The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-29
UNITE IN ATTEMPT
10.PLA 4 BLAME
Nation, State and City Join to
Find Guilty Ones. D..
PLACE CREW UNDER ARREST
States Attorney Hints at "AVarice
and Graft" as Cause OF Disaster
.. Granddaughter 10 Charge
That VIII Be Preferred.

Chicago, July 26.-"Punish the
guilty" is the cry of the city, state and
federal authorities who have started
Investigations of the wreck of the
Eastland. I'd. .... .....
The threefold inquisition has pro-
duced the following harvest:
States Attorney Hoyne announced
his inquiry might disclose the same
story of human aysrice and graft now
on exhibition in the police graft
cases" ,..
Inspectors Mansfield and Nicholas
Of the steamboat inspection service in
timated "a big mistake" had been
made by the officers of the boat. air..
.'@ Captain and Crew Held.
Chief of Police Charles C. Healey
ordered Capt. Henry Petersen and his
crew held in custody, pending examin-
alton by Coroner Peter Hoffman and
other public officials. .ep., ,..,
Then Coroner Hoffman announced
that he had ordered the arrest OF every
official Of the Indiana Transportation
company, which leased the Eastiand.
No individuals were mentioned in the
coroner's announcement. ...s az
In support of Mr.. Hoyne's insinua-
tions Of corruption, Victor A. Olander,
secretary of the Lake Seaman's union,
charged that the federal inspection |
service is worse than a farce. Mr.. |
Hoyne declared that the United States
inspection bureau had full warning of !,
the dangerous condition of lake excur.
sion boats year age. 49,, ....- -.
. Manslaushter to Be Charge. |
Manslaughter is the charge that will :
be preferred against the persons who .
may be found responsible for the I'M I
accident to the Eastland.
The federal law has drastic provisions
against corruption or criminal negli-
geHee on the part of boat-oWners and
officers and public officials, including
inspectors, that, results in
The loss of life -. ~ -:.,..~-... -. Ii
The penalty is $4,000 fine or i'm
prisonment for ten years or both. Pun
lshment Tor similar crimes under the i
state, law may be. IS. 900 fine or three I
years imprisonment -- --7 -
District Attorney Charles F. Clyne
vas instructed by Federal Judge Kene,
Jaw Mountain lands to invoke the
ull force OF the federal law to ferret
tut the facts and fix the liability. The
ederal judge ordered the impaneling
II special grand Jury of SO men to
axe testimony beginning Thursday
Ifternoon.
The state grand jury will start its
robe under the direction of Mr.. I
Ioyne. The state prosecutor will
END his efforts especially to an in !
uiry of the alleged laxity of federal
e
q No Defects, Says Inspector. {
The inspectors with unanimfty dis
lain responsibility. They point to
he fact that the Eastland has sailed
ut of this port on numerous occa- :,
ions with 1900 passengers. =
The accident would never have h
If the boat had been proper "
' trimmed" said one of the inspec- te
Ors. There were no defects of de- y
ign or material In the vessel" II
On orders flashed by telegraph from Z
iecretary of Commerce William G.
,edfield, d. N. Hoover. assistant in
peetor general, and C. H. Westcott,
inspector Of the Eighth Il
istriet, started for Chicago to hold II
lquiry.