Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-07-25
CAUGHT LIKE RATS IN TRAP, men WOMEN
CHILDREN AND BABIES IN ARMS PLUNGED
TO DEATH|NFULL VIEW Of THEIR FRIENDS
of boats was formed between the pier

of boats was formed between the pier
and the capsized ship.
AS the divers gained entrance to
the hull, the scene of distress moved
for the time being from the river to
the eXtemporized morgue, Ware
houses of wholesale companies along
the river were thrown open and bod
les were laid in rows on the floor
Later, these bodies were removed tc
the Second Regiment Armory, where
Coroner Hoffman's men were in
charge. Scores Of persons taken from
the water were severly injured and
these were taken to the IroquOis Hos
pital, built in memory of the six hun
dred women and children and few
men who were burned and crushed to
death in the Iroquois theater several
years ago. Effort to resuscitate
those taken from the water were un
successful except in two or three in
stances. 1t was also said that many
of those injured would die
City in CONSERVATION.
The whole. city was soon in con
sternation over the catastrophe. Word
Of the accident spread rapidly and to
the thousands already at or near the
wharf, other thousands added them
selves. The Clark street bridge near
the wharf was crowded until it threat.
ened to collapse. Streets had to be
cleared by the police to allow the
movement of ambulanees. Business
men sent their automobiles and motor
trucks to help aid the injured and
carry away the dead.
Flys At Half Mast.
Mayor William Hale Thompson was
in San Francisco and Chief of Police
Seeley was also out Of town, but Act.
ing Mayor Morehouse sent out re.
quest that the city display signs Of
mourning. Flags on public buildings
were placed at half mast and many
places were draped with mourning,
Baseball games We're postponed and
activities largely ceased. ,......n.
While those on land we're disposing
Of the dead and injured, the divers in
the hull of the sunken vessel sent up
from the submerge ddeck. First it
was gaiy dressed girl in her teens
who had been caught between pile
Of chairs and a cabin wall. Next it
was a slight boy, gathered from the
lifeless arms of a fond father, who
had clung to his offspring even in
death. Then followed an old woman
who had gone aboard the ship to
watch the youthful pleasure of her
grandchildren or little girl with
bare legs and bottles with gay rib
bons, sodden against the lace of her
holiday gown.
Pathetic Scenes.
The work of tagging the bodies Of
TIE dead and placing them in acces-
sible places for Identification pro-
ceeded all day and night. Reports
from various temporary morgues
proved confusing and it was decided
to take all bodies to the Second Regi-
ment Armory so those who were look
ing for lost friends and relatives could
view all victims in one place.
Tie Identification was slow and
the morgue scenes were as affecting
as those at the river when the ship
capsized. Mothers fell across the
biers of childrn whom they had sent
away a few hours before on what was
intended to be day Of pleasure.
Yet amidst all the horrors and
heartaches, officials of various depart
ments attended to pressing duties OF
disposition of dead and injured, trac-
ing of the missing and inquiries into
the cause of the disaster.
All Dead in Hull.
A child and two women were found
alive in the hull, but that ended the
hope that any number had escaped
death in the death trap itself. There
were still two hundred persons in the
hold when these three persons were
taken out alive, and explorers of the
hull said that all were dead.
Arrest Officials.
Coroner Hoffman announced late TO-.
night that he had ordered the arrest
of every official of the Indiana Trans.
portation company, which leased the
Eastland No individuals were men,
toned in the coroners announcement.
Grand Jury Investigation.
Several investigations into the
Eastland disaster were started short
ly after the catastrophe. Federal
Judge Landers ordered grand jury
impanelled to conduct an investiga-
tion, States Attorney Hoyne prepared
county grand jury for inquiry, Cor.
oner Hoffman collected a jury to look
intp the cause of the deaths, the po-
lice arrested all the officers of the
Eastland and the health commissioner
arranged to purify the river for fear
that disease mi;ilt be spread by the
presence Of so many bodies in the
stream.
Arrangements were also made to
get at the sunken vessel to determine
the underlying causes Of the accident.
Marine engineers wre engaged to
make an inspection Of the ship.
President Hull A Nervous Wreck.
st. Joseph, Mich, w. II. Hull, vice.