Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-28
Auto Trucks, Vans, Etc,
Pressed Into Service
by Undertakers.
BEGIN RAISING BOAT
Expect Number Indictments
to Be Returned by State
Grand jury Tonight.

Chicago. Ill, July 28-With so per
Sons either under arrest or detained as
witnesses, official inquiry into the
steamer Eastland disaster proceeded
today In an effort to fix responsibility
and punish the guilty.
Indictments charging manslaughter.
criminal carelessness or conspiracy
will be returned by the state grand
Jury tonight if the evidence presented
to that body warrants such action, ac-
cording 10 States Attorney Maclay
H0yne. II is expected that the cor
oner'B inquest which may be concluded
tonight viii result in the holding to
the grand jury of several persons
which the testimony of witnesses had
shown to be guilty of criminal care
lessuess or worse.
Secretary of Commerce RedfeId was
busy directing the federal investiga-
t]on. He examined records Of the 10
cal steamboat inspection service and
conferred with officials preparatory to
beginning the examination of wit
nesses tomorrow.
Mayor William Hale Thompson re
turned from San Francisco on a spe-
cial train and held conferences with
the city councils committee which is
conducting an investigation.
While the various Investigations
were ia progress 600 victims Of the
tragedy were being buried. Auto
trucks vans and other vehicles were
pressed into service TO carry the dead.
Many Of the funerals were conducted
in q drilling rain.
Il was Black Wednesday" in Cicero
and the surrounding suburbs where
the plant of the Western Electric COM
pauy is situated and where a majority
OF the victims resided. Thirty funerals
were held from one small church and
the wet streets were crowded with
mourners.
Business Is Suspended.
The day was designated by Mayor
Thompson as memorial day for the
Eastland dead and the city honored the
victims by closing all public buildings
and the practical suspension of bust
ness in many sections.
Flags were at half mast, many build
ings we're draped in black, and an at
mosphere of gloom was evident every
where.
Work Of raising the Eastland was
begun, but It will be at least 10 days
before the steamer is placed on its
keel again and the search for the miss
ing resumed.
At noon the latest figures on the
dead and missing were:
Identified dead, S26.
Unidentified dead, 5.
Western Electric company, revised
list OF missing, 581.
Total, 1852.
Somebody Guilty of Mansl8Ughter.
States Attorney Hoyne today said:
The states attorneys Office is pro-
ceeding on the theory that somebody
is guilty Of manslaughter, and GER
tainiy some owners Of common car
riers are guilty of gross criminal neg
ligence Section 49 Of the criminal
code in the latter connection makes
It necessary only TO endanger lives Of
Of pasBenK nKers-they need not be lost.
There are three contributing agen-
cies or causes OF this accident, ks
see Il. They are the government in
spectors, steamboat people and the
operating force or crew of the boat.
Explaining the taking into custody
of W. K. Greenebaum. general manager
u the Indiana Transportation COM
pany, which leased the Eastland last
saturday, Mr.. Hoyne said:
Mr.. Greenebaum, in response TO
questions al the inquest. admitted that
De knew nothing about the Eastland,
pat added that be knew or had heard
nat she was not seaworthy."
Other agencies investigating the dis
sster are continuing their work. Sec
'etary William G. Redfeld of the de-
partment OF commerce, who is here on
Instructions from President Wilson,
says he has not decided whether his
inquiry will extend to all of the lake
passenger traffic or whether ii will be
confined 10 the Eastland affair For
ne time being we will confine our
selves 10 the case in hand. he said,
Absolves Federal inspectors.
Secretary William G. Redfeld of the
department. Of commerce, who is con- !
-0cNng an inquiry into the sinking OF /
ne Eastland on instructions OF Presi- /
ient Wilson, declares that the respon- /
slellity for ignoring alleged faulty con-
sraction OF the vessel cannot be
paced on federal inspectors.
There IS no commission. body or
separtment in the service that has any |