspaper articles in the Peoria (Journal) Star and the Pekin Daily Times
 The Publication "Steamer Columbia Sinks at Wesley"- published by the Tazewell Genealogical Society in Pekin Illinois,
provided the names of the crew, orchestra, and passenger lists.  A copy of this publication, and additional articles contained within,
 can be obtained from the Tazewell Genealogical Society.
Some of the articles above can be found on microfiche located in the Pekin Public Library, and files located in the Peoria Library.
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