The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1915-07-30
EXCURSION STEAMER CAPS|ZES WITHOUT WARNING
ONE THOUSAND P|CKN|CKERS MEET SUDDEN DEATH
THREE INVESTIGATIONS STARTED
CAPTAIN Peterson AND MANY
OF CREW ARRESTED.
Authorities Expect To Secure convlc.
tions For crir1inE, Careiessness
Of Someone.

Chicago.-Three Investigations are
in full swing here TO ascertain the
cause Of the Eastland disaster and aft
er that where to lay the blame.
D. y. Hoover, government inspector.
Of Washington, and Federal Supervisor
Charles Westcott arrived and con-
ferred with the local inspectors, who
began TO gather facts for the federal
grand jury ordered impaneled by Dis
trict Judge Landis
States Attorney McLay Hoyne has
a full force OF men seeking witnesses
20 go before the county grand jury.
The entire police department is &C
tive. That evidence Of criminal negli-
gence in connection with the wreck
had been obtained by them was hinted
at by Chief Of Police Charles c. Healey.
He said valuable information was
found in the inspection papers seized
in Captain Harry Pedersen's cabin by
Deputy Chief Of Police Schuettler.
Two different documents we're seized
and the captain and twenty-eight Off
GERS and members OF the crew were
arrested. The documents showed that
following inspection the boat was TO be
permitted 10 carry 1000 passengers
and seventy members OF the crew.
Coroner Hoffman issued the follow
ing statement Sunday night:
I intend TO use every effort within
my power 70 punish every person d.
rectly responsible for this great dis
aster. None shall escape"
Numerous theories have been sd.
vanced but the evidence thus far OBJ
tained by no means bears out any one
theory more probable than another.
One theory given credence by many
is that the water ballast Of the boat
had teen pumped out in order TO light
On her and the weight OF the large
number OF passengers made the boat
top-heayy 10 such an extent that when
the passengers crowded TO one side the
boat naturally turned over that way.
Another theory is that the boat was
simply overcrowded while a third the
ory is that the bow OF the boat had be-
come embedded in the mud and that
when her ends were started and she
did not release herself the boat ca
reened TO one side and the weight OF
the passengers carried her over. Faulty
construction is alleged by some but
this is denied by both the owners and
the inspectors.
/ a copy Of letter of a naval archi-
tect condemninE the construction OF
the Eastland will be part OF the evil
dence used by United States Attorney
Hoyne in his investigation of the dis
aster The letter was written by John
DeyereauN York OF Chicago, to the
United States harbor inspector here.
August 3. 1918.
Il stated in that letter" said Mr..
York, that the Eastland was a dan
gerous boat. Every naval architect
who knew the construction will tell
you she was dangerous. She has a
3s-foot beam for which the law OF
steamboat construction requires at
least 4O-inch keel. The Eastland had
no keel at all"
The last annual inspection OF the
Eastland was made in ST. Joseph.
Mich May :, 1915. Steamboat in
speetors from Detroit, Mich, which is
the center OF that government district
made the inspection. On July 6 a dry
dock examination Of the boats hull was
made by Captain Ira B. Mansfield and
William Nicholas, local steamboat in
spectors.
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