Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-26
COMPANY HEADS
ARE TO BE HELD
Coroner Orders Arrest Of Indiana
Transportation Firm Heads, but
No Individuals Named.
CHIEFS AND CREW IN CUSTODY

OAAAAaL y AANO SAN[AW ~
CHICAGO, July 24.-Coroner
Hoffman announced late tonight
that he had ordered the arrest OF
every official OF the Indiana Trans
portation company, which leased the
Eastland, which capsized today,
causing the loss OF a thousand lives.
No individuals were mentioned in
the coroner's announcement. The
officers and crew Of the boat are
under arrest.
Coroner Hoffman had a number Of
photographs Of the boat taken and
then ordered It pumped out and
raised. Chief OF Police Healey, who
inspected the hull, expressed the
opinion that there we're still 800
bodies In the boat which cannot be
recovered until the boat Is raised.
"Crank of the Lakes"
The Eastland was the crank OF the
lakes. and as far as I know the only
crank on the lakes" w. j. Wood, naval
architect, who wac called by the owners
in 1903 to correct faults In the boat. de-
clared today. In 1904 Wood made repre-
sensations TO Captain Ira Mansfield. local
steamboat inspector. which resulted IN
an order to cut off the top deck OF the
vessel and TO keep the water ballast
compartments filled.
''The deck was cut off in pursuance
Of Captain Mansfield's ORDER" Mr.. Wood
declared today. but. It would be i'm
possible TO pass on the cause of the
accident until II r. known whether the
other conditions were fulfilled at the
time OF the overturning OF the boat. The
Eastland has been in operation on Lake
Erie and has not met with an accident
but evidently the owners were acquainted
with its faults and operated II accord
ingly. The design Of the vessel. the hull
Of which was faulty. would not permit
It's operation as other vessels are oper-
ated and great care had to be taken at
all times"
Investigates Report.
Steamboat Inspector William Nichols Is
investigating a report that water ball
last was pumped from the hold of the
EastlRnd as the passengers boarded, so
passengers might be carried.
There ARE various reports as to the
cause Of the catastrophe" said Mr.. Mich
olas' but ! cannot say which one Is tho
more plausible am invetigating the
report that water ballast was pumped out
during the loading of the boat have
been Informed that there was water In
the ballast tanks and 1 also have been
informed that there was not"
w. X. areenbaum, manager Of the In
diana transportation company, made the
following statement late today:
'The Indiana Transportation company
expresses it's deepest sorrow and sympa-
thy for tho breaved in the Hastland ca
tastrophe. The Eastland was not over
loaded. There were 2.40s tickets taken
UP at the Eastlsnd gangway by the
bastland collectors under federal super
vision. The government capacity mark
Is set at $500
Hired for Day.
AT this time the Indiana Transporta-
ton company is unable 20 voice an
opinion on the cause OF the accident, be-
cause the Eastland was hired for the day
and the captain and crew were not EN-
ployes OF the Indiana Transportation
company.
Eve are doing everything in our power
and will continue 10 do 30, both In the
work OF rescue and In aiding all invests
cations. both by legal authorities and by
! the press"
Calls IL safe Boat.
CLEVELAND o.. July 2A-Grant Dom
ALLISON OF Wickllffe, who served ss chief
engineer on the Eastland from 1904 until
/ ~
where he had been Summoned Sunday
by the present owners TO adjust the en-
gines, which were not running satisfac-
torlly.
"Iu my opinion the Eastland was a safe
boat" Donaldson said. There was a pop
uiar opinion that II was top-heavy, but
/ this was due to claims OF rival boat
owners. II never was condemned by gov
ernment insrecters and was In good con-
/ dition."
Red Cross 10 Alta.
WASHINGTON, July A.-Miss Mabel
Boardman. chairman OF the relief board
OF the American Red Cross. today dis
patched Ernest p. Bicknell. national d.
rector. to Chicago to look into the re-
lief situation and sent this telegram to
Governor Dunno;
the American Red Cross expresses
deepest sympathy at the disaster which
has overwhelmed so many people OF Chi
cago. Ernest p. Bicknell. national a.
rector Is leaving for Chicago to be OF
all assistance possible.
j u. J. o'Connor. chairman of the CEN
trail division and director OF the Chi
eago chapter, has placed the chapter at
the service OF Chicago"