Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-26
MAGNITUDE OF
CATASTROPHE
APPALLS CITY
lcontlnued DOM Page onel

OF st. Joseph-Chicago Steamship COM
pany. which owned the steamer Eastland
built on Lake Erie In 1903. and renodelled
later because top heavy, Il Is said, was
arrested tonight and locked up at a po-
lice station The steamer was leased by
the Indiana TRANSPORTATION company.
whose officers said they were not res
ponsible for the licensing OF the ship and
did not control the crew.
Faulty In DessEn.
Marine achitects asserted that the East
land was faulty in design. that the top
deck had been removed. because OF the
tendency Of the ship 10 list and also
pointed to the possibility that the ship
had been unevcnly. or insufficiently bal
lasted. The Eastland used water ballast,
30 that Il could pump out some on en-
tering shallow lake harborS. and inves-
tigators are working on theory that
the ballast tanks we're not filled and the
rushing of passengers on one side Of the
decks causing II TO roll over.
Under misty skies. 1900 men. women
and children went TO the river wharf
yesterday to fill five large lake steam
ers with holiday mirth In a trip TO Mich
igan City. The steamer Eastland, brought
TO Chicago from Lake Erie, after an un-
satisfactory career, was the first TO be
loaded.
Rain began TO fall as the wharf super
intendent lifted the gang plank from the
Eastland, declaring that the government
limit OF $500 had been reached. White
dresses peepcd from raincoats along the
shore rails. a. those aboard waved good
bye TO friends on shore waiting 20 board
the other vessels.
Does Not Nudge.
Then the passengers Ewar1ned to the
left side OF the ship. an the other steam
ers drew up the river towards the wharf.
tug was hitched to the Eastland, ropes
were ordered cast off and the engines
began to hum. The Eastland had not
budsed, however.
Instead. the heavily laden ship wavered
sideways. leaning first towards the river
bank. Tho lurch was 10 startling that
many passengers Joined the large con-
course on the other side Of the decks.
The ship then keeled back. II turned
slowly but steadily towards its left side.
Children clutohed the skirts OF mothers
and sisters to keep from falling The
whole cargo was impeiled towards the
lA1btHb rtdt VI Ant buiVs WaACI Nntn
began 10 enter lower portfolios, and the
ropes snapped off the piles to which tho
vessel was tied.
Screams from passengers attracted the
attention NJ fellow excursionlsts on the
wharf awaiting the next steamer. Wharf
men and picknickers soon lined the edge
OF the embankment reaching out help
lessly toward the waverIng steamer.
slip Down Floors.
For nearly five minutes the ship turned
before II finally dived under the swift
current OF the river, which, owing TO
the drainage canal system, flows from
the lake. During the mighty turning of
the ship with It's cargo of humanity. life
boats. chairs and other loose appurte-
nances on the decks slipped down the
sloping floors. crushing the passengers
toward the rising waters
Then there was plunge with n sigh
OF air escaping from the hold. mingled
with crying chaldren and slrieks Of
women and the ship was on tho bot
tom OF the river. casting hundreds OF its
passengers into the water.
Many sank, entangled with clothing and
bundles and did not rise. but scores
came 70 the surface, giving the river the
appearance OF a crowded bathing beach.
Many seized floating chairs and other
objects. Those on shore threw out ropes
and dragged in those who could hold the
life lines. Employees OF commission firms
with houses along the river threw crates
chicken cooos and other floatable things
into the current. but most OF these were
swept away by the stream.
Tags Rushed to Scene.
Boats were put out. tugs rushed TO the
scene with shrieking whistles and many
men snatched off their coats and sprang
into the river to aid the drowning With
thousands OF spectators ready TO aid,
hundreds went TO their death.
One mother grssped her two children
in her arms as she slipped from the
steamer into the water. One child was
torn from her. but sho and the other
were saved Fathers were drowned after
aiding the wives and children to safety.
The Second reeiment armory. situated
in thickiy settled part OF the west side.
was surrounded early this evening by a
great throng Of people. Most OF the vic
Tins were residents of the west side and
nearly every elevated train bound for
tho residence portions OF that section.
carried its group Of weeping men and
women.
Thousands tn Line.
II was hoped TO have the recovered
bodies ell in the armory by 10 o'clock
and until that time. no one was admitted.
Accordingly, thousands formed IN line
hours before the great doors were
opened, eagerly awaiting "a chance TO
seek the bodies Of relatives and friends
they believed lost.
Stories Of herolsm were almost az nu-
merous tonight a. the number Of per-
sons on the scene Immediately after the
disaster. Boats as soon as full took res
cued passengers 70 the wharf or 10 the
steamer Theodore Roosevelt which had
tied up a. near the upset Eastland as
possible.
In an hour. the water was cleared Of
exeursionists. Those who had not been
taken to land had sunk or were swirling
| up The river toward the drainage canal
locks at Lockport, H.. many miles away.
The locks were raised 10 stop the current
and arrangements were made 10 take
bodies from the river along it's course
through the southwest part OF Chicago.