Following is the transcription of The Republican news article detailing the drowning and inquest of Gideon D. Bizaillion, John C. Lammy, Harvey Angel, Jefferson T. Hunt, and Jeff Poor (the only survivor) on Oct. 17, 1907 near Twelve Mile Island, Hadley’s Landing/Helmbolt Slough on the Illinois River near Calhoun Co., Illinois.  The date of this article is unknown, however it is known by the transcriber that the last funeral/internment of the four men took place on October 20, 1907.  Having that knowledge as well as the article’s reference of the funerals, I am assuming this article was written & published on October 21, 1907.

Immediately following this transcription are the 4 photocopy pages of this article that were in the possession of my grandfather William J. Hunt (son of Jefferson T. Hunt) at the time of his death in 1970.

I have done my best to transcribe this verbatim and as you read you will see that some of the columns have actually been photocopied twice and the article itself appears to be out of sequence.  The page numbers I refer to in the transcription are as the photocopies were number when they were found.

Information written in [blue italicized brackets] are the notes of the transcriber, not of the article itself.

The following is transcribed by Lori Jean (Hunt) Zierden on February 26, 2007.

PAGE 1

FROM “THE REPUBLICAN”

Date unknown

Four of its Citizens Meet Tragic Death in the Prime of Life

Launch Capsizes in Illinois River At Twelve Mile Island Drowning Four.

Only One of the Party of Five Survives to Tell the Story.

ALL OF VICTIMS HAD FAMILIES

THE DEAD

G. D. BIZAILLION, police magistrate and Apple grower, 41 years old, wife and seven children.

JOHN C. LAMMY, county commissioner, farmer and saloon keeper, 35 years old, wife and six children.

HARVEY ANGELL, real estate and livery, 32 years old, wife and one child.

JEFFERSON HUNT, fisherman, 27 years old, wife and two children

            Hardin mourns. Four of its citizens in the prime of life have met a tragic death. Never in [unreadable] the entire county. The news of the terrible calamity rendered strong men speechless. There was no outward expression from the soul. Men could not talk and women wrung their hands, yet the spirit in each breast silently called to duty and that call was answered by the immediate impulse of each person to go to the scene of the tragedy and do their might. Knowing that their efforts would be futile in saving life, men impelled by the desire to do all within their power, left their business places and rushed to the scene to recover the bodies while the entire townspeople walked the streets and gathered along the river bank in front of Hardin during the night. No pen can tell the sad story.

Detail of the Drowning

            The Republican has made special efforts to get the details and true story of this tragic event which follows:

            Wednesday afternoon about three o’clock, October 16, 1907, a party of five, namely Harvey Angell, G.D. Bizaillion, John C. Lammy, Jeff Hunt and Jeff Poor, left Hardin in a gasoline launch, owned by Hunt & Son, operated by Jeff Hunt, a member of the [missing] Party for the Dear Plain [unreadable] house on the Illinois river [unreadable] fifteen mile south [unreadable] From [unreadable] house to purchase. Mrs. Chet Twitchell’s interest in the Asher Guthrie farm in which he was interested, she being the daughter of Asher Guthrie. Bizaillion being a police magistrate he was taken along to acknowledge the transaction. Accepting an invitation from Angel, Lammy and Poor joined the party for the pleasure of the trip. Hunt went to operate the launch.

            It was a fine day, and according to the statement of the only survivor, all the boys were in excellent spirits and enjoying the trip. They left Hardin laughing and joking, continuing in that humor until the mishap at Twelve Mile Island. The launch which was twenty-two feet long with a five foot beam, drawing twenty-inches, was somewhat tottery but was considered sea worthy. A strong south wind was blowing and the waves were rolling moderately high. The launch behaved well and the machinery ran excellently until Twelve Mile island was reached about eight miles south of Hardin near Hadley’s Landing. At this point the wheel on the shaft worked loose and the launch was stopped to replace it. The launch was then about mid-stream and drifting with the current. [missing] was necessary for all to go to the bow except Hunt who was to replace the wheel. Bizaillion and Lammy climbed out on the extreme point of the bow and held to the top while Angel and Poor moved to the forward part of the cabin. It took some little time to replace the wheel and the launch drifted down the river near the mouth of Helmbolt slough. When the work was complete Hunt announced the fact and the men started to move back to their former positions in the cabin.

Launch Turns Turtle

            It appears that they all started about the same time. The weight caused the launch to lurch. Bizaillion and Lammy were still on the bow deck. The lurch threw Bizaillion’s feet off in the water. To save himself he grabbed the canvas top, which again caused the launch to lurch, throwing the occupants on the side to which he was dangling. The launch took water and completely turned turtle, sinking in a few minutes. There was only one hope of saving life and that was to swim. Lammy could not swim and it seems that he stayed with the launch until it sank from under him. All the

[the following is numbered on my photocopy as page 2, however, I believe it to be page 3 detailing the coroner’s inquest & testimony of Jeff Poor.]

