The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-07-30
THREE POSSIBLE CAUSES
OF DISASTER PRESENTED
The Overlooking, Underballasting or
Grounding On River Bottom Re-
sponsible for Eastland Horror.

Chicago, July 27.-Overloading, un-
derballasting and grounding on the
river bottom were cited in today's tes-
timony at the coroner's inquest as rea-
sons why the steamer Eastland turned
over Saturday and drowned hundreds
of excursionists. Adam "a. Weckler,
harbor master, and Joseph R. Lynn,
assistant harbor master, both present
when the steamer capsized with $500
persons aboard, ascribed the accident
to these causes and told the coroner
that the boat was cranky" and never
should have carried more than 1,200
passengers.
W. K. Greenebaum, general manager
OF the Indiana Transportation con-
pany, which had leased the Eastland
for use last Saturday, was taken into
custody tonight.
While the coroner was hearing testi-
unony, Secretary Redfeld watched div
ers recover three more bodies. He
stated formally that government su-
pervision had not been lax and tnat
the EastIand had carried many more
passengers than were aboard when the
ship rolled over. He said that federal
officers would do everything possible
to fix TIE blame, let it rest where it
might.
Saw Her Listing.
Harbor Master Weckler testified that
he arrived at the Eastland's wharf 20
minutes before the steamer was to
start and saw that the boat was listing.
He said he called to Capt. Peterson
to trim THE vessel, shouting that he
would not open the Clark street bridge
until the boat was righted.
at never saw the Eastland loaded so
heavily as it was Saturday" said
Meckler, "and I have seen her depart
many times. A boat difficult to handle
under all circumstances is known as
q cranky boat, and I have noticed Hhe
Eastland to be cranky constantly. l
don't think the Eastland should have
been allowed to carry more than 1900
passengers.
Didn't See Danger.
"After his arrest, l heard Capt. Pc
dersen say he tried for seven minutes
to trim the steam, but could not get
water into the ballast tanks fast
enough. don't believe Capt. Petersen
realized the danger until the final
plunge came"
Lynn, the assistant harbor master,
testified that he arrived just as the
Eastland was due to start and saw
the list.
''I believe" said Lynn, that the ship
was on the bottom aft Of midship. If
she lay on bank sloping towards the
middle of the river and was being
jammed down against this bank, Size
would naturally tip towards the rivers
center. If the captain tried for seven
minutes to right the boat without at
tempting to get off those on board
there was negligence"
Lynn added tnat he saw many of the
crew leap on the wharf side while the
ship was careening.
John H. OlNeara, captain of the tug
Kenosha, which was hitched on the
Eastland to tow the ship out of the
river, testified that he did not take hold
of the Eastland until several minutes
after other witnesses said the ship had
begun to list. Even then he waited
for the order to go anead, and the
captain of the Eastland was not work
ing out the stern as was desirable to
protect the screws.
Had Always Listed.
Capt O'Meara said he got TIE word
to go ahead, but before the tow line
was taut the Eastland listed danger
ously and ne stopped. He had towed
the Eastland four times and she al
ways listed, he said.
L. S. Wheeler, assistant division su-
perintendent of the department of JUS
tice, submitted government inspection
certificates, one permitting the East
lands carrying capacity to be in
creased to $500 passengers, 500 over
previous permits.
William ]. Wood, a naval architect,
submitted to the coroner's jury a
statement condemning various meas
urements and arrangements of the
snip. Coroner Peter Hoffman then
took the jurors to the wrecked steam
boat, so that Wood could explain tech
nicalities.
Secretary Redfeld tonight issued