Sioux County pioneer., 1915-07-30

the night and day visited the armory
Chicago, July 26.-The death ship
Eastland has given up the bodies
Of 500 of its dead. The estt-
mated total number of those who
were drowned in the Chicago river
when the steel steamer bearing 24OS
excursionists rolled over at her dock,
remain at approximately 1000. OF the
total Of 240S persons on board at the
time of the catastrophe. 1912 including
the crew of 72, have been reported safe.
OF the 55S thus remaining unaccounted
for it is believed 400 are still alive
and have failed to report and that 1879
bodies still are in the river.
Evidence Of Desperation.
Panic of the worst kind struck the
passengers when the boat began to
turn over. Best accounts Of wit
nesses said the steamer rolled slight
ly twice, then turned further, and
that hundreds of screaming, strug-
Cling men, women and children slid
across the sloping decks, fought for
room on the companionways and
clutched at deck chairs or any other
object that came to hand.
Women and children by the hun.
dreds were caught below decks and
the scratched faces, torn clothing and
bruised bodies of the dead bore mute
evidence of the desperation with
which they had fought for chance
for life.
The whole tragedy occupied less
than five minutes. Members of the
crew shouted warnings as the steam.
er first tilted and Captain Petersen
ordered lower deck ports opened and
all passengers shore. There was,
however, no chance of such q meas.
ure to succeed.
Five Steamers Chartered.
Some 1000 tickets had been dis
tributed for the excursion and five
steamers chartered by the company.
The Eastland was first to receive its
quota, and when its chartered capac-
ity was reached federal inspectors Or
dered that no more be taken aboard.
The boat was docked on the south
side of the river and when the hum
dreds hurrying to the boat were
turned back from it they streamed
across the Clark street bridge to the
steamer Theodore Roosevelt, which
was to take the second boat load.
Screams of the Eastland victims
halted this rush and the bridge was
jammed with people until police. fear
ing that the structure would collapse,
ordered it cleared.
City Turns to Rescue Work.
Every resource of the city was
turned to the rescue work. Remem-
bering the 1roquois theatre disaster,
mercantile concerns in the vicinity
hurried motor trucks to the scene
laden with blankets to warm the liv-
ing or cover the dead. Pulmoters by
the score were sent to the dock, ply
sicians, police, firemen, government
life savers and nurses were sum-
moned and all hospitals and morgues
notified to prepare for patients or
corpses.
The steamer floated on its side into
midstream and tugs, motor-boats and
other river craft swarmed about it.
Firemen climbed on the wreck, forced
openings in the steel hull and through
these searched the cabins for possible
victims.
None Of the officers OF department
heads Of the Western Electric com.
pany were on the Eastland when It
overturned, according to an announce.
ment from the Offices Of the com.
pany.
Survivors Unable to Talk.
Many survivors were too hysterical
to relate their experiences. As soon
as those received at the hospitals
were in condition to leave they were
taken to their homes. many owners
of automobiles having offered their
machines.
An undertaking establishment in
North Clark street was surrounded