Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-26
WESTERN ELECTRIC
REPORTS 27O MISSING
Investigations Into Cause of Disas-
ter Are Being Pressed by United
States. State and City.
LETTER CALLS BOAT UNSAFE
Construction Wrong, Architect Says.
Coroner Believes Dead May Reach
1,28O-First Funerals
Held Today.

Attorney General Gregory
ordered agents of the. Depart
ment of Justice to assist
United States Attorney Clyne
in investigating the sinking
of the steamer Eastland to de-
termine whether there were
violation of federal criminal
statutes.
CHICAGO, July 26.-Divers
engaged in rescue work reported
to Coroner Hoffman today that
they believed there were about
200 bodies still in the hull of the
steamer Eastland, which capsized
Saturday with 2,4o8 excursionists
aboard, of whom approximately
900 were drowned. Many of the
bodies are in such a position they
cannot be taken out until the YES
sci is raised.
Figures announced by Coroner
Hoffman this afternoon show
that the total number of lives lost
in the Eastland steamship disaster
may reach I,28o. The coroners S
statement issued at pm, gave
the following estimates:
Number OF bodies recovered,
1910.
Number OF missing reported to
Western Electric Company, 20.
Number OF bodies estimated
still in the hull of the steamer,
200.
Total, 1880.
All but nine of the bodies re-
covered have been identified.
The work of searching the sub
merged interior of the boat and
dragging the river for victims pro-
gressed slowly. At noon three
additional bodies had been recov-
cred. Arrangements were COM
pleted this morning for raising the
steamer and dynamiting the river
bed to release bodies that may
have been stuck in the mud.
$40 Bodies Recovered.
At noon Coroner Hoffman reported
that SO bodies had been recovered
Investigations to determine the cause
of the accident and punish the guilty
were vigorously pushed during the day
by Coroner HOFFMAN, States Attorney
Hoyne and United States District Attor-
ney Charles F. Clyne.
After questioning members of the East
lands crew and scores of witnesses,
States Attorney Hoyne and his assistants
expressed the opinion that the accident
| was caused by the overlooking of the
boat. United States District Attorney
Clyne, after conferring with federal
steamboat inspectors, said:
when the time comes for US to talk
we will have plenty to say"
Steamboat inspection officials met
United States District Attorney Clyne
and several others today. and while no
announcement was made as to what
| transpired at the meeting it was hinted
| that plans were formulated for con-
| Quoting the federal investigation SO as
not to have 1t conflict with the state
and city Investigations
Dickerson H. Hoover, acting super
vising inspector general, and Charles
N. Westcott, district supervisor. attend
ed the conference. Mr.. Clyne before
the meeting said:
I'VE have no plans formulated as yet.
That Is the purpose of the conference
in the steamboat inspectors Office"
An official of the federal Department
of Justice and representative of the
states attorneys Office are also said
| to have been present at the conference.
F. H. Avery. in charge of the divers
! engaged in the rescue work, said that
his men were able to see many bodies
in the hull which they were unable
| to reach. After talking with the men
working under the water, he formed
his estimate of 200 bodies still in the
| boat.
Eastland Construction Condemned.
Copy of a letter from a naval architect
condemning the construction Of the East
land will be used by States Attorney
Hoyne in his investigation Of the dis
aster. The letter was written by John
Devereaux York Of Chicago to the United
States harbor inspector htre August 8.
1918.
| that the Eastland was not a safe boat.
Every naval architect who knew the con-
struction will tell you she was extremely
dangerous. She had a thirty-eight foot
| beam for which all laws of steamboat
| construction require at least a forty-inch
| keel, The Eastland had no keel at ALL"
| Plans for raising the steamer East
| land were completed today, and the
| work will be begun. as soon as the
necessary machinery has been placed
in position. When wrecking dredges
have placed the steamer on its keel the
hull will be pumped out and q care
| ful search made for more bodies.
1t win take several days to raise