Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-11
Four Charged With Man
slaughter in Connection
With Eastland.
CAPTAIN PEDERSEN
is ALSO INDICTED
Charge Of Criminal Negligence Against
Skipper and Engineer Erickson
Five Counts In Indictment Returned
Against Transport Line offieials-
Separate Bills Found Against Boat
Offiesrs-lnspsetors Criticized.

Offiesrs-lnspse4ors Criticized.
Chicago, Aug. IL Indictments
charging manslaughter and criminal
carelessness were returned before
Judge Kersten Ia the criminal court to-
day in connection with the Eastland
disaster.
The captain and engineer and four
officers of the st. Joseph Chicago
Steamship Company. owners of the
boat were named. Those indicted
were:
George T. Arnold. president Of the
company.
William H. Hull, vice president and
general manager.
w. c, Steele. secretary
Ray w. Davis. assistant secretary
TREASURER.
Harry Petersen. captain Of the East-
land.
Joseph N. Erickson. engineer.
Bonds were fixed at $40, 900 each for
the company officials and $4,000 each
for Petersen and Erickson. The two
last named are charged with criminal
care1essns1s and the officers with man
slaughtee.
Separate bills were returned against
tho captain and engineer. while the
four officials were na&ned In a joint
Indictment.
aPivs Counts Against Officials.
The bill against the officials con-
tained fives counts, charging:
they knew the Eastland
was unseaworthy and had no stability,
9econd-yhAt they permitted 800
aboard the vessel, which is
more than It's carrying capacity.
Thtrd-That they were negligent In
hiring an incompetent engineer who.
because Of his lack Of skill. was un-
able to control the boat properly.
Fsourth-That the crew did not en-
ter enough hands to manage and con-
troll the vessel properly.
Fifth-That the ballast tanks were
not properly filed.
II. Charges Against Psderssn.
Against Captain Petersen these
charges were brought:
F'irst-Tnat ne permitted aboard tho
boat larger number Of passengers
than she could carry.
Second-That he failed to warn pas
sengers to leave when 1t became ap-
parent the vessel was about to turn
over.
4 Third-That he was negligent in not
seeing that the water tanks were not
in good order
Fourth-That he was negligent in
not seeing that the chalk holds and
gamgways were closed when the ship
was loaded.
Tho counts IN the indictment Of
Erickson are in essentials similar to
those against Petersen.
Causes Assigned For Disaster.
The report Of the grand Jury finds
that the disaster was caused by "in-
stability under conditions Of loading"
and states that the instability was due
to zone of three main causes or any
two or all of them" as follows:
"One: The overlooking Of the ves-
sci with passengers.
Two: The mishandling Of water
ballast.
Three: The poor construction Of
the vessel"
THAT the instability Of the boat was
not corrected years before we regard
as indicating criminal carelessness or
incompetence on the part Of all per-
sons connected with the design con-
struction, control. operation and in
spection of the boat" says the report
Federal inspectors Unframed Men.
It. points out that federal inspectors
had q right to refuse q permit to the
boat but that generally they are not
trained men.
The handling Of the boat indicates
q Misunderstanding Of the uses OF
water ballast and absence Of safety
after repeated warnings Of instability
continues the report. which also criti-
cises the system Of water ballast en-
ployed as not preventing the shifting
of the ballast Tho Jury recomme nded
that expert federal inspection here
after be required in construction Of
vessels, and holds that water ballast
shall. be allowed only a. supplemental
70 more stable ballast.
we recommend" the report says.
that tho steamboat inspection service
be rsorganized to be coordinate and
thus eliminate confusion caused by tbs
statute delegating powers to subortfI-
nate branches"
Eastland Was overcro~dsd.
I'VE have positive evidence that the
boat was oveTcrowded on the day Of
the disaster" said States Attorney
Hoyne. This Is not the testimony Of
witnesses7-it is mute Nevidence-the
tickets"
Conviction on the charge Of man
slaughter carries with 1t imprisonment
from one year to life. Tho penalty for
criminal carelessness Is imprisonment
not 70 exceed three years or q maxi
mum fine Of $4,000.
Inspection records ana other docu-
nentary evidence were submitted to
tho federal grand jury yesterday.
oro0ory Wants Quick Action.
81 held . long conference with At
tssnsy General Gregory while was In