PAGE 2

[handwritten note at bottom of copy “top half of page missing”]

[missing] some papers for Mr. Angel in a transaction with Mrs. Chet Twitchell who is an heir to the Asher Guthrie estate.

            It was a fine day, the engine was working well, all of us were in good cheer and enjoying the trip. After about an hour’s run at the head of Twelve Mile island, eight miles south of Hardin, the wheel loosened on the shaft. In order to lift the stearn(sic) of the launch and raise the shaft up so Hunt could adjust the wheel, Bizaillion, Lammy, Angel, and myself went forward. Angel and myself remaining in the forward part of the cabin, Bizaillion and Lammy going out on the bow deck holding to the top. We were in about mid-stream in the main channel on the Calhoun county side of Twelve Mile. We had no oars aboard and that is why we attempted to right the wheel out in the river. While Hunt was adjusting the wheel the launch drifted about a quarter of a mile down stream. We were probably 50 yards below Hembolt slough when Hunt finished his work and said: “Allright(sic) pilot.” We all started aft and the movement in some way caused the launch to lurch side- [missing] and we would all have [missing] The wind was blowing strong and the waves were pretty high, but I am satisfied Bizaillion heard me for the turned and made for Twelve Mile. When I shouted that the launch was sinking Hunt struck out for Twelve Mile. I then threw myself upon the bow of the overturned launch and took off my coat. I told Angel and Lammy who were also on the launch to take off their coats. I heard Angel say something about some papers in his coat. I shouted to him to pay no attention to anything but his life and swim for it. He threw off his coat and started for the island. The launch was then about under. Lammy said to me, “Jeff, can you swim?” I said, yes. He replied, “I can’t swim a lick.” That was all I heard Lammy say. I am a good swimmer yet I knew I had a task before me to reach shore. I knew I had to take it easy. I shouted several times for help. I then swung around the bow of the launch and started for the island. I had all my clothes on except my coat and I swam slowly. Had got only a few feet from the launch when I heard

[the following is numbered on my photocopy as page 3, however, it is the 3^rd column from page 1 and part of the details prior to the inquest testimony of Jeff Poor. My personal belief is that this page should have been numbered Page 2.]

PAGE 3

[missing] was necessary for all to go to the bow except Hunt who was to replace the wheel. Bizaillion and Lammy climbed out on the extreme point of the bow and held to the top while Angel and Poor moved to the forward part of the cabin. It took some little time to replace the wheel and the launch drifted down river near the mouth of Helmbolt slough. When the work was completed Hunt announced the fact, and the men started to move back to their former positions in the cabin.

Launch Turns Turtle

            It appears that they all started about the same time. The weight caused the launch to lurch. Bizaillion and Lammy were still on the bow deck. The lurch threw Bizaillion’s feet off in the water. To save himself he grabbed the canvas top, which again caused the launch to lurch, throwing the occupants on the side to which he was dangling. The launch took water and completely turned turtle, sinking in a few minutes. There was only one hope of saving life and that was to swim. Lammy could not swim and it seems that he stayed with the launch until it sank from under him. All the

[the following is the second column on Page 3 of the photocopy, however I feel this is the conclusion of the reporter’s details leading up to the coroner’s inquest of Jeff Poor.]

[missing] the entire time the banks on either side of the river were lined with people from the surrounding country. Men worked hard all night. Ladies in the neighborhood sent down hot coffee and lunch.

A Pathetic Scene

            About nine o’clock p. m., the body of Jeff Hunt was recovered 300 yards below the launch and about fifty yards from shore. It was placed in a skiff and taken ashore. It was a pathetic scene when the body of Hunt was laid down on a ferry boat in the presence of his aged father who was there to aid in the search. About eleven o’clock the body of Harvey Angel was recovered and taken to the ferry boat. Five or ten minutes afterward the body of John Lammy was found. It was also taken to the ferry boat. The bodies were placed in the custody of Sheriff Fulkerson who brought them to Hardin on Elmer Thomas’ launch, arriving Thursday morning at four o’clock. The three bodies were placed in the town hall to await the arrival of Coroner A. B. Lowe of Batchtown who held the inquests about twelve o’clock. The only witness before the inquest was Jeff Poor whose testimony in substance [missing]

[Although my photocopy says this is Page 4, it is actually the continuation of Jeff Poor’s testimony from photocopy Page 2.]

PAGE 4

splash [in the] water. I knew it was Lammy. Hunt, who was swimming ahead of all of us looked back and shouted: “Boy’s Lammy is drowning! save him!” I shouted: We can’t do any thing for him!” I looked back and Lammy had gone down. About that time I passed close to Angel and saw that he was getting weak. I had only passed him when I heard him strangle. As much as I wanted to assist him I swam fast for a short distance through fear that he would gram me and drown both of us. I looked back and he had disappeared. I then looked for Bizaillion who was several feet down river and about even with me. He too had gone down. Hunt was then about forty feet ahead of me and swimming fast. I shouted, Jeff, you are swimming to fast! Slow up or you won’t make it! I don’t think he heard me on account of the wind and waves. At this time I began to feel a loss of strength and I turned on my back to rest. I was only able to make a few licks on account of the waves rolling over my face, interfering with my breathing. I turned from my back and looked for Hunt. He had gone down while I was on my back.

            I judge I was then about fifty yard from shore. I was getting weaker. I looked back over the river once more in hopes of seeing the boys but they were all gone. I said to myself, now they are all gone but me. I will make that point on Twelve Mile island if I can. I continued swimming slow and easy, quartering down the river to take advantage of the current so it would assist in carrying me to the point of Twelve Mile. I was becoming exhausted, yet I had presence of mind and knew my life depended on good judgment. I think I was then about forty feet from shore and I decided to exert all my power in a spurt over that distance. To evade the waves in the fast swim I turned my face to the north so the waves from the south would not roll over my nose and mouth and interfere [missing] cries for help. He had pulled with all his might and when he reached me he too was almost exhausted. Both being weak it took some little time to get me in the boat. Some fisherman who were out in the woods hunting heard our cries and rushed to our assistance, but all were drowned except myself before they reached the river. They took me over to their cabin boat, gave me dry clothing and put me to bed. I was in bed about an hour and then went out and joined in the search for the bodies.

            I believe I would have made the shore. Had it not been for my clothing I would have easily made it. Angel and myself got our coats off. The others had their coats on. While in the water I experienced no chill, but when I got out I became chilled and weak and could hardly walk.

            I don’t believe Lammy left the launch. He could not swim and in my opinion he remained on it until it sank from under him. In my judgment when Angel went down he was about 20 feet from the launch and 140 yards from shore. Bizaillion was about 50 feet from the launch and 130 feet from shore. Angel was not a good swimmer. Hunt could swim as good as I. Judging from my experience in the water Bizaillion and Hunt would have reached shore had it not been for their clothes weighing them down. They both had their coats on. When Hunt got probably seventy-five yards from the launch he shouted several times for help. I don’t think Bizaillion said a word after the launch capsized. When the launch capsized we were about the middle of the chute.”

The Funerals

            They were sad. The multitudes moved with bowed heads in their last tribute to the dead. The funeral service over the remains of Jeff Hunt were conducted at the home Thursday afternoon at two o’clock by Rev. Jas. R. Sager. The service at the grave in the Hardin cemetery was under the auspices of the [missing – end of column]

            [missing – beginning of column and I believe this to be the funeral of John Lammy judging by the list of pallbearers and my knowledge that he is buried at Indian Creek Cemetery while all the others are interned at Hardin Cemetery.] of Oak Grove on Saturday at ten a.m. The service was conducted by Rev. John S. Wilson. The internment was in the Indian Creek cemetery. The pall bearers were county officials, deceased being county commissioner at the time of his death.

Obituaries

            Gideon Denniston Bizaillion was the only son of Judge and Charlotta [Charlotte Currins] Bizaillion. Was born one and one-half miles south of Hardin, November 19-1865, age 41 years, 10 months and 28 days. Married to Miss Laura Smith [later became Mrs. A.D. Bower], October 9, 1889. Eight children were born to them, the widow and seven children survive him. One son died two years ago [this child was placed in the Catholic Orphanage, reason unknown & guardianship given to the uncle, Charles Lamar]. He was a member of Calhoun Lodge I.O.O.F. and until recently a member of the Hardin M.W.A. “Gid,” as all knew him, was honest, industrious, a true friend, good neighbor and father.

            Thomas Jefferson Hunt was the son of George and Lucinda Hunt. Born in Hardin, June 8, 1880. Age 27 years, 4 months, and 9 days. Married to Rachel Degerlia in St. Louis, Mo., May 11, 1902. A widow, a little son and daughter survive him. Was a member of Hardin Camp M.W.A. He was a fisherman, lived a quiet life, a good neighbor, and industrious. [per Jefferson’s birth record on file in the Calhoun County Courthouse Register book, he was born June 8, 1879 under the name of Jefferson Thomas Hunt]

            Harvey Angel, son of Joshua and Mary Angel was born in Dow, Jersey county, Ill., Sept. 20, 1875. His age was 32 years and 27 days. Was left motherless when a lad. Member of Calhoun lodge I.O.O.F. Was married to Mrs. Maud Perrings in St. Louis, Aug. 2, 1904. The widow and a little daughter survives him. He was a loving kind husband and father.

             John Chittrick Lammy was the son of William and Amanda Lammy. He was thirty-five years of age at the time of his death. Was married to Miss Nettie Kinkade, Sept. 15, 1892. Six children and a widow survive the deceased. He was elected county commissioner Nov. 4, 1902 and again elected in 1905. He was a good citizen, neighbor and father.

Scanned copies of the article did not come through on this entry.  Copies available upon request.  Email at thx4notcn1@aol.com