Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-08-04

out by his questions that Oakley and
Lobdell could enter into an agree
ment to overload the boat and leave
no record OF the occurrence. Secre-
;tary Redfield followed up. this line OF
quizzing by having Oakley testify that
heGEas at all times sworn under oath
to do his duty - 5,.: s.5 s&.
Frank w. Van <sPatten and W. A.
Collins, steamboat inspectors stationed
at Milwaukee, are the Off cial invest1-
gators who must sign the findings: AS
sisting them were Albert Thurman,
solicitor of the department Of COM
merce, and George 5Uhler, inspector
general Of the steamboat inspection
service. %.3 Is :,y-!$$ t=$$sJs
In opening his inquiry at the fed
eral building Secretary Redfield stated
it would be confined to the conduct
Of the licensed inspectors who had
to do with the steamer Eastland." He
said It took place automatically, as
in other accidents Of less moment"
After this preface he ran caress-
ing hand through his blond side-whis-
kers and proceeded to, lombard the
witnesses with his own theories
CARRIED as questions. <
Here Are Some Samples. .;g.
At times he became sarcastic. Some
impression of his ideas of what Pres
sident Wilson meant by the three
words, thorough, searching and COM
plete," may be gained from the follow
ing excerpts: ,..$5- +. a:.5.S.s.+
Capt. Nils B. Nelson, supervising
Inspector, of Cleveland, Is on the
stand. z, i5.. IL
ia Secretary Redfeld- Captain Nelson,
some genius has discovered that the
Eastland had no keel-that it was
keel-fess. Do you agree with the
genius who says it was without a
keel? XII g4sL s.5$ ..%zss.>155. w.
Captain Nelson es. None of the
lake boats have keels. None Of the
great .freighters have them.
Secretary Redfeld-Ah. None Of
the; great freighters carrying 10000
tons of freight have keels? -
Captain Nelson--Tkat is true. l.
Secretary Redtleld-And is it not
true that none Of the great battle
ships Of the United States have keels?
Captain Nelson-That is true. 7s ~
Secretary Redheld- could you, If
you were ordered by the government,
calculate the metacentric height Of
vessels in your district with your
present force? Inf
Captain Nelson NO, we could not.
Secretary Redfeld Has it ever been
suggested to you that this should be
a part Of the governments inspection
functions? s:. ?, zsttf FL s'SsEi
Captain Nelson-Yes, and I think it
should be. s5.5y, s,sss-s.-.
!. More Bodies Located. 5.
Gruesome piles of bodies were; seen
lodged against the pilings and cables
under the Randolph street bridge by
divers. One-that of a man-was
brought to the surface, horribly mu-
tilated. AT the same time the body
of a woman was found lying at 5the
bottom Of the Eastland. The federal
grand jury, which had arrived on the
scene at the time, watched the bring
ing up Of the woman. Then they
turned aWay-sickened.
After consultation Of the divers
and police it was decided that a new
method be used in dislodging the
bodies from under the bridge where
they had drifted. 4s =.g= 3D.. 81.
s Qutcklime, partially covered with
water, is sealed in Jars and lowered
into the water. a gas is generated,
causing the Jars 4 to explode. This
method is to be used hereafter.
Place Cable Around Ship.
Z "A great, steel cable now encircles
the Eastland and the tugging OF a
powerful donkey engine is about to
be started in the work Of Fighting
the steamer. :s$5 l&s2
With the completion of the placing
Of the heavy chain about the boat
spectators watching from nearby
buildings saw a remarkable sight.
Thousands and thousands of small
fish rose to the surface and darted
away in every direction. N
The presence of the fish means, &C.
cording to lake men, that many bodies
are lying in the mud near the boat.
Another reason given is that the fish
have been attracted by the thousands
OF baskets Of lunch which were
brought by unfortunate picnickers.
Volunteer crews are patrolling up
and down the river continuously in
the search for bodies which may come
to the surface. All have their own
launches. Mere than seventy mem
divers, volunteer swimmers and mem.
:bers Of the fire department. as.
sisting the crew Of the Favorite in.
the work on the Eastland. ,Js
IA Get Body in Net. s.5l 81
RI One crew was sent to Western ave.
nue., where huge net, 800 feet long
and % feet deep, has been stretched
across the river. :,
4 Men had just begun to work at,
Western, avenue, FIVE miles from the
Eastland, when the body of a man
was brought to the surface. He was
about thirty years old, wore a black
suit and white. socks. His was the
first Of the three bodies taken from
the river today.
. When taken to Sheldon's undertake
ing rooms, the body was identified as
that Of w. Gerewitz of 1874 West
Thirteenth street. %s@s&sss;;
r The Identification was not con-.
,frmed. s,sis !. .4s4 s..5
~ Divers were busy with compressed
air chisels cutting holes in the sub.
merged portion of the upper deck
near the bow and stern to permit the
fastening Of hoisting chains around
the steel structure of the boat. ssAll
interior contents Of the boat which
might interfere with the work have
been removed and preparations made
for the final pull.
doors of nearly every other house in
:. -. = = =. 4 ~