New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
Redfield's Committee Ac-
cused of Being a Mere
Whitewashing Affair.
WRECK VISITED
BY GRAND JURY
CorOner's Jury Finds Passengers
Were in No Way Responsible
for the Disaster.
Try Telegraph to Yhe Tribune. ]

Ivy 1elegfsph 10 fhe Tribune.J
Chicago, July Following the YER
dict Of the coroner's jury in the East
land case to-day five arrests were
made. The men arrested were:
Robert Reid, Federal steamboat in
spector.
Charles c. EckliT. Federal steamboat
inspector
W. X. Greenbaum, general manager
of the chartering company.
j. NJ. Erickson. engineer of the East
land.
Harry Petersen, captain of the East
land.
A sixth man was held in the person
of Walter c. Steele, of St. Joseph,
Mich, secretary and treasurer of the
Chicago-St. Joseph Steamship Company.
He had been previously arrested by the
police and discharged, but was arrested
again tonight by one of States Attor-
rey Hoyne's detectives on a charge of
criminal carelessness, although no war
rant had been issued. He was subse-
uuently released on bond of $4,000.
While the inquiry into the Eastland
disaster under the direction of the
Secretary of Commerce, William {.
Redfeld, was in progress in an
other part of the Federal Build
ing Judge X. NJ. Lands this af-
ternoon swore in the Federal Grand
Jury, instructed them to make thor
ough probe into the disaster and gave
instructions to the jurors which were
taken to indicate that many OF the Wit.
nesses to be summoned would hit hard
at the department over which Mr.. Ked-
field presides, as well as at Mr.. Red
field himself.
Judge Lands indicated that the de-
signers and owners of the boat would
be hard hit in the testimony. After
hearing the judges instructions the
grand jury visited the wreck and VIII
not begin hearing testimony until to-
morrow.
Judge Lands in his instructions re-
ferred to the inquiries being conduc'..
ed by the city, county and state, and
continued:
"But yours is a broader field. 1t will
be for you to inquire whether the navl-
CATION laws of the United States have
been obeyed and to act according to
your determination of that fact.
Lands Explains Law.
"These laws deal with the construc-
ton, equipment, management and navl-
cation of passenger-carrying craft.
They purport TO be designed in the
interest Of public safety. Their pro-
visions are intended to operate upon
people engaged in the passenger carry
ing business. The Department OF the
Government is charged with duties o.
forcing obedience to their terms; oib-
cials are provided charged with this
duty and clothed with power for It's
discharge"
Judge Lands said the jury must an
swer these questions:
"Did the occurrence result from any
act or acts Of omission or commission
erjoined by Federal law on the part
either of the owners, managers, crew
or other persons having TO do with
the subject matter, or on the part OF
any government official or officials
charged with a duty respecting the
same matter ?!
The Eastland investigation begun by
Secretary Redheld, has been branded a
"whitewash" and farce" by the City
Council committee on Harbors and
Bridges, which has appealed directly
to President Wilson to appoint real
committee to inquire into the disaster.
A resolution calling upon the Pres-
dent to appoint such committee was
adopted by the committee after the
Federal Bureau of Commerce inquiry
had been subjected to storm Of criti-
cism by the Aldermen.
Criticism for Redfeld.
The following was issued by John H.
Walker. president of the Illinois State
Federation of Labor, in protest against
the personnel OF Secretary Redheld's
civilian board:
"The civilian board appointed by
Secretary Redfeld of the Department
of Commerce and Labor TO supervise
the investigation of the Eastland sink
ing is a travesty on representative
government.
"The largest corporation and fnan-
cial interests in Chicago are repre-
scented. An engineer of the Western
Electric Company is TO sit in on the
board. The two most important inter
ests of all are neglected by Mr.. Red
field"
Nothing TO throw new light on the
cause of the accident was developed
before Secretary Redfeld. Inspectors
and others expressed the opinion that
underballasting or improper manipula-
ton of the water ballast tanks had up
set the ship. Robert Reid, of Grand
Haven, Mich, the Federal Inspector
who on July granted the Eastland
permission TO increase its passenger
capacity from 1900 to $500, testified
that the ship had plenty of room for
even more passengers and had COM
piled with the law by providing the
legal number of life preservers, boats
and liferafts. He had seen the ship
carry 5000 person safely, he said; had
inspected the ballast tanks, although
not required to do so, and had had no
fear of the ships sinking, his son-in-
law, j. NJ Erickson, being chief en-
gineer of the craft. He had never re-
ceived any favor from any officer or
owner of the vessel.
81 am going to wat until the proper
authorities get through. I'D if they
don't do anything I'll start something
that will shake he town up" said
Mayor Thompson to-day. when asked
whether he was gong TO investigate the
Eastland disaster.
Four more bodies were recovered
from the river to-day, making total
of s3i found since the ship upset.
Quicklime bombs were used to-day in
an attempt TO force bodies from the
bottom, but without success.
SENT TO BELLEVUE
Uon xYyrY cnlI TunE At