LAST SURVIVOR

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.  [Peoria Journal Star, August 14, 2000; submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay]


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 the 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 the river for their lost ones.
[Pekin Daily Times, July 2, 1998, submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay]

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.  [Peoria Journal Star, August 14, 2006, Submitted by Desiree Burrell Rodcay]