The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-29
SHIPS CAPTAIN IS
BLAMED FOR WRECK
tlAR5oR CHIEF. SAYS HE WARM
ED Peterson OF DANGER.
STARTLING TESTIMONY is GIVEN
Refused to Open Bridge for Vessel
Until 1t Was "Trimmed"-As-
serts Disaster Was Due to
Rapid Filling of Tank.

Chicago, July 2S.-Blame for the
Eastland disaster was put square UP
to Capt. Harry Petersen by Harbor
Master Adam F. Weckler. a marine
expert, who gave startling testimony
before the coroner's inquest.
Weckler testified he noticed the
dangerous list of the vessel and
warned Captain Petersen that the
Eastland could not pass the Clark
street bridge to go out into the lake
until he had righted the vessel.
I, Week.-Mrs. theory is that hasty at
tempt to take on water ballast sent
the Eastland on its tragic plunge.
+, Relayed Responsibility.
+, w. X. Greenebaum, general man.
ager of the Indiana Transportation
company, charterer of the boat, who
preceded Weckler on the stand, re,
layed responsibility for the lives to
hoodwink inspection by government
officials and to the fault of the East
lands officers in mismanagement of
the water ballast
|, 81 arrived at 7:10 a. m.," said
Weckler, "and the first thing l no.
ticed was the Eastland list.
"T won't give you the bridge until
you trim that ship warned the cap
tain. The captain called back that he
was trimming her as fast as he could.
J. THE tug was in place to tow the
boat away from the dock, but l or
dered 1t not to start until the boat
was steadier."
What. in your Judgment, caused
this catastrophe?" asked Coroner
Peter Hoffman.
Believe Ship Was Dry.
Taking on water ballast too fast
on the port side" responded Weckler.
why, believe the tanks were abso-
lutely dry when / warned them"
who is to blame?"
THE captain" said Weckler.
Was the Eastland overloaded"
at certainly was. That boat ought
never have been allowed to carry
more than 1900 passengers"
Had the boat a good or bad repu-
tation?"
Its reputation among all marine
men was decidedly bad"
James r. Linn, assistant harbor
master. testified that in his opinion
Captain Petersen was guilty of negli.