The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-26
BOAT DISASTER
CROWS IN HORROR
Probably 200 Bodies Are Still
Imprisoned in Hull.
Rescued Tell of Slow Death of
Many UnfOrtunateS.
FIXING BLAME FOR TRAGEDY
Federal and State Authorities
Continue Investigation.
More Divers Join in GrewsOme
Search in Chicago.
FIXING BLAME FOR TRAGEDY

(nlcdSO. july Or IL III IS an
nounced by Coroner Hoffman at 1
o'clock this afternoon show that the
total of lives lost in the Eastland
steamship disaster is 1,2SO. The coro-
ner's statement gave the following es-
innate:
Number of bodies recovered. $40;
Number of missing reported to the
Western Electric company, 270-
Number Of bodies estimated still in
the hull of the steamer, 200.
Total. 1,2S0.
All but nine of the bodies recovered
have been identified.
investigations to determine the
cause of the accident and punish the
guilty was vigorously pushed today by
Coroner Hoffman, States AttOr-
neY Huyne and United States District
Attorney Charles F. Cline.
Think Boat Overloaded.
After questioning members of the
Eastlands crew and scores of eye wit
nesses States Attorney HOyne and his
assistants expressed the opinion that
the accident was caused by the over
loading of the Loaf.
United States District Attorney
Cline, after comforting with federal
mboat inspectors. said:
when the time comes for as to
talk we will have plenty to say"
Steamboat inspection officials met
with United States District Attorney
Cline and others today. ami while no
transpired at the meeting. it WAS
-sainted th5t pfsrns were formulated fssf-
conducting the federal inVesti cation so
as not to have it conflict with the
state and city investigation. Dicker-
son n. Hoover, acting supervising H.
spector general. and Charles III. West
cot district supervisor. attended the
conference.
Federal Officials Active.
An official of the federal depart
n nf inst IL
of the states attorney office are also
said to have been present.
\ rumor was in circulation today
that Attorney General Gregory had
teIegraphed Hinton @. Clabaugh.
chief of the bureau of investigation to
conduct searching inVeStiga but
when asked to verify the rumor Chief
ClabauGh said: Il am not saying a
word. My orders are to keep quiet
Albert Goodrich of the Goodrich
Transit company and Battalion Chief
Edward Buckley of the fire depart
ment made an inspection of the East
land today, but neither would talk as
to the reason for it. Late this after
noon it was announced it would take
ten days to raise the steamer and that
the work would be begun at once. The
county board at meeting today pass
ed resolution extending through its
charity service every assistance pos
sible to the survivors of the disaster
Look for Negligence.
Dickerson y. Hoover. acting super
Nlsing inspector of the United States
steamboat inspection service, and Cap
tain Charles II. Westcott of Detroit, |
Joined Inspectors Mansfield and Mich |
olas in the examination of the crew of !
the Eastland to determine whether 4,
there had been negligence in opera {
ton. and especially whether the water 4
ballast compartments were properly /
filled at the time the Eastland laid !
over on its side. They expect to have |
4 49,
cry witness held by the city will be .
examined. The theory that there was .
a sudden shift of weight is not credit /
ed by them.
More Divers Join Search.
Coroner Hoffman announced he will /
not hold an inquest until the work Of .
searching for the dead is completed.
This was continued throughout the
night and this morning An additional /
squad of twenty-five divers weS SCrt
into the hull to recover bodies be
lieVed to be there. The number Oe
bodies recovered so far is SO. and
there is a possibility that almost zoe
more are beneath the steamer or in
the river.
One of the tragedies of the disaster
was ena Cted inside the steel hull OF
the Eastland during the two hours
hat jntervened between the time the
boat capSiZed and the cutting of holes
that would permit of the rescue of sur
VlNOIS- MANY struggled ana iraNed
during that period and saw fellow
prisoners loosen their hold and Slip
INTO the water. George Olincer and +
mis- wife. Elizabeth, were among those
Ira gged out after holes in the hull
had been cut.
Many Sunk. Never to Rise.
when the boat rolled over I
grabbed Elizabeth and we both scranl-
1led to the upper side" Olinger said.
We clung there to post n brace
md looking down we could see, the
water pouring in below US like falls.
L rushed along by the stairs and
purted through portfolios. Men and
women were flounderinS around and
creaming as the water rose in the
llace where we We're there were about ,
wenty women and seven men. The
nen assisted the women to places :
where they could cling until help ar {
ived but many sank during the first
i've minutes and did not come up.
IT kissed Elizabeth and we made !
to die. Some of the
women became historical Others
we're calm, clinSing to the side and
hivering in their wet clothes. The
eScuers started to pull some of the