Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-26
MAGNITUDE OF
CATASTROPHE
APPALLS CITY
Grief-Stricken Thousands Are
Searching Through Morgue for
Bodies of Friends and Rela-
tives Among Victims.
WORK OF RELIEF UNDER WAY
Coroner Issues Appeal to Public
for Funds to Bury Unidenti-
fled Dead.
PRAYERS OFFERED IN CHURCHES

CHICAGO, July 25--The Eastland lies
on its side in the river with divers still
noundering through the interior Of the
steel coffin and burrowing under it..
while Chicago, appalled,, is just beginning
20 realize the Significance Of one of the
greatest Of marine disasters, costing 1000
lives While grief-stricken thousands are
searching through the morgue in the Sec
ong regiment armory for friends or rela-
tives.. state ana federal officials have
turned. their attention TO placing the
blame for the catastrophe and the work
Of paving relief of those left destitute.
Acting Mayor. Moorhouse and his ad-
visors at a meeting today began raising
a relief fund of 100000 to be distributed
by subcommittee acting under the di-
rection Of the National Red Cross, the
Associated Charities and the municical
health department.
CONTINUATION 80 CDn,pHnv.
In addition to this, the Western Elec-
trio company, whose help formed the
majority of the Inflated excursion party,
has announced that 100000 from its. en-
ployes' insurance funds is available for
relief.
Numerous private relief funds have
also been started.
Meanwhile, Mayor Thompson, who was
at the Panama-Pacific exposition to take
part in the ceremonies in celebration of
Illinois day, is speeding toward Chicago
on special train TO take his place in
the direction of the relief work.
Coroner Hoffman today issued an ap-
peal to the public for a fund for the
b,iriaJ of unidentified dead
In churches and homes throughout the
city today were offered prayers for the
suffering and victims. TEhe day was
one of gloom. The sky was cloudy and
a mist hung in the air. There was more
than the usual sabbath quiet everywhere
and the crowds of outdoor pleasure
seekers were thin. As was the case yes
terday, base ball games were postponed,
two double-headers being set back be-
cause OF the Eastland horror.
various Theories Discussed.
Various theories as to what caused the
Eastland to turn over still are being dis
cussed, but without a prospect of defi-
mite explanation until the coroner's In
quest and the federal governments in
Nestigation, to be begun tomorrow, are
finished.
The most discussed theories are as fol-
lows: That the boat was overcrowded
that Il was not properly ballasted; that
the tug that made fast to warp, the East
land fast to the docks started pulling too
fast; that congestion of passengers rush
ing to the port side, attracted by some
passing senation, tipped the steamer over.
Drown within grasp or Bank.
Every effort was made by thousands OF
persons on the river wharf to rescue
the drowning men. women and children
But many drowned almost within grasp
OF the river bank. Mothers went to theiI
death while their children were snatched
TO safety. other children died in the
arms of their parents who were finally
saved. Hundreds of girls, freed for q
day from their tasks of making tele'
phones and other electrical apparatus In
the factory Of the Western Electric com
pany, dressed in their smartest white
frocks, drowned miserably.
Kolln avenue a small street near tht
factory of the Western Electric COM
pany, was In universal mourning to.
night. Every house lost from one to al
its occupants in the disaster. And many
of the Inflated residents of this street to
night, lay In the morgue, or beneath the
steel hull OF the Eastland. over which
searchllghts shot their binding glarC
while hundreds OF men searched for mor'
bodies.
Arrests Are Made.
Efforts to discover the cause of th'
accident. were begun long before this
work Of rescue was over. Federal and
county grand juries We're ordered, :