The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-26
Probes Started to Fix Blame for
River Horror.
SEES CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE
States Attorney Hogue Assails
{. 5. Inspectors.
Discriminating Papers Seized
From Cabin OF Captain.

z
I letter from a naval architect con-
| demning the construction of the East
/ land viii be part of the evidence used
| by States Attorney Hoyne nhis in
vestigation of the disaster The letter
was written by John Devereaux York
( Of Chicago, the United States harbor
INSPECTOR. here, August 3. 1913
I 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 So
foot beam for which all laws of steam
boat construction require at least a 40
inch keel. The Eastlanj had no keel
at all.
There was not a steVedore in the
hold who was not aware of the dan
ger The fact that none of them was
found in the glory hold after she
turned over showed that There was
a narrow scaling ladder leading up
from that hold and twenty men were
employed there. 1t would take TWEEN
ty men at least twenty minutes to get
out. elm bling this narrow ladder. But
they were all out when the ship
listed"
L. S. Inspector Starts Inquiry.
Dickerson N Hoover. government
inspector of Washington and Federal
Supervisor Charles Westcott arrived
yesterday and conferred with the local
inspectors who began to gather facts
for the federal grand jury ordered
empaneIled by District Judge Lands
tomorrow.
State Attorney MacIay Hoyne had a
full force of men locating witnesses to
go before the county grand jury
States Attorney Maclay Hoyne said:
We insist that a considerable por-
ton of the blame for the Eastland dis
aster rests upon the United States in
specton bureau. If the inspectors of
the bureau had done their duty the
accident could not have occurred
We know that the ship was con-
sidered unsafe by the inspectors be
cause there are letters on file In
occurrence. I have copies of these let
tiers and may introduce them before
the coroner's inquest.
Criminal Negligence Alleged.
The entire police department was
active. That evidence of criminal neg
iigence in connection with the wreck
had been obtained by them was limited
at by Chief of Police c. Healey. He
said valuable information was found
in the inspection papers seized in Cap
tain Harry Pedersen's cabin by First
Deputy Chief of Police Schuettler-
Two different documents were
seized and the captain and twenty
eight officers and members of the
crew arrested These papers accord
ing to the meager information that
could be obtained about them are be-
lieved to show that following lnspec-
ton the boat was to be permitted to
carry 1000 passengers and seventy
members of the crew Chief Healey
to talk about the papers other I
than to admit he had them and that !
he would turn them over to States At /
torney Hoyn4-
Has there been criminal negli- /
gence - the chief was asked.
NO doubt that there has" Chief /
answered. These documents /
are of vital Importance"
To Punish the Guilty Ones.
Coroner Hoffman issued the fol- /
lowing statement:
Il intend to use every effort with 4
in my power to punish every person, +
or indirectly responsible for /
this great disaster None shall escape I
II am ready to cooperate with any /
state or natlonaI-1n nix
The states attorney has agreed to |
work with me"
Numerous theories have been ad- 4
vanced. but the evidence thus far OBJ .
tanned by no means bears out any one I
theory more than another
One theory that is given credence
by many is that the water ballast of
the boat had been pumped out in or
der to tighten her and the weight of
the large number of passengers made
the boat topheavy to 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
theory is that the bow of the boat had
become embedded in the mud and that
" hen her engines were started and she
lid not release herself. the boat ca
-eened to one side and the weight of
he passengers carried her over. Fault
v construction is alleged by some but
his is denied by both the owners and
The inspectors
Dickerson y. Hoover. who is acting
inspector general of the
steamboat inspection service, on his
arrival. said:
'-Au I am here for is to impress
upon the local inspectors the grave
Importance of a thorough investiga-
ion of the cause and SpOnSibiiity for
he capsizing of the Eastland- II it is
rue that an inspector IS to blame, I
want 10 know IL II IL is some other
cause 1 want to know There is no
1ne more interested in getting at the
POTION of this situation than the de-
0artment at Washington