Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-02
CRANK LETTERS
warn REDF|ELD
Secretary Of Commerce Re-
ceives Anonymous
Letters.
DISSATISFIED WITH
EAsTLAND INQUIRY
RsdfsId Says Warnings Are Idle
Threats-seeretary to Go Before
Federal Grand Jury and Tell Of Work
Of Federal Steamship 5oard-In-
vsstisation to Go On Despite Judge
Landis' Order.

Chicago. Aug. 2.-Secretary Redfield
received two threatening letters today.
One declared that the writer would
Push the secretary into the river" and
was signed Murderer The other
was signed Republicans" and advised
Mr.. Redfield to leave the city imnedi-
ately for fear some crank would kill
him.
have received mauy such letters"
said the secretary. '"rhese two came
this morning. They are idle threatx."
Rsdfisld to Testify.
When the federal grand jury which
is investigating the capsizing of the
steamer Eastland convened this morn
ing, 1t was expected Secretary Of Com
merce Redfeld would go before that
body to tell of the work Of the federal
steamship board. It was not known
what character this inquiry would
assume in view Of Justice Lands
order refusing steamship inspectors
permission to examine the hull of the
Eastland. tsSsl
To Ignore Order.
Secretary Redfleld said his investiga-
ton would go on in spite Of this order.
He Is expected to ask the federal court
for permission to examine such WITT
nesses as he needs. State Attorney
Hoyne Is prepared to present evidence
tending to show the character Of men
employed as members Of the crew Of
the Eastland. -!
The finding Of three moro bodies In
the hull Of the Eastland yesterday led
to a renewal Of tho search today. Sew
eral divers were sent into the boat
where Il was reported Q number Of
bodies were sean. They were entanEfed
In wire netting. the divers sepoeted.
Probe 81 Wide Scoops.
Secretary Of Commerce Redneld
stated today that an equilibrium test
of all passenger-carrying steamers in
the great lakes would be made and
that the work Of steamboat inspectors
during the last fifteen years would be
investigated.
John H. Cotter. Of New Orleans: John
K. Bulger, Of San Francisco; M c..
Seeley. Of New York: Eugene O'Dcn-
nell, Of Boston. all steamboat inspect
ors. and q fifth inspector to be named
later will be brought here to assist in
the work, be said.
The investigation Of the work of the
inspection service will be made by q
board on which the travelling public
will be represented.
Electric Plant Reopsns.
The Western Electric Company's
plant resumed operations today for the
first time since the disaster to the
n I~~ov v;A -
moved from the building and only the
American flag remained at half mast
'roday's revision Of the casualty list
shows s3S identified dead, two uniden-
titled dead, and 14o missing. OF the
missing all but two have been ac.,
counted for as having perished.
Rock Found Under Eastiand.
A ledge Of rock. jutting up from the
bottom OF the river to height Of flve
feet, was discovered under the stern OF
the steamship Eastland by Harry Hal,
vorsen. a diver, making investigation
for the federal department Of justice.
Under the direction of Hinton G. Cla-
baugh. chief investigator for the de-
partment. Halvorsen worked between
the keel of the capsized steamer and
the docks for several hours. When
drawn to the surface he told of his dis
covery to Mr.. Clabaugh, and a chart OF
the bottom will be prepared from the
description.
The discovery of the diver bears out
the theory advanced by. several experts
who have sought to determine a cause
for the disaster. Many said the boat
had been resting on the bottom, and
was held in place by the stern lines.
Workmen cut away the upper works
OF the capsized steamer, while 200 9TH
er ,laborers worked IN the hold, clear
Ing away wreckage preparatory to
righting and raising the craft by pom
toons.
The work will require about two
weeks. The salvage Of the ill-fated ex-
cursion boat IL one Of the most difd-
cult feats Of marine engineering ever
on the great lakes.
After the upper works have been
cleared away and the hull made water
tight, two large pontoons will be sub
merged at both ends Of the steamer
with . lifting capacity OF 500 tons
each.
Cables have been passed under the
hull by divers and attached TO the yA-
vorite In passing the cables under the
steamer precautions were taken To-
prevent tntitilation Of tho bodies be.
lieved to be held under the wreck.
Captain Peterson Rslsassd.
Captain Harry Peterson. OF the
who has been In Jail since
shortly after. tho disaster, Wa released
on $4,000 bail today.
WILSON MAY GUST REpFlGIp.