Appalling Accident: One of Bodies Found Here

POWELL, STEVENS, ANDERSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/2/2015 at 22:14:33

**Handwritten: Aug 1, 1907 or 1909

APPALLING ACCIDENT
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BOATING PARTY OF FIVE FIND WATERY GRAVES.
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ONE OF BODIES FOUND HERE
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Particulars of Recovery of Mrs. Powell's Body - Mrs. Stevens and Daughter Not Found

An appalling accident occurred at Ottumwa Thursday night, by which five persons lost their lives by being carried over the dam in a launch. The persons were W.H. Powell, his wife and son Hallie Powell, and Mrs. J. Fred Stevens and daughter. Only two of the bodies have been found at this writing that of Mrs. Powell, who was found about two miles below Keosauqua Sunday noon, and Hallie Powell, who was found about a mile below Ottumwa Sunday morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Powell and Hallie Powell and Mrs. Stevens and young daughter formed a boating party who went out in a gasoline launch Thursday evening. The river was pretty high and the current quite rapid. On returning from up the river, they ran on to a sand bar near the south side of the river. When they struck the sand bar near the south side of the river. When they struck the sandbar the engine was reversed. When they had pushed the boat off the bar and it swung out into the current, for some reason the engine would not start again and the little party was borne on helplessly towards the dam. Their progress to their death was witnessed by scores of terror stricken people about the boat house. When the boat had neared the dam piercing screams rent the evening air. A moment later the lights on the launch went out and all was dark and still, and the five unfortunate pleasure seekers had been swallowed up in the seething tide.

The news of the terrible accident brought hundreds of people to the river banks, and all day Friday and Saturday it is estimated there were not less than 1500 to 2,000 people engaged in the search for the bodies. A woven wire barrier was stretched across the river at one of the bridges, to prevent the bodies from being carried down the river, and dynamite was exploded to bring them to the surface. But all these effort were unavailing.

However, Sunday morning the body of Hallie Powell, a young man about 25 years of age, was recovered about a mile below Ottumwa. About 1 o'clock Sunday word was received here that Tom Jackson had discovered the body of a woman in the river about three miles below Keosauqua. Jackson, who lives a little further down the river, had gone with his father-in-law Jack Heath and William Zachau to move a skiff into the river, which had been left on the beach by the receding waters. About this time Jackson learned of the drowning of the five people at Ottumwa. So he proposed that they row out to the little island about 150 feet from shore to see if any of the bodies might not be lodged there. And there, sure enough, on a sand bar at the upper end of the island they found the body of a woman, which they at once rightly assumed to be that of one of the victims of the Ottumwa accident.

Coroner Sherman was notified and Sam Fosnot and John Kreiss and someone else went down in a boat and got the body and brought it to this place. The body was taken into the Fosnot building near the power house, and a description of it was telephoned to parties at Ottumwa.

About 4 o'clock Monday morning Mr. Arnold, a jeweler, and E.H. Emery of Ottumwa arrived here. Mr. Arnold at once identified the body at that of Mrs. Powell. As he had brought an undertaker's assistant and a casket and a metallic box with him, the body was immediately prepared for burial, undertaker Dodds of this place assisting. The Ottumwa undertaker started for Ottumwa overland with the body at 7 o'clock Monday morning.

The body of Mrs. Powell was found lying face upward in about eight inches of water. The fact that the water in the river had fallen several inches since the body lodged indicates that the body had been there some little time. Futhermore(sp), Mrs. Wm. Beatty, who lives on the opposite side of the river, says she noticed Saturday noon that some object had lodged at the point where the body was found; she observed it through a field glass, but though it must be a long or a dead animal. When the body was taken away the object which she saw was no longer visible. The accident occurred at 10 o'clock Thursday night, hence it seems probable that the body had floated down here within the next 38 to 40 hours. The body was considerably bloated and discolored, and it was thought it could not be one of the Ottumwa parties, as it was judged it it had been in the water a week or ten days; but this course was a mistake.

The launch which carried the ill-fated party to there death was found the next day. It had gone ashore on the south side of the river. It was right side up, and as the tools in the bottom of the boat and the cushions on the seats were still in the boat, it seems certain the boat had not been upset. The occupants had either been thrown out or jumped out, but probably thrown out, otherwise it is possible their lives might have been saves. The engine was also found to be in perfect order. After it had been reversed at the sand bar and the boat had been shoved out into the stream, because of excitement or some other unknown cause the engine had not been started again.

The body of Hallie Powell was found Sunday morning about a mile below the dam. He had divested himself of his coat and shoes, and a $175 diamond ring that he had put on to ware that evening was not on his finger nor in his pockets, but was found in his clothing.

While writing this the news comes that the body of Mr. Powell has been recovered not far below the dam where the accident occurred. It is also learned that the body of a man named Anderson was also found, who is supposed to have committed suicide, as he had been seen on the bank of the river.

Mr. Powell was a salesman or a partner in a hardware store, and was 57 years of age. Mrs. Powell seemed to be between 50 and 55 years of age. Hallie Powell was 25 years of age and was a partner in the Arnold jewelry store. Mrs. Fred Stevens was younger and her daughter was about eight years old. Mrs. Stevens leaves a husband, who is in the blacksmith business and a son about 14 years of age. The Powell family was entirely wiped out. It was one of the saddest accident that has happened in this section in many years.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 108, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA