The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-24
1900 PERSONS DROWN
Continued from Page One. ]


THE American and Federal league
baseball games were called off, many
theaters announced that their doors
would be closed tonight, and churches
summoned their members TO pray TOT
the dead and offer comfort to the
living.
Flags were lowered to half mast
and mourning symbols were dfapeu
on many business houses.
Gray, leaden clouds that oVerhung
the CITY early in the day grew heavier
toward noon, and steady drlzZle
turned into rain. Watchers at the
wreck held their places despite the
discomforting conditions, and search-
ers for missing persons continued
their wearying rounds of the morgues.
identification of victims offered
comparatively few difficulties, praC-
tically all having been drowned
Identifying the Dead.
Measures were taken by the police
and the electrical company to syS-
tematize the work of Identification
and these were in fuIl operation later
in the day.
Investigations were started by the
federal steamship inspectors. the city
police, county coroner and states at
torney.
identification of the bodies taken
from the river and from the hull of
the sunk steamer was slow because of
the widely separated places to winch
they were taken. At two of the larger
downtown private mOrgueS, thousands
of persons streamed in at one door and
out at another most of them unable
to identify any of the bodies as those
of friends or relatives.
Ship Was Faulty.
A few hours of inquiry caused in
vestigating officials 10 lean strongly
toward the theory that the peculiar
construction of the boat was respon-
sible for the accident. The Eastland
was equipped with water ballast so
that it could enter the harhor of
South Haven. Mich, and other shall
low ports, and river mouths. When
approaching such entries, the water
would be forced from the tanks, re-
ducing the boats draft. Ballast would
be taken on again when the vessel
emerged from the haroor. 1t was the
theory of the officials that most of
the ballast had been forced from the
tanks in anticipation of a heavy load
today. The steamer was thus render
ed top-heavy, it was thought, and this,
if a fact, would explain why she cap
sized quickly.
Children Weep for Kin.
A 1O-year-old girl, Gene Tournaben,
was weeping for her two aunts, uncle
and little cousin, who were missing.
She alone of that party was rescued,
so far as known
Frank Hefle, IL years old, was cry
ing. I'm waiting for my mamma,
said he. Hefle had been at home when
informed of the accident to the East
land, on which his father. Frank
Hef1e, sr., his mother, and two sisters,
Josephine, 10. and Katherine, 16,
were passengers. All four We're
among the missing.
Mrs H. H. Thoyer, 30 years old.
told of clinging to her two children,
Harry, years old, and Helen. 8. after
they and her husband, William Thoy-
er, had pitched into the river. Mrs
Thoyer and Harry were rescued. She
lost her hold on Helen and the daugh-
ter, with Mr.. Thoyer. is believed to
have been drowned.
Mrs. Thoyer was hysterical when
she reached a temporary shelter place.
MY husband and 1 and the children
were standing together on the deck
and all fell into the water in a heap,
she said. Il am a good swimmer.
Forced to Let Child Drown.
Il caught hold of my son Harry and
my little girl Helen, and chung to them
and kept myself up somehow, / don't
know how. / saw men and women
tumbIing into the water around me,