The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-24
1000 DROWNED
IN CHICAGO RIVER
Steamer EastIand, Loaded with $500 Picnckers
Bound for Michigan City, Turned Turtle Over
500 Bodies Recovered Crowding of Passengers
to One Side Caused Disaster

CHICAGO, July "a. = More than 500
persons were drowned by the eapsizing
of the steamship Eastland at her dock
in the Chicago river shortly before 81
Q CLOCK this morning
More than 300 bodies had been re-
covered at 10 clock, according to DIR.
I. S. Carter, who examined the bodies.
The steamer had been chartered for
the day by the Western Electric COM
pany's employees, who had planned an
excursion to Michigan City. Passengers
were crowded on the ship shortly before
s o'clock, the hour for leaving, when
the boat slowly listed towards the mid
die of the river. 1t is said that there
were $500 on the steamer.
When the boat started to tip the
officers shouted warnings, but it was
too late. The heavily loaded steamer
continued to roll until the hawsers
which held it snapped. A moment later,
amidst the screams of the passengers,
the steamer turned on its side and
foated out to the middle of the river.
Apparently scores of women and
children in the cabin were drowned
without a chance TO escape. Hundreds
of others were able to climb on to the
sides of the boat above water and
later were taken off by rescuers.
Life preservers were thrown into the
river from the steamship Theodore
Roosevelt, which was docked across the
river, and scores of passengers swan to
them and were later picked up.
An Associated Press man who got by
the guards on the Roosevelt counted
more than $50 bodies in the cabin,
Most OF them were women.
Fire boats and other boats were
rushed to the rescue. \ hole was cut
in the exposed side of the boat and
many bodies were taken out.
The Daily News says it is estimated
that 1000 people are drowned or miss
ing The superintendent of police also
estimates the number of dead at 1,00e
At II O'Clock the police reported that
500 bodies had been recovered. Reports
from the various places on the river
said that more bodies were being re-
covered
/ w. K. Greenbaum, manager of the
Indiana Transportation company, who
was in charge of the excursion, said:
''We had chartered five steamers fol
| the excursion of the Western Electric
employes to Michigan City, Indiana, to
day. The Eastland was the first boat
to load and the docks were crowded
with passengers who were to be taker
on other boats A United States steam
boat inspector and two assistanti
watched the Eastland load. They stood
at the gangplank and counted the pas
lsengers. Their report shows there wer'
| $500 passengers on the Eastland, it
full capacity under United State
steamboat regulations. I have no idet
how the accident occurred.
Z The steamer was built in 1903 ant
was owned by the Eastland Navigation
!company of Cleveland. She was 26
feet long and tonnage of 1918.
| The Eastland nearly met with an az
cldent eight years ago, similar to tha
of today. She was then in commits
sion between Chicago and South Haver
Mich. The boat listed badly in til
South Haven harbor. Officers of tn
I ship drove the passengers to the othe
side of the vessel and by that mean
5 lprobably aVerted disaster.
+ Six government inspectors were worl
ing on the docks when the Eastlan
) turned over. They were in charge @
S Inspector r. IL. McCurry. "'Two il
0 spectors were assigned to the Eas
land he said, to see that tn
boat was not overcrowded The shi
! had taken on all that she would hol
Q and the inspectors had turned man
others away. She was ready TO sa
when the accident occurred -