The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-08-06
Finding of States Attorney
Hoyne After Examining
Many Witnesses.
OTHER VIOLATIONS FOUND
Federal, State and City Authorities
All Striving TO Fix the Blame
Secretary Redfeld May Name
Naval and Civilian Board.

was overloaded. and the overlooking
was responsible for the tragedy Of
Saturday"
This was the finding Of States At
torney Maclay Hoyne. made after ex
aiming more than 100 witnesses. An
nouncement Of the finding was made
by Edwin J. RAIDER. assistant states
attorney. who was preparing the testi-
mony for presentation to the grand
jury.
As the investigation progressed
headed by ficials of the city, state
and federal governments. divers, fire
men and policemen continued their
sorry task of removing bodies from
the sunken hull OF the death ship.
II was believed that between 1000
and 1900 persons lost their lives.
Coroner Hoffman declared. however,
that with more than 500 dead already
accounted for. there are still 200
bodies trapped In the hull and caught
in the life nets stretched across the
Chicago river at frequent intervals
for a distance OF nearly two miles
Overlooking Is the Main Fact.
The statement OF Assistant States
Attorney RAIDER discussing the results
Of the investigation said:
"All our testimony points 10 the fact
that the boat was overloaded. There
are other considerations. but the main
fact is that overlooking caused the
tragedy.
They had too many persons too
high on the ship. The question OF
ballast has been brought up, but that
is Of secondary Importance. We have
been investigating since early Satur-
day morning We have questioned
more than 100 witnesses. Everything
points to overlooking. and the states
attorneys Office is prepared TO charge
this
There we're other violations and IT.
regularities. Some of the inside facts
as TO the working Of the government
inspectors will be revealed in our
complete report on the catastrophe.
I'VE found that the gangways were
stop the thrush OF the water. The
lower portfolios were not closed either.
as they should have been. But all
these are OF minor Importance com
pared TO the big fact that the ship
carried more passengers than she
should have carried"
Acting Mayor Moorehouse gave out
the following statement:
In 1914, the captain OF the East
land filed papers with the Chicago
chief OF police, swearing in them that
the capacity of the vessel was 1000
persons. The company admitted that
$500 were on board when she capsized
in the Chicago river Saturday. That
certainly seems to be overcrowding.
on the face Of II"
Inquiry by Federal inspectors.
AS soon as Captain Petersen OF the
Eastland and the other ships officers
are released from custody by States
Attorney Hoyne, so that they can be
used as witnesses. Capt. Ira b. Mans
field. in charge OF the federal steam.
ship inspection bureau in Chicago. will
begin his investigation OF the capsiz.
ing OF the liner. Captain Mansfield
issued a statement in which he said
he believed federal inspectors could
determine the cause of the accident
much more quickly than anyone else
I'VE are more familiar with steam
ships" said he. "and We know how
they should be run. We could con
duct an investigation along entirely
different lines from those followed by
anybody else"
Along with the investigation into
the cause OF the Eastland tragedy
Captain Mansfield expects an inyesti
cation OF his department
Il do not fear any such invesuga
ton" he said The Eastland had com
piled with all government regulations
II had been passed by four boards o
federal inspectors, at Port Huron
Mich. Chicago. Cleveland and 81
Joseph. Mich. -Four boards would no
have made the same mistake. II tn
vessel had not complied with the regu
lations"
Three Investigations Started.
Besides the Investigations by tn
coroner's jury and the county grant
| Jury. the federal department OF com
merce. spurred on by an order from
President Wilson. has men here in
quiring into the disaster.
Secretary Redheld at Washington
was considering naming a board o
civilians and naval officers TO conduc
an inquiry. At the same time do
mands were loud in Chicago agains
the departments investigating its ow
responsibility.
Judge lands in the federal cour
called a special grand jury to NEE
Thursday and consider the evidenc
which Is being collected by Charles !
Clyne. United States district attorne,
The federal officers are expected I
present all they get on the Eastlan
to him. The city Police already hav