Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-26
CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE
EVIDENCE is OBTAINED
Papers Taken From Captains Cabin
Show Permission to Garry Only
1000 Passengers.
INVESTIGATIONS UNDER WAY
Federal, State and City Officials De-
termined That No One in ANY Way
Responsible for River Horror Shall
Escape Punishment.

CHICAGO, July 25.-Three investi-
cations into the Eastland disaster were
In full swing here to-day. Dickerson N.
Hoover, government steamboat inspec-
tor, and Federal Supervisor Charles
Westcott arrived from Washington and
conferred with the local inspectors who
began to gather facts for the Federal
grand jury. ordered impaneled on Tues
day
"A considerable portion Of the blame
for the Eastland disaster rests upon the
United States Inspection Bureau" said
Nlaclay Hoyne, States Attorney, in
statement tonight regarding his in
vestigation of the wreck. "If the in
spectors had done their duty the acci-
dent could not have occurred. We know
the ship was considered unsafe by them
because have copies of letters sent to
Washington which predicted yester-
days occurrence. may introduce these
letters at the inquest"
Maclay Hoyne, States Attorney, had
a full force Of men locating witnesses
to go before the grand jury which will
be impaneled Tomorrow The entire
police department. was active. That
evidence OF criminal negligence in con-
D.
tained by them was hinted by c. c.
Healey. He said valuable information
was found in the inspection papers
seized yesterday in Captain Harry
Pcderscn's cabin.
Two documents were taken. These
papers, according to the meager in
formation obtainable. showed that fol-
lowing inspection. the boat was to be
permitted to carry 1000 passengers and
crew OF seventy. Chief Healey re-
fused to discuss the papers other than
to admit he had them and that he would
turn them over to States ATTORNEY
Hoyne.
NO DOUBT IN HIS MIND
OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE
HAS there been criminal negli-
gence?" the chief was asked
There Is no doubt of that" Chief
Healey answered.
Coroner Hoffman issued the follow
ing statement today:
Il intend to use every effort within
my power to punish every person di
rectly or indirectly responsible for this
disaster. None shall escape am
ready to cooperate with any official.
city. State or national. In fixing the re-
sponsibility."
Numerous theories were advanced to
account for the accident, but evidence
thus far obtained made no single one
more probable than another. One the
ory given credence by many was that
the water ballast had been pumped out
to tighten the boat. and the weight OF
the large number of passengers crowd
ed TO one side, naturally turned her
that way.
Another theory was that the boat
was simply overcrowded. while a third
was that the bow of the boat had be-
come lmbedded In the mud and that
when her engines were started and she
did not release herself, the boat ca
reened and the weight of the passen-
gers carried her over
Faulty construction, alleged nv so,nc
as the cause, was denied by both own
ers and inspectors alike.
Dickerson n. Hoover acting super.
vising inspector-general of the steam
boat inspection service, on his arrival.
said:
All am here for is to impress upon
tho local inspectors the grave impor-
tance of thorough Investigations IL
1t is true that an inspector Is to blame
/ want to know It, If 1t is some other
cause. ! want to know that There Is
no one moro interested in getting at
the bottom OF this situation than Is
the department at Washington"
VESSEL WAS CONDEMNED
HY NAVAL ARCHITECT
Copy of n letter from a naval arch'-
tect condemning the construction of the
Eastland will be used by States Attor-
ney Hoyne In his Investigation of the
disaster. 1t was learned to-day. The
Continued on Second Pago.9