Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-24
Loaded Steamer KeeIs
On Leaving City Pier

Continued from Page one.)
The five were Immediately cancelled
and Messengers came pouring from
them. Many were relatives of victims
of the Eastland disaster. The scatter.
ing of the crowd made Identification ID
the dead difficult.
Panic Was IndeScribable.
Ross Getting, salesman and one Of
the passengers, declared the panic pre-.
vailing on the boat as it went down
was all but indescribable. Women
carrying babies were beaten and tramp.
led down by men in the wild rush for
safety.
"The screams Of the women, CRYING
of children and shouts us men was
frightful," said Gecttiug. MANY
women hal their clothing torn from
them in the jam Of the wild rush before
they could oven reach the rail or a port
hole TO escape There were terrible
scenes about the stanchions and up.
rights. Men and women fought to get
hold of these supports. At least
score more would have been saved il
they had needed the calls Of Captain
Peterson ard his officers to remain
quiet.
Priests Assist Rescue Work.
Fifty priests were among the arrivals
on the scene of the disaster. They
administered conditional extreme unt-
tion as bodies were brought from the
wa. er, working ON the river bank hour
after hour, sometimes bending o;er the
body of a victim while doctors were
administering first aid treatment
Father Thomas Kelly, pastor Of the
West Side Church of the Precious
Blood, rushed to the dock at the first
word. of the disaster and was among
the first to join in the work of rescue.
Bodies Piled IN Rows.
Pitiable and terrible scenes tore the
hearts Of workers in the big Reid.
Murdoch warehouse sacsrooms at the
foot 90 Clark street, which were used
as a temporary morguc.
Bodies were piled in long rows along
the floor of the warehouse. Relatives
and friends of those who were aboard
the Eastland were permitted tU pass.
| 1t was the most tragic line ever seen
/ in Chicago. Here a man, dry eyed,
with the face drawn in the utmost tor,
| turo of grief, would silently point 10 n
budY of young girl, whisper the name
and stand mute with grief Others all
but tainted as they recognized relatives
or friends among the dead. Women
screamed and fell limp into the arms
o. volunteer workers as they stepped
into the chamber Of the dead
Clerks and other employees of the
warehouse supplied clothing to those
who had been rescued, but had lost
nearly all wearing apparel in the mad
fight for life aboard the steamer and
in the water. Some of the rescued
were severely injured. One man was
found wandering a mile away frOn
the scene of the disaster. He was dazed
by a jagged wound in his forehead,
Deputy Coroner Forsbcrg and police
reserves were ON the scene early and
aided by volunteers did everything pos
sible to rescue the struggling hundreds
in the water
/ William Plamondon, who was a pas
senger, together with his wife and tive
cousins, expressed the belief that a
least 100 persons were drowned or i'm
prsoned in state rooms below decks OF
the left side of the steamer.
Story Of a Survivor
Theodore Solerstrom was rescued un
conscious. When revived be- said h,
held his wife up IN the water seemingly
for hours, but she was torn from hi,
grasp when other women grabbed hin
in their wild struggles for life. Mrs
SOderstrom was drowned.
"Thc passengers were crowded OF
the nter rail from 10 10 30 deep IL
some places, said SOderstrom, telling
Of the disaster ''I noticed that tn,
steamer began TO carecn slightly, hui
II was not uneasy. just before IN,
Eastland pulled oul from tho dock sew
oral hundred persons who had beer
waving 20 people ON shore suddenly
came over the outer rail The steamer
instantly lurchcd dunkenly, rightet
and then again pitched to the side.
Screaming with fear, everyone triet
10 reach the side Of the steamer ner'
TO the dock. A dozen men and severa
women jumped overheard. think the,
were crushed beneath the steamer with
out chance 'o swim TO the beach
After the boat got partly over, IL seem
ed drop on its side like q stone
Divers and Dredges al Work.
Three huge dredges were set 10 work
during the morning in an effort Il
stand the Eastnui up on end. Six div
ers were nlHO working In tho water
about the steamer. In an effort "a
prevent bodies from being swept down
the river, pumping stations began fore
ing water from the lake into the drain
age canal reversing the current uffi
ciently TO make the water In the river
stagnant. Employees Of commission
store and business men In the neighbof.