How many lives have been lost?

By: 
Sandy Vasko

    Every time another life is lost, someone asks me exactly how many lives have been lost at the dam.
    I can't answer exactly. Poor reporting, lost newspapers, etc. keep us from knowing the exact number. Today our gruesome topic is people losing their life to the waters of the Kankakee.
    First let me begin by saying that people drowned in the river long before there was a dam. The first area drowning I find took place downstream from Wilmington, about where Interstate 55 crosses the river, the location of the Kankakee Feeder Canal.
    It is from Sept. 11, 1849, “A man, whose name we have not learned, fell from the railing of the draw bridge over the Kankakee Feeder, on Tuesday last, and was drowned before assistance could be rendered. He was intoxicated at the time.”
    The next is a sad case, from July 13, 1852, “Henry Dusenbury, aged 10 years, a son of Mr. Dusenbury of Lockport, was drowned in the Kankakee River, at Wilmington, on the 7th inst. He was bathing in the river, and ventured where the water was too deep. He was a bright boy, and but the day previous had been sent from his home to attend school in Wilmington.”
    Just as in the recent hurricanes, those who go out first to repair the damage are in danger themselves. In February of 1867 a massive ice jam caused the river to back up into the streets of Wilmington. The railroad bridge and depot were swept away, along with a warehouse on the north end of North Island.
    The Chicago & Alton Railroad went to work immediately to restore their vital service from Chicago to Springfield, but there was a cost.
    “On Wednesday evening last, a man named Elias Bemis, who was employed by the Chicago & Alton railroad in stretching a foot bridge across the Kankakee river, at Wilmington, in returning from his work, with five other men, the boat was capsized, and he was drowned. His companions succeeded in keeping themselves above water until boats came to their rescue. It is said no effort was made to recover the body of Bemis.”
    By the 1874 the Kankakee Company had improved the river with dams and locks. They were the first to build a dam where the present one is. With the new focus on the river, folks started to become aware of the possible loss of life and the reasons for it.
    We read on July 3, 1874, “We much regret to chronicle the untimely death, by drowning, of Fred F. Waite, a young telegraph operator, quite well and favorably known in this city. From what particulars we can glean, it would appear that young Waite was indulging in a boat ride on Sunday afternoon, and while plying between the brewery place and the railroad bridge an oar broke suddenly, causing the skiff to dip half full of water.”
    “Mr. Solomon Peck and another man was in the boat at the time, and the weight of the trio with that of the water, caused the craft to fill rapidly. At this juncture Waite told his companions to cling to the boat, that for himself he could swim to shore, and didn't care.
    “He then made for the shore, which was, perhaps, 100 yards distant; he swam three-fourths of the distance, when probably overcame by cramps or the entangling weeds, the victim became exhausted and sank.
    “His associates were rescued by a neighbor. Of course, general excitement followed; boats and pikes wee procured and search for the body instituted at once. In about an hour after the accident the body was found within 20 feet of the place in which it sank.
    “After slight delay the remains were brought to Thompson's boarding house and laid out. In the meantime, Waite's relatives were telegraphed to, and the remains prepared for removal.
    “The causes of the accident as stated, are very meager and quite unsatisfactory. We had hoped for the empaneling of a coroner's jury, that the sworn evidence of Waite's associates might be had and the evidence of certain spectators also.
    “The people want to know the minute particulars. Had the boating party been indulging in drink? If so, to what extent? Were they engaged in the reckless sport of “rocking” the boat or not? It is said that two of the party occupied the rower's seat and rowed irregularly. Why?”
    “That the oar breaking caused the boat to half fill with water. This is very improbable. Of course, nobody suspects foul play in the slightest degree, but if the party were indiscreet they should acknowledge it under oath.
    “Let the simple truth be told and not “crushed to earth” in the fact that ‘dead men tell no tales.’ The warning is a terrible one and should be profited by.”
    All of this leaves us with another question. How many people came close to drowning? Well, again we don't know. But the following bit from the October 13, 1882 Wilmington Advocate is telling.
    “Paul Boyton says he has saved 72 persons from drowning and the largest reward ever offered him was a $3 watch.”

    
 

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