The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-07-25


There were scores of other Incidents
of heroism.
Acting Mayor Moorhouse tonight
forbade motion pictures of tragedy
shown in this city.
Flags are halfmast ever city,
mourning is displayed, theatres
closed, baseball postponed, and spe-
cial prayers at churches.
OFFICERS ARE ARRESTED.
The crowding OF passengers to one
side of the boat popularity is supposed
to have caused the tragedy, but au-
thorities, not satisfied with that ex-
PLANTATION, ordered the arrest of the
boats officers. Captain Harry Peder-
sen and Dell Fisher, first mate, were
taken to police headquarters.
Panic struck the passengers when
the boat began to turn over. Best ac-
counts of witnesses said the steamer
rolled slightly twice, then tilted fur
Their, and that hundreds of screaming,
struggling men, women and children
slid across the sloping decks, clutch
ing at companions, deck chairs or any
other object that came to hand.
Women and children by the hun
dreds were caught below decks and
the scratched faces, torn clothing, and
bruised bodies of the dead bore evil
dence 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 steam
er first tilted and endeavored to drive
the passengers to the upper side of
the deck, but the incline already was
too steep.
Slowly the great steel hulk turned
bottom up, pouring It's passengers
into the river.
About 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 inspectors
ordered that no more be taken aboard.
Mercantile concerns hurried motor
trucks to the scene of the disaster,
loaded with blankets to warm the iv-
ing or cover the dead. Pulmotors by
the score were sent to the dock, and
scores of persons, policemen, firemen,
government life savers and nurses
were summoned.
The steamer, when relieved of its
passengers, foated on its side into
midstream.
For the first two hours attempts
were made to revive every person
taken out of 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 feet. Boats
cruised down the river watching for
bodies.
News of the disaster spread quickly
but its full significance was not re-
allied 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 theatres announced that
their doors would be closed tonight
and churches summoned their mem
bers to pray for the dead.
Federal Judge Landis ordered a
special grand jury empanelled to
make an investigation of the disas-
ter. The jury will meet next Thurs
day.
Steamboat Inspector VIM. Nicholas
is investigating report that water
ballast was pumped out of the hold
of the Eastland as the passengers
boarded, so the boat would rise and
more passengers might be carried.
A few hours inquiry caused officials
to lean strongly toward the theory
that the boats peculiar construction
was responsible for the accident. The
Eastland was equipped with water
ballast so she could enter shallow
ports. When approaching such en-
tries water would be forced from the
tanks, reducing the boats draft. Of
ficials thought most of the ballast had
been forced from the tanks In antici-
patton of a heavy load today, thus
rendering her top heavy.
The river current also engaged at
tention in connection with a posi-
bility that the keel had grounded in
the mud. Those who discussed that
theory thought the current working
against the pull of the hawsers to-
ward the dock, made fulcrum OF
the keel and turned the steamer over
Still another theory was that tug
started pulling on the steamer before
the wharf lines were cast off. That
however, was denied.
A man giving the name of Tony
Santonis was arrested after strug-
gle within the overturned steamer
and was accused of robbing the dead
under pretense of aiding rescue work
LISTED ONCE BEFORE.
n Is