The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-31

underballasting and grounding on the
river bottom were cited in today's
testimony at the corOner's inquest as
reasons why the steamer Eastland
turned over Saturday and drowned
hundreds of eXcursionists. Adam F.
Weckler, harbor master, and Joseph
B. Lynn, assistant harbor master,
both present when the steamer cap
sized with $500 persons aboard,
ascribed the accident to these causes
and told the coroner that the boat
was cranky" and never should have
carried more than 1900 passengers
w. X. Greenebaum, general man.
ager Of the Indian Transportation
company, which had leased the East
land for use last Saturday, was taken
into custody tonight.
While the coroner was hearing tes-
timony Secretary Redfield watched
divers recover three more bodies. He
stated formally that government su-
pervfsion had not been lax and that
the Eastland had carried many more
passengers than were aboard when
the ship rolled over. He said that
federal officers would do everything
possible to fix the blame, let it rest
where it might.
Harbor Master Weckler testified
that he arrived at the Eastland
wharf 20 minutes before the steamer
was to start and saw that the boat
was listing. He said he called to
Capt. Petersen to trim the vessel,
shouting that he would not open the
Clark street bridge until the boat was
righted.
II never saw the Eastland loaded
so heavily as it was Saturday." said
Weckler, ''and have seen her de-
part many times" A boat difficult
to handle under all circumstances is
known as cranky boat and I have
noticed the Eastland to be cranky
constantly. don't think the East
land should have been allowed to
carry more than 1900 passengers.
After his Arrest, I heard Capt.
Petersen say he tried for seven min
utes to trim the steamer, but could
not. get water into the ballast tanks
fast enough. I don't believe Capt.
Petersen realized the danger until
the final plunge came" ''
Lynn, the assistant harbor master,
testified that he arrived just as the
Eastland was due to start and saw
the list. ,'rt
Il believe" said Lynn, that the
ship was on the bottom, aft or mid
ship. If she lay on a bank sloping
towards the middle Of the river and
was being jammed down against this
bank, she would naturally tip towards
the rivers centre. If the captain
tried for seven minutes to right the
boat without attempting to get. off
those on board there was negligence"
Lynn added that he saw many Of
the crew leap on the wharf side while
the ship was careening.
John III. O'Meara, captain Of the
tug Kenosha, which was hitched to
the Eastland to tow the ship out Of
the river, testified that he did not
take hold Of the Eastland until sew
eral minutes after other witnesses
said the ship had began to list. Even
then he waited for the order to go
ahead, and the Captain Of the East
land was not working out the stern as
was desirable to protect the screws.
Capt. O'Meara said he got the word
to go ahead, but before the tow line
was taut the Eastland listed danger
ously and he stopped. He had towed
the Eastland four times and she al
ways listed, he said.
l.. S. Wheeler, assistant division
superintendent Of the department of
justice. submitted government inspec-
ton certificates. one permitting the
Eastland's carrying capacity to be in
creased to 2,57O passengers. 500 over
previous permits.
William ]. Wood. a naval architect,
submitted to the coroners jury q
statement condemning various meas
urements and arrangements Of the
ship. Coroner Peter Hoffman then
took the jurors to the wrecked steam
boat. so that Wood could explain
technicalities
Secretary Redfield tonight issued
a second statement asserting there
was no truth in reports of friction be-
tween federal investigators and any,
body else. He said he had arranged
to cooperate fully with States Attor-