The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-07-29
THE EASTLAND SINKS
In CHICAGO RIVER
GREAT STRUGGLE FOR LIVE
Steamer Turns Turtle and PaSsen-
gers Are Consigned to Watery
GraVe-Men, Women and
Children Perish.

Chicago, July 24-Hundreds of
persons were drowned today when
the steamer Eastlanl, crowded with
$500 employees of the Western Elec-
trio company, capsized in the Chicago
river. Four hours after the accident
rescuers were still taking bodies
from the boat through holes chopped
in its hull. Estimates of the death
list ran from 700 to 1900. At II
o'clock nearly 500 dead had been
! found.
Deputy Coroner David Jones and
Sheriff John E. Traeger, directing
the work of removing bodies, said
they feared the dead would number
l,200 OF possibly 1900.
The crowding of passengers to
one side of the boat popularity is sup
posed to have caused the tragedy
but the authorities, not satisfied with
that explanation, ordered the arrest
of the boats officers. Capt. Harry
Petersen and Dell Fisher, first mate,
were taken to police headquarters.
Panic struck the passengers when
the boat began to turn over. Best
accounts of witnesses said that the
steamer rolled slightly twice, then
tilted further, and that hundreds of
screaming, struggling men, women
and children slid across the sloping
decks, clutching at companions, deck
chairs or any other object that came
to hand.
Women and children by the hum
dreds were caught below decks and
the scratched faces, torn clothing
and bruised bodies of the dead bore
evidence of the desperation with
which they fought for life.
The steamer turned over in less
than five minutes. Members of the
crew shouted warnings as the great
steamer first tilted and endeavored
to drive the passengers to the upper
side of the deck, but the incline al
ready was too steep.
Slowly the great steel hulk turned
up, pouring its passengers into the
river.
Tbout 1000 tickets had been dis
tributed for the excursion and five
steamers chartered by the company.
The Eastland was first to receive its
quota and when its chartered capac-
ity was reached federal authorities
ordered that no more be taken
aboard.
Mercantile concerns hurried mo-
tor trucks to the scene of the disas-
ter laden with blankets to warm the
living or cover the dead. Pulmotors
by the score were sent to the dock
and scores of physicians, police. fire.
men, government life savers and
nurses were summoned.
The steamer, when relieved of its
passengers, floated on it's side into
midstTeam.
| For the first two hours attempts
were made to revive every person
taken from the wreck. Then, as the
hopelessness of it became apparent,
divers were sent to explore the
depths of the boat. They brought
out scores of bodies.
Police and fire tugs organized the
river craft into rescue fleet. Boats
cruised down the river watching for
bodies.
News of the disaster spread rapid
ly, but its full significance was not
realized until the motor trucks, piled
high with blanketed forms, began
rolling through the loop district to
morgues and undertaking establish
ments. The American and Federal
League baseball games were called
off, many theaters announced that
their doors would be closed tonight
and churches summoned their mem
bers to pray for the dead.
viii prove of advantage to the school
~.