Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-07-29
no,tJJNG STEAMER DISASTER
rsion steamer at Chicago Wharf
capsizes, Sending Thousand or
More TO n Watery Grave.

rhs horrors OF the foreign war |
ere lost sight of last Saturday, espe-
] L,ally by the people OF Chicago. when
L,he word went flying over the city
[no, large excursion steamer, load
"a ~ ifs capacity had capsized In
,be chicago river, carrying with 1t
,,nndreds OF souls who were ushered
II, ,.,o aternity without moments
no,,ce A Chicago dispatch of Satur-
day gives the following account of
the tragedy:
chicago. July 24.-Hundreds, per-
hans 1900 or 1900 persons. were
drowned today when the steamer
pastland crowded with $500 employ
.. If the Western Electric company,
capslzed in the Chicago river. Four
hours after the accident rescuers,
,.king bodies from the boat through
holes chopped in the hull. estimated
that the death list ran from 700 TO
l5uO The crowding OF passengers
~ one side OF the boat is supposed TO
have caused the tragedy, but the au-
,horities ordered the arrest OF Cap
tain Petersen and First Mate Fisher.
Panic OF the worst kind struck the
Messengers when the boat began to
urn over. The best accounts said
the steamer rolled slightly twice and
then turned farther and that hun
dreds OF screaming. struggling men,
women and children slid across the
sloping decks and fought for room
on the higher places OF the boat.
Many women and children were
caught below decks. The conditions
of the bodies and colthing told OF
their struggle for life. The tragedy
occupied less than five minutes.
Members OF the crew shouted warn
ings as the steamer first tilted and
Captain Pedersen ordered the lower
e. deck ports opened and all passengers
ashore.
Some 1000 tickets had been dis
tributed for the excursion and five
steamers had been chartered by tn,
company. The Eastland was loaded
to its capacity soon and hundreds Of
excursionists started to move across
the Clark Street bridge TO the Theo
dore Roosevelt Screams from th'
Eastland's passengers halted the ex
cursionists. The bridge was jamme'
until the police cleared II. fearing thu
structure would collapse.
Every resource OF the city wa
turned to rescue work. Mercantil
houses hurried motor trucks TO tn
scene laden with blankets 10 warn
the living or cover the dead. Pul
motors by the score were sent to tn
dock. The steamer fioated on II
side into midstream while tugs. me
tor boats and river craft swarme
about resuring the women and chi
dren. The city went into mourning
flying flags at half mast The Amer
van duu 4>dlloudl bdFt bdli NiubH BSo
poned their games and theatres al
nounced that their doors would b
colsed tonight.
Not since the burning OF the lr
quois theatre several years ago ha
that city been thrown into such dee
mourning. and to realize that
many people could perish when will
In almost reach OF the dock seen
impossible. Many In this sectio
have enjoyed a ride across Lah
Michigan on this elegant steame
and to them the news OF her iioul
dering will be read with interes
Many of the residents in this sectic
also have. many friends in Chicag
and they are anxiously awaiting new
from them to learn II any were
the Inflated boat
The Chicago Tribune Of Sund'
states that 1900 bodies had been T
covered and were laying In Il
morgue awaiting Identification.
Investigations were at once start
to determine the cause of the ace
dent. and place the blame where
belongs. but as usual these inves
cations are never started until sol
great calamity brings them about.