Description
On the night of July 5, 1918, a steamboat named Columbia, returning from a moonlight excursion, collapsed and sank in the middle of the Illinois River. Of the nearly 500 passengers on board that night, most were from the town of Pekin. Eighty-seven people lost their lives in the disaster. The rest were left to tell their stories of fortitude and survival.
The worst maritime accident in the history of the Illinois River, the wreck of the Columbia is a mostly forgotten tragedy today. Ken Zurski's gripping account follows the compelling true story from the moment the captain sensed a problem, to the horror of the cries and screams in the night, to the courageous actions of the rescue and recovery workers, and ultimately to the pursuit by law enforcement officials to find truth and justice.
One town in particular found itself reeling from a sudden and devastating loss of life, an immense communal grief, and a frustrating search for answers that never truly came.
About the Author
Ken Zurski is a radio broadcasting veteran who has spent the past 25 years doing news and traffic on various radio stations throughout Chicagoland and the Peoria area. He is currently the operations manager and principal anchor at Traffic One in Peoria. Ken lives in Morton, Illinois with his wife Connie and two children, Sam and Nora. An avid reader of history, Ken is currently at work on a new book about another forgotten story.
Paperback: 436 pages
Publisher: Amika Press (July 18, 2012)
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches