Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-26
DIVERS CONTINUE
CHASTITY SEARCH
IN VESSEL s HULK
Believed That List of Vic
tins Will Remain at Ap-
proXimately 1000.
OF ALL UNACCOUNTED FOR,
475 THOUGHT TO BE SAFE
Remainder May Be Found
Crushed in Mud of Chi
cago River.
WHOLE CITY is IN MOURNING
1t Is Just Beginning to Realize Hor-
rible Extent Of Marine
Disaster.
WHOLE CITY IS IN MOURNING
1t Is Just Beginning to Realize Hor-
rible Extent Of Marine
Disaster.

CHICAGO, July 25.-Bodies OF
Sol persons, drowned when the
steamship Eastland capsized at it's
wharf in the Chicago River, had been
recovered tonight, after forty hours
or searching by divers.
The total dead remained at an
proximately 1000, according to esti-
mates by Coroner Hoffman, whose re-
ports indicated that possibly 100
bodies were held in the mud of the
river blythe steamers superstructure.
While only 1902 of the 2,40S pas-
sengers of the Eastland have regis.
tered as saved, it was thought that
ABOUT 475 survivors, including the
crew of seventy-two, had failed to
report.
About threescore bodies were re-
covered from the wreck before dark
tonight. but after that divers dis
covered only one corpse before thew
quit work for the night.
Ihere was much confusion in the
totaling of bodies recovered, owing
TO applications and removals.
AS a result, all sorts of estimates
were scattered about the city. with
guesses from 1900 to 1880, but Of
ncers IN charge Of clearing the wreck
nave been unable to tabulate more
than sol bodies listed tonight. The
morgue was cleared of all but a score
OF corpses, all other victims having
been identified.
Investigations to determine re-
sponsibility for the calamity will be
under way tomorrow in a dozen
quarters. City and county officers
were unanimous in declaring that
some blame rested with Federal in
spectors, alleging they permitted the
steamer to operate while unsafe.
DIVERS STILL FOUNDER
THROUGH CHASTITY INTERIOR
The Eastland lies on her side in
the river, with divers stlll founder
ing through her ghastly interior and
ourrowing under her in a death
search. while Chicago, appalled,, is
Just beginning to realize the real
significance Of one of the greatest
OF marine disasters While the
grieving thousands who lost dear
ones walked through the morgue in
the Second Regiment Armory gazing
into the faces Of the dead, half in
hope, half In despair, Chicago citizens
and city, State and Federal officials
turned their attention to investiea-
tions that must bring forth some ex-
planation of the catastrophe and to
the work of providing relief for those
left destitute.
While no families were made
wholly dependent by the disaster. il
was said that many victims had been
working only haIf-time or less in
recent months. Several men, who
made this report, in asking for aid.
were asked why they started on the
excursion while in poor financial
circumstances. They replied that an
organization of employees gave the
picnic. and that experience had
taught them it was best to buy
tickets II they desired preferment
for work. They said the company
had nothing to do with this condi-
tion, or the management Of the ex-
cursion, but that members of the
employees organization found pur-
chase Of tickets for the annual lake
trip almost compulsory.
GREAT RELIEF FUND
WILL BE DISTRIBUTED
Acting Mayor Moorhouse and his
advisers to-day decided to raise a
relief fund of 100000 to be dis
tributed by subcommittee, acting
under the direction Of the National
Red Cross, the Associated Charities
and the municipal Health Depart
ment. In addition to this, the West
ern Electric Company, whose en-
ployees formed the majority OF the
excursion party, announced that
100000 from it's employees insur-
ance funds was available for relief.
Numerous private relief funds were
started
Meanwhile. Mayor Thompson, who 4
was at the Panama-Pacific Exposition
to take part in the celebration OF
Illinois Day, was speeding toward
Chicago on special train to take his
place in investigation and relief
work.
Coroner Hoffman issued an appeal to