Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-27
BLACK WEDNESDAY, In
CHICAGO TOMORROW
TContinued From First Page.1


members of the crew of the steamer,
under the guard of policemen. No
charge has been formally placed
against the men who are being detain-
ed as witnesses.
The coroner's jury was empanelIed
last Saturday and later inspected the
steamer and the bodies of the victims.
Representatives of States Attorney
Hoyne, owners of the steamer and
scores of lawyers who appeared in be-
half of various interests occupied seats
near Coroner Hoffman.
Chicago, ILL.,, July 27.-With the ar
rival here to-day of Secretary of Com
merce Redfeld steps were taken to
determine what form the federal in
vestigation into the cause of the cap
sizing of the. steamship Eastland at
her dock last Saturday shall take. Sec
retary Redfield, following President
Wilson'S request for a thorough in
vestigation, is prepared to go into the
case independently OF the Federal
Steamship Inspection Service, but will
not announce his conclusions until he
has had time to make personal ex-
animation of conditions.
With the entry of the Cabinet men,
ber into the case no less than eight
separate Investigations are in progress
or contemplated, with the situation
complicated by a clash between States
Attorney Hoyne and federal authori-
ties over the possession of evidence
gathered by the Chicago police and
which the latter on demand turned
over to the government agents for
presentation to the federal grand jury.
The county grand jury started it's
hearing at the criminal court building
and the coroner's jury began the TAX
ing of testimony at the county build
ing. United States District Attorney
Cline began the calling of witnesses
for the federal grand jury. The harbor
council began it's investigation and
the State Public Utilities Commission
Is considering the question of starting
an inquiry. Governor Dunno has been
urged to call special session of the
Legislature and the Sanitary District
Board will meet THURSDAY to appoint
an investigating board.
Bids for the raising of the Eastland
will be received to-day and until this
work is completed it is probable that
the number of lives lost in the disaster
cannot be definitely computed. A
number of bodies are known to be in
the hull of the vessel. but divers have
been unable to reach them.
100000 For Victims
Completion of relief fund of $780,
600 for the aid of the families of the
victims is expected to be attained
before the close of the day.
A house at 2301 South Kolin ave-
nue. has not been entered since the
Eastland capszed. Two families. con-
sisting of seven persons, lived in the
house, and all are either dead or
missing. A wagon drove to the resi-
dence with two bodies but there was
no one there to receive them.
Insurance managers estimate that
between SO and rs per cent. of the
Eastland victims carried policies, the
average amount being 5000. They
say $500, 600 will be paid to families
of victims during the week. Several
of the skilled workers of the Western
Electric Company carried policies of
SIS, 600.
Pay Insurance Claims
Several Chicago representatives of
the insurance companies have omitted
the customary red tape and started to
pay the claims. In many cases these
payments have prevented applications
to relief institutions. Some insurance
men have not waited for claims to be
presented, but sent their forces of COL
lectors to-find the beneflciaries.
William Fl. Hull. general manager
of the company which owns the East
land, advances the theory that the
vessel was overturned by the pulling
of tug that had been engaged to
pilot it to open water.
MY theory is that the boat was
resting on the bottom of the river" he
said. Then when the tug pulled,
over she went. The river probably
was not deep enough at that point for
the Eastland. We have plenty of
water at our dock, but perhaps the
river had filled in at the place she
docked Saturday
MY information is that a rear line
was fast and it pulled off the cap OF
the piling when the tug pulled. When
the piling gave way the tug pulled
over the boat in hurry. If that
theory is not right 1 have not the
slightest idea of what caused the ac-
cident The boat was safe. 1t wasn't
the hoaf"