AFTER THE WAR

On June 27, 1947, the entire community was shaken by the news that two residents of Steamboat Rock were missing, presumably when the boat they were using had gone over the dam. The men had gone fishing on Friday, sometime around 6 p.m. and a 13 year old girl reported seeing a boat go over the dam, but she could not identify the occupants. A cocker spaniel belonging to one of the men, had gone to the river with them but was found near the car. It seemed apparent the dog had returned to shore when the boat overturned. 

Both men were good swimmers but it is believed they launched their boat just a few rods above the dam in the swift, greatly swollen river. 

A large number of men, including the sheriff and his deputy, highway patrolmen of the district, conservation officers, Steamboat Rock and Eldora firemen, and a host of volunteers joined in the search for the bodies. 

After an intensive search, the body of Robert (Bob) Eilers was recovered from the river on Sunday afternoon about three miles downstream from the dam, while the body of Lester Karsjens was not found until Monday afternoon, just south of the railroad bridge. 

Bob Eilers, was a student at Iowa State Teachers College and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Eilers, he was 21 years old. Lester Karsjens, was the son of Ray Karsjens, and was 22. 

After this tragedy, a cable was installed spanning the river with chains extending downward as a miens of preventing others from going over the dam and meeting the same fate.