New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-29
C0RONER'S JURY
FIXES EASTLAND
DISASTER BLAME
Recommends That Six Men
Be Held on Charge of
Manslaughter.
REDFIELD DEFENDS
INSPECTION SERVICE
Chicago Mourns for 600 Victims
of Eastland Horror Buried
in a Day.

Chicago. July 28.-The COroner's Jury
returned a verdict tonight placing the
blame for the loss of hundreds of lives
by the capsizing of the steamer East
land on six william II. Hull, gen
eral manager Of the Chicago-St. Joseph
Steamship Company, owner of the East
land; Captain Harry Petersen, of the
Eastland; J. NJ. Erickson, engineer;
Robert Reed, Federal Inspector of
Steamships, who gave the Eastland Ii
cense to. carry $500 passengers on July
2; J. c. Ecklff, Federal Inspector Of
Steamships. and V. X. Greenebaum,
general manager of the Indiana Trans
portation Company, lessee of the East
land.
The jury recommended that these
men be held for a grand jury for in
dictment on charges Of manslaughter.
Redfield in Jury Room.
Chicago, July 2S.-Secre.ary of Com
merce Redfeld was closeted in secret
session with the coroner's jury hold
ing the inquest over the victims OF
Chicago's latest river horror this
evening. II is believed the division
which has existed between the local
authorities and the government since
the Eastland was sunk has been
brought to an end. The conference
continued for two hours. and not a
hint of what happened was permitted
to soep through the doors Of the jury
room.
After the session had been ended
and the open hearing was resumed me
Secretary announced that the public
was being encouraged in mlsJudg-
ment Of the abilities Of the United
States inspection service. lie said the
inquiry. If pursued wisely to careful
conclusions, would show that the ex-
cursionists who died were victims Of
conditions beyond the jurisdiction of
the United States or any other living
authorities.
Statements issued tonight by John
II. Walker, president of the Illinois
Federation of Labor, and John Fitz-
patrick, president Of the Chicago Fed
Grafton of Labor, attacked the plan an
nounced by Secretary of Commerce
Redfield for investigation of the East
land disaster by the steamboat inspec-
tion service.
The statements said that n protest had
been telegraphed to President Wilson,
entering our most emphatic protest
against members of the inspection
board and Mr.. Thurman, of the De-
partment Of Justice, having any hand,
act or part in the investigation"
Mr.. Fitzpatrick denounced the APP
pointment as a member of citizens
auxiliary Of representative of the
Western Electric Company. Mr..
Walker termed 1.-THE civilian board APP
pointed by Secretary Redfield TO super
wise the investigation of the Eastand's
sinking is a travesty on representative
government. The largest corporation
and financial interest in Chicago are
represented"
Indictments Expected.
Six indictments on the charge Of
manslaughter are looked for before
noon tomorrow as result of the
grand Jury investigation to-day of the
Eastland disaster. Witness after wit
ness, including survivors. members OF
the crew, owners of the vessel and
members Of the company which leased
it. was examined. States Attorney
Maclay Hoyne announced that none OF
those against whom indictments were