The Washington times., 1915-07-25
BOAT OVERCROWDED.


Eye-witnesses to the accident, hoy
ever, are firm in their belief that the
boat was overcrowded and being natu-
rally topheavy toppled over from the
weight of its human freight and from
no other cause. They declare that the
by the fact that tug was pulling at
the boat while one of the lines was still
fast to the dock.
One of the members Of the boat or
chestra states that the boat was SO
packed that he could not pull enc DOW
Of his violin, and that 1t careened from
side to side like a drunken man.
Police Lieut.. J. J. Mcmahon declared
this noon that II the boats capacity was
$500, as stated by Greenbaum. he was
convinced there were at least 2U over
that number on board. He SAID ne
estimated those on board at 200 at
least. 1t Is this ever-varying and SHIFT
ing of estimates Of the actual number
on board in the absence OF aS ofhctai
count that made all death lists complied
only approximate today. more than
thirty hours after the catastrophe.
Another feature which adds to the un-
certainty of the figures Is the fact that
whole families were wiped out and Will
not be reported among the missing for
several days.
Two Outstanding Horrors.
There were two outstanding horrors
three times as great as the terrible
Iroquois theater fire here, in which
sos died. One was that SO many died
so close to land and in the sight Of
friends and relatives to the number
OF 1900. who a moment before the
accident were calling Go speed from
the decks Of five other steamers that
had been chartered with the East
land to take the Western Electric
Company's employees on thei rannual
picnic.
The other heartbreaking fact was
that most of the victims were babies.
young girls and women. hTis horror.
Of all the others. was forced home
with scintillating vividness by the
long rows of victims at the morgues.
For every man there were three or
four bodies Of women. girls, or chill
dren.
To the thousands gathered on the
decks and on the other boats charter
cd by the Western Electric Company.
the sinking of the great Eastland came
like a lightning quick change of scene
on stage from comedy to tragedy To
many on the Eastland the first two
!urches to the river were imperceptible.
1t seemed to eye-witnesses that there
was less than a moment when the ship
was picture of gayetv and tollity until
men turned into veritable beasts and
were beating down women and children
in their struggles to get to the rail or
grab stanchions or life preservers.
Dozens Badly Hurt.
1t was during this struggle for life,
or for a mere hope for life, that dozens
fthose saved received ugly gashes
and had their clothing torn from them.
1t was among the crowds of the outer
rail on the lower decks and in the
staterooms where the mortality was
greatest Persons at those points had
hardly a chance from the very first.
Even when they got to the rail and
by others jumping or crushed into the
slimy ooze Of the river.
Adding to the struggle in the water
were the cries Of hundreds still i'm
kept up the terrible calls for the aid
that so many were frantically working
to get to them, only the width Of a.
steel plate away, Those drowned under
during their last moments, as they
pounded with boxes that had already
held picnic lunches. and with chairs,
while the water slowly crept above their
heads.
The accident occurred at the rush
hour Of workers into the Loop district.
Within twenty minutes the streets for
blocks about The dock were jammed
with the curious crowds. who greatly
hampered the work Of the police.
Reserves Called Out.
The disorder became SO great that
Police Chief Healy called in every re-
serve patrolman and all men from
outlying districts. Then 1t was found
necessary to call the traffic squad to
help out. The result was one OF the
worst traffic jams for three hours
that the normally crowded Loop
streets have ever known. At some of
the busiest corners street cars, horse
drawn vehicles. and automobiles were
caught in the jams that blocked any
semblance of traffic for half an hour
at time.
The only sign OF real trouble how
ever, occurred when squad OF
twenty police We're taking Captain
Petersen and First Mate Bell Fisher
to city hall under custody. AS the
policemen left the docks the crowd
recognized the boat officers and
started for them, yelling lynch
them" lynch thea"
Two men broke through the police
Gordon and struck Petersen. Then the
police drew their clubs and swung them
vicious,y before they could beat path
through.
Far into the nig hit heartsick and hand
weary workers kept up their delring
into the hold of the Eastland for what
thev knew was still there. but fairly
hated by that time to find.