Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-07-29


deputies in gathering all the facts
bearing on the disaster.
Coroner Peter Hoffman rushed to
the scene and mustered large corps
of deputies. Juries for inquests were
impaneled from among the thousands
of spectators and names of witnesses
were taken by hundreds.
A score of government inspectors
and officials hurried to the scene Of
the Eastland calamity and started an
investigation. In working in the YES
sci, detectives under the direction Of
the federal officers found that the So
called water-tight compartments failed
in the performance of any service in
the sinking of the boat.
Water shot through the staterooms
that were supposed to be water-tight,
with the same speed as through those
that were not fitted with water-tight
facings. The portfolios had been left
open, leaving these rooms useless.
That the Eastland was leaking bad
ly on the port side before seven
o'clock, and that she was loaded with
passengers uptil the water rose above
the waterline was charged by John
CHASER. Jr., one Of the survivors of
the capsizing of the lake liner.
The work of rescue began as soon as
the big boat settled in the water.
Bodies were being taken, out of the
water and the hold of the ship at the
rate of two per minute shortly after
the accident occurred. AS each body
was brought up the indignation of the
crowd grew. 1t came to a climax when
Captain Peterson and the other off,
GERS were arrested. Violence on the
part of the mob, directed against the
ships officers, was narrowly averted
by calling out reserve policemen.
Survivors of the Eastland horror in
the Chicago river told gruesome tales.
filed with fearful details in relating
their experiences.
F. G. Snow of Ludington, Mich,
assistant engineer of the Eastland,
described what occurred in the engine
room.
1--WE felt the floor raise, and turned
on the water blast" he said. 1T was
too late. She kept going over. ! ran
upstairs and was about to dive over
the rail, when saw woman stand
ing there alone. seized her and
leaped into the water. We were
picked up by some men with rope"
Peter Erickson of Grand Haven,
Mich, an oiler, and Clyde Schearer Of
st. Joseph. Mich. water tender,
dived overheard and swan to the
dock. AS they drew themselves up
they saw four women swept off the
boats upturned side. clinging to each
other and being swept into the river
by the swirling caused by the settling
of the big lake liner.
The two men plunged In again and
brought the women to the dock, where
men on shore pulled them to safety.
As the steamer Eastland settled to
the bottom of the Chicago river an
other similar accident was narrowly
averted on board of the steamer Theo-
dore Roosevelt, which was loaded to the
rails with other members of the West
ern Electric company's picnic party.
A panic that taxed the most heroic
efforts of the Theodore Roosevelt's
crew burst forth as soon as 1t was seen
that many of the picnickers were
going to their deaths in the river. The
crowd made desperate rush for the
exits and many women and children
were hurt in the crush.
Some of the passengers on the
Roosevelt leaped into the water to aid
in the rescue work. The panic-stricken
passengers. trying to reach the shore.
were forced back and order was final
ly restored.