The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-07-30
Finding of States Attorney
Hoyne After Examining
Many Witnesses.
Federal, State and City Authorities
All Striving to Fix the Blame
Secretary RedfieId May Name
Naval and Civilian Board.

| his was the nnd1ng OF States AT
torney Maclay Hoyne, made after ex
aiming more than 100 witnesses. An
nouncement of the finding was made
by Edwin j. RAIDER, assistant states
attorney, who was preparing the testi
mony for presentation to the grand
jury.
AS the investigation progressed
headed by officials of the city, state
and federal governments, divers, fire
men and policemen continued their
sorry task of removing bodies from
the sunken hull of the death ship.
1t was believed that between 1000
and 1,200 persons lost their lives.
Coroner Hoffman declared, however,
that with more than 500 dead already
accounted for, there are still 700
bodies trapped in the hull and caught
in the life nets stretched across the
Chicago river at frequent intervals
for distance of nearly two miles.
Overlooking is the Main Fact
The statement of Assistant States
Attorney RAIDER discussing the results
of the investigation said:
All our testimony points to the fact
that the boat was overloaded There
are other considerations. but the main
fact is that overlooking caused the
tragedy
They had too many persons too
high on the ship. The question of
ballast has been brought up, but that
is of secondary Importance. We have
been investigating since early Satur-
day morning. We have questioned
more than 100 witnesses. Everything
points to overlooking, and the states
attorneys Office is prepared to charge
this.
There were other violations and ir-
regularities. Some of the inside facts
as to the working of the government
inspectors will be revealed in our
complete report on the catastrophe.
We found that the gangways were
not closed. This would have helped
stop the thrush of the water The
lower portfolios were not closed either,
as they should have been. But all
these are of minor Importance com
pared to the big fact that the ship
carried more passengers than she
should have carried"
Acting Mayor Moorehouse gave out
the following statement:
In 1914, the captain of the East
land filed papers with the Chicago
chief of police, swearing in them that
the capacity of the vessel was 1000
persons. The company admitted that
2 500 were on board when she capsized
In the Chicago river Saturday. That
certainly seems to be overcrowding,
on the face of it."
Inquiry by Federal Inspectors.
AS soon as Captain Petersen of the |
Eastland and the other ships officers
are released from custody by States |
Attorney Hoyne, so that they can be |
used as witnesses, Capt Ira B. Mans
field, in charge of the federal steam |
ship inspection bureau in Chicago, will |
begin his investigation of the capsiz-
ng of the liner. Captain Mansfield |
ssued statement in which he said |
lie believed federal inspectors could
determine the cause of the accident
much more quickly than anyone else
I'VE are more familiar with steam
ships said he, "and We know how
hey should be run We could con-
luct an investigation along entirely
'ifferent lines from those followed by
nybody else"
Along with the investigation into
he cause of the Eastland tragedy.
captain Mansfield expects an investi-
'ation of his department
Il do not fear any such investiga-
ion. he said. The Eastland had COM
lied with all government regulations.
had been passed by four boards of
ederal inspectors. at Port Huron.
iich., Chicago. Cleveland and st.
oseph. Mich. Four boards would not
ave made the same mistake if the
essel had not complied with the regu-
atoms"
Three Investigations Started.
Besides the investigations by the
oroners jury and the county grand
iry, the federal department of COM :
1erce, spurred on by an order from
resident Wilson. has men here in ]
uiring into the disaster.
Secretary Redfield at Washington |
'as considering naming a board of {
Williams and naval officers to conduct {
n inquiry. At the same time de-
IN,
lie departments investigating its own
esponsibility.
Judge Lands in the federal court |
allied special grand jury to meet /
thursday and consider the evidence 9
hich is being collected by Charles F {
lyme, United States district attorney 6
he federal officers are expected to |
resent all they get on the Eastland I
him. The city police already have s