The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-08-18
BLAME FIXED FOR
EASTLAND HORROR
OFFICERS OF OWNING CON-
PANY AND OF VESSEL ARE
INDICTED.
~ -
Cause of Disaster
Due to Instability
Which Arose From One Or More
of Three Conditions Named
$500 Passengers On Board. j.,

Chicago, Aug. IL Indictments
charging manslaughter and criminal
carelessenss were returned in the
criminal court today in connection
with the Eastland disaster.
The captain and engineer and four
officers Of the st. Joseph Chicago.
Steamship Company, owners of the
boat, are named as follows:
George T., Arnold, president.
William II. Hull, vice president
and general manager.
w. G. Steele, secretary-treasurer.
Ray W. Davis, assistant secretarys
treasurer. = ~
Harry Petersen, captain of the
Eastland. r.
Joseph M. Erickson, engineer.
Bonds were fixed at $4,000 each
for officials and $4,000 each for Pc
dersen and Erickson. The, two last
named are charged with criminal
carelessness and the officials with
manslaughter. ,'r:a...r. {. .z
IT, Bill Against Officers.
The bill against the officers charg-
ed:
That they knew the Eastland was
unseaworthy and had no stability.
That they permitted $500 passen-t
gers aboard the vessel which is more
than it's carrying capacity.
That they were negligent in hir-
ing an incompetent engineer, who,
because of his lack Of skill, was un-
able to control the boat properly.
That the crew did not number
enough hands to manage and control
the Eastland properly.
That the ballast tanks were allow
ed to be out. of repair and were not
filled. y -, ~. ,
,'"' Charges Against Captain.
Against Captain Petersen r these
charges were brought: ..H. ..N
That he permitted aboard, the
boat a larger number of passengers
than she could safely carry. =.
That he neglected to warn the pas
sengers to leave the Eastland when
it became apparent to him; that she.
was about to overturn. s.... =
That ne was negligent in not see
ing that the ballast tanks were in re-
pair and were properly filled. .':
That he was negligent in not see
ing that the chalk-holes and gang
ways were closed when the ship was
loaded. =.
Counts against Erickson are SINH
Cause of Disaster. - -.
The report of the grand jury finds
that the disaster was caused by in
stability under conditions OF loading
and states that the instability was
due to zone of three main causes,
or any two, or all of them," as fol-
lows: -,
The overlooking of the vessel with
passengers. ..
The mishandling of water ballast.
The construction of the vessel.
The report says that Eastland be-
gan loading passengers without wa
ter ballast. efforts to fill the tanks
failed.
"That the instability of the boat
was not corrected years before, we
regard as indicating criminal care
lessness or incompetency on the part
of all persons connected with the de-
sign, construction, control, operation
and inspection of the boat says the
report. 1t points out that federal
inspectors had the right to refuse a
permit to the boat, but that they are
generally not trained men and failed
to make stability tests.
Lack of Understanding.
"The handling of the ballast by
the officers of the boat indicates an
entire lack of understanding of the
nature and proper uses of water bal
last and an absolute disregard of
safety after repeated warnings and
frequent indications of extreme in
stability" continues the report.
The jury recommends that expert
federal approval be required for the
construction of steam vessels and
constant inspection and supervision.