The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-07-24
Impossible to Tell as Yet How
Many Have Been Lost or
Number of Probable Fatali-
ties from Injuries.
BODIES REMOVED FROM
HULL THROUGH PORTS
Eight Divers Aid in Work of
Rescue, Working Under
Vessel with Lines by Which
Helpers Pull Up Bodies.


Chicago. July ef.--Hpndrcds. per-
haps fifteen hundred, persons were
drowned today whom the steamer
Eastland crowded with $500 em-
ployes of the Western Electric COM
pany, capsized in the Chicago river
Four hours after the accident rcs-
cuers were still taking bodies from
tho boat through huloa chopped IN
iis huil, aud estimates II The death
list ran from zoo 10 l.500 At ~
O'Clock nearly 500 dead had been
found
The crowding of pascngcrs 10 one
side of the boat b. supposed to have
caused the tragedy but authorities,
not satisfied with this explanation.
ordered the arrest uf officers of the
boat ana captain Harry Peterson aud
Dell Fisher, first mate. were taken
to police headquarters.
Panic OF the worst kind struck the
passengers when the boat began TO
turn over, Best accounts uf witnesses
said tho steamer rollod slEhtly twice.
then turned farther, nnd that hun-
drcds of screaming. struggling men.
Women ana children slid across the
slipping docks. fought for room on the
rompanionwaSs and clutched at com-
panions. deck ehais and other objects
that came Co hand.
Women aud children 81 the hun
drcds were caught below decks and
the scratched faces. torn olothinh ana
bruised bodies of the dead bore mute
evidence OF the desperation with
which they mad fousht ftr a chance
Tor lie.
The whole tragedy ucc upied less
than fivc minutes. Momhcrs OF the
crew shouted warnings as tho steam
&C. FIRST tilted, ANA Captain Pcdcrscn
ordered lowcr deck ports opened and
al phsscngers ashore. There was
however no chance Tor such 70 meas.
urc to succeed
Soue seven thousand tickets had
been distributed for the excursion aHt
i've steamers chartered by tho com
pany. The Eustlaud was first to re
cciyo its quota aud when iis charterc,
capacity was reached federal IN
spoctors ordered that nu more b'
taken aboard. The boat was docko,
ON the south side Of the river an,
when the hundreds huis ing 20 m,
boat wecr turned back from Il thel
slrcamcd across the clark street
bridge to- thc steamer Theodore
Roosevelt which was to ,ako the Sec
ond lead.
scrclms of thc Eustland victims
halted thH rush ana tho bridge was
i1mmod with people until the police.
fearful tiut the struoiur, would col
lapse. ordered 10 cleared.
Every resource OF tho city waH
turned 60 tho rescue Wuit. Remcm-
heritg the iropuols thcatcr disaster.
mercantile coucorns in the vicinity
hurried motor trucks to tho scene
laden with blankets GO warm tho lif-
ing or eovcf the dead Pulmoton
hy the scur. were sent to the dock.
phyEicims. police. rrcinen. govern
mcnt life sewers and nursof we're
summoned and an hospitals aud NOR
guos notified Co lroparc Tor patients
or corpscs.
Tho steamer noatod on its side into
midstrctn, aud tugs motor bouts
and othcr river craft swarmcd about
I IT, Fircwcn climbed on the boat.
Z forced oponngs boz The steel hun and
| thruugh thcsc searched the cabins for
/ possible Victims
Tho steamer had been chartered fur
= the duy by the Western Slcctric com
/ puny employees who had pidnned an
/ excursion 90 hhhigan City. Ind.
] pussengcfs were crowded on tho
ship shortly before s O'Clock, tn,
hour il was 60 leave, when the boai
slowly listed toward the middle o.
I the river.
( n is said there were ? 2,SOO penui,
on tho stoamer. when the hon