New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-07-31
STEAMER CAPSIZED.

underballastlng and grounding OF
the river bottom were cited in to
day S testimony at the coroner
inquest as reasons why the steam
ship Eastland toppled over Sat
urday and drowned a Thousand
or more eXcursionists. Adam +
Weckler. harbor master, ant
Joseph R. Lynn. assistant harool
master. both present when the
steamer capsized with $500 per
sons aboard, ascribing the acct
dent to these causes. told the cor
oner's jury that the boat was
cranky' and never should have
carried more than 1900 persons.
While the coroner's jury was
hearing this and other testimony
Secretary Of Commerce Redtield
watched divers recover three
more bodies. He stated formally
that government supervision had
not been lax and that the East
land had carried many more pas
sengers than were aboard when
the ship rolled over. He said that
federal officers would do every
thing possible to fix the blame, let
it rest where it might.
Harbor Master Weckler testified
that he arrived at the Eastland s
wharf twenty minutes before the
steamer was to start and saw that
the boat was listing. He said he
called to Capt. Petersen to trim
the vessel, shouting that he would
not open the Clark street bridge
until the boat was righted.
Weckler said the captain tried
to right the ship, but seemed I'M
able to take water into the bal
last tank fast enough. He said
he had no doubt the tanks had
been pumped dry, but that the
captain should have been able to
fill them in from three to six
minutes if nothing were wrong
with the valves.
81 never saw the Eastland
loaded so heavily as she was Sat
urday,' said Weckler, "and |
have seen her depart many !
times. A boat difficult to handle
under all circumstances is known,
as cranky boat, and 1 have no.
ticed the Eastland to be cranky
Eastland should not have been al !
lowed to carry more than 1900,
" After his arrest | heard Cap
tain Petersen say that he tried
for seventeen minutes to trim the
steamer, but could not get water
into the ballast tanks fast enough.
don't believe Captain Petersen
realized the danger until the final
plunge came"
Lynn, the assistant harbor mas
ter, testified that he arrived just
as the Eastland was due to start.
He saw the list and called the
police and fire departments.
81 believe" said Lynn, that
The ship was on the bottom aft of
If she lay on a bank
'loping towards the middle of the
liver and was being jammed
Town against this bank, she would
naturally tip towards the rivers
center. If the captain tried for
seventeen minutes to right the, i.
boat without attempting to get
IF those on board there was neg
igence."
Lynn said that he saw many ::
# the crew leap on the wharf !
tide while the ship was careen-
ng.
John H. O'Mara captain of the
ug Kenosha. which was hitched
o the Eastland to tow her out of :.
he river; testified that he did not
axe hold of the Eastland until !.
everal minutes after other wit J
esses said she had begun to list. !;
wen then he waited for the order
o go ahead and the captain of !
he Eastland was not working out
he stern as was necessary to pro- 4
ect the screws. Captain O'Mara
aid he got the word to go ahead,
ut before the tow line was taut
he Eastland listed dangerously !
nd he stopped. He had towed I
he Eastland four times and she
ways listed, he said.
L. V. Wheeler, assistant divi- G
on superintendent of the De- S
artment of Justice, submitted e
overnment inspection certifi, S
ates, one permitting the East q
lnd's carrying capacity to be Il
lcreased to 2570 passengers, 500 s
YER the previous permits. n
Efforts to check up the total II
cad made no progress today. a