Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-07-29
EASTLAND HORROR PUTS
NATION in MOURNING
Chicago Steamer Turns Over at Dock
and Thousands Drown.
PRESIDENT WILSON ORDERS INVESTIGATION
Over 900 Bodies Have Been Taken from Wreck
of Steamer Whose Construction Has
Been inc Suspicion.
in the law to which you object?"
impossible to Obey the Law.

80 NsS a1N ~
impossible to obey the Law.
On June 80, Mr.. Hull wrote:
Replying to that portion Of your
letter of June %, in which you ask:
What is it specifically in the law to
which you object l a answer this
in no better way than to state the eff
feet it would have in the operation Of
our steamship Eastlard.
"This boat is operating this season
from June IL to Sept. 8, inclusive; is
licensed to carry $50 people, is
equipped with life preservers for that
number, and has liferafts and lifeboats
capacity under the last inspection for
I'll people.
ITO keep her maximum carrying
capacity at the present figure we
would have to increase her equipment
in life RATS and life boats Sc 2-3 per
cent. This is a physical impossibility.
If it were possible to put this amount
of equipment on the Eastland the
weight added to her upper deck would
make the boat difficult to handle.
"1f our ~life-saving equipment is al
lowed to remain as at present, our
carrying capacity would be decreased
40 per cent of 1923. YOU can see that
a daily reduction of 40 per cent in
carrying capacity would amount to
considerable during the Isl in op-
Grating revenue.
"The requirements of the seaman's
bill relating to certiticated lifeboat
men and able seaman would increase
the number of u crew and would af-
ford an opportunity for able seamen
to fix an arbitrary wage and then tie
up the bot. Even if our traffic would
stand an increase in the passenger
rate, and it certainly will not, the in
creased operating expenses and the
fact that we would be at the mercy of
the so-called able seamen would rem
der 1t impracticable for us to operate.
In addition, there is no reason for an
increase in l~ife-saving equipment on
this run.
"The boat is constructed of steel
throughout. Her ruiz between Chi
cago and st. Joseph is approximately
so miles, which she will run in three
hours and ten minutes. She Is at nc
time in excess of one hour and thirty.
three minutes from shore, and at all
times on her run is within ten to sixty
minutes of all steamers. Assistance
in Ease of trouble could readily be Sc
cured from other steamers and the
ports Of Chicago, Michigan City, Mi
Waukee, st. Joseph and South Haven
II sincerely believe it will be i'm
: possible to operate this boat undel
: the seaman's low and make expenses
F This will naturally affect the stocl
, and the bonds, and in the cas- of {
great many companies will render
their bond issues practically worth
less.
, 81 realize it is your duty to enforct
the law, but l have taken the libert.
3 Of stating to you that we specificall!
e object to that portion of this law rela
tive to ~life-saving equipment, able sea
men and certifcated lifeboat men, AM
give the reasons therefore in answe
l. to your question,
Great Risks Spoken OF.
To this Secretary Redfeld reptile
t. July IA, as follows:
II note that this is a steel summel
service boat, running from June IL
September s, during which period 1t
under present rules permitted to hav
lifeboats and RATS for 80 per cent {
all on board (of which rs per Ger
d may be rafts), and life preservers Il
10 every n carried.
D. "This has been permitted from Ma
to October on the Great Lakes on a
count of the fine weather. Undo
n these conditions you are licensed
carry 2,57O people (2,500 passengers
to 70 crew. and have lifeboats and raj
IS for but I'll, with life preservers fl
n. all. You mention that your vessel
at times in excess OF an hour fro
us shore lat midlake, one hour and thi
NJ ty-fve minutes) and that she Is
w. times half an hour or more away fro
m other steamers. You say at all tim
ct within ten to sixty minutes of steal
ers.'
ed "Your position is, therefore, n
which in case Of serious accident
re- might be at least a half hour frc
in help, and over twenty miles frc
tn shore, while possibly having on boa
w. as many as 1899 persons for who
lat there are neither lifeboats nor II
lot RATS. l do not criticise this. 1t is
lily present the permitted thing.
Let Her In on This.
ing II believe a man shold be master
a his W house." said the newly-v
man. There can only be one he
nd in a family. and | mean to be It,"