The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-07-26
"CRANK OF
THE LAKES"
Says Naval Architect Of the
Steamer East
land
FAULT IN HULL,
TOP DECK CUT OFF
Vessels Main Weakness Was
That 1t Had Almost
No Body

/ Chicago, July 26.---"The Eastland wa
the crank of the lakes, and, as far as
know, the only crank on the lakes,
w. j. Wood, naval architect, who wa
called by the owners in 1903 to correc
faults in the boat, declared Saturday a
Chicago. In 1904, Wood made repre-
sensations to Capt. Ira Mansfield, Chi
cago steamboat Inspector, which resulted
in an order to cut off the top deck OF this
vessel and to keep the water ballast
compartments filed.
"The deck was cut off, Mr.. Wood de-
| clared Saturday, but it would be i'm
possible to fix the cause of the accident
until it is known whether the other
conditions were fulfilled.
THE design of the vessel would not
permit its operation as other vessels are
operated, and great care had to be taken
at all times"
The Eastland was built by the Port
Huron Shipbuilding company, and on its
trial run in 1908 failed to come up to
specifications, according to Wood, who
was one of three judges to pass on its
performance.
"The gangways were not watertight,D
said Mr.. Wood, "and | was called on
to correct that fault, as well as some
of the other faults in the interior of
the hull.
ut was most important that the water
ha LA ~ oo,. pts chnutd ba Ellpd a
all times. Ii was also important that
the passengers should not crowd on one
side of the upper deck.
"The fault in the Eastland was in
the hull. told the builders at the time
| was called to inspect some parts of it
that it was not properly designed, and
they told me that they had spent $4,000
for inspection and were willing to spend
$4,000 to have it right.
after the Eastland was completed,
s35 900 was spent to correct faults, but
The vulnerable faults were in the hull,
and / got my first sight of it to-day as
saw the boat overturned in the river.
There are certain fundamental principles |
applying to naval architecture which |
eemed not to have been carried out.
"The Eastland had almost no body at |
II, and this was its main weakness.
)ther boats on the lakes look as top
eavy as did the Eastland, but are abso-
utely safe, because their hulls are prop
rly constructed"
The Eastland was owned at Cleveland,
J., for five years, operating between that
ity and Cedar Point, near Sandusky,
nd also on moonlight trips on the lake,
urng which time il was concerned in
eyeral accidents, none of which, how
yer, was attended by loss of life.
On one occasion. with a heavy pas.
enger list, the Eastland ran against the
reakwater while trying 10 make Cleve-
md harbor in a fog late at night, and
'as fast until the next day, being con-
derably damaged and causing much
light among the excursionists aboard.
N two occasions she ran on the beach
/ Cedar Point.
The boat was built high in the water
nd operated with screws, differing in
lis respect from the paddle-wheel sys-
I'M which is in use on most OF the
assenger ships plying on the lakes.
hese facts were blamed by many who !
stronized the ship for the difficulty
it'll which it was nayigated at times.
taterooms were torn out at one time :
make the boat less topheavy, and !.
savy ballast was added to assist in !.
feguarding IL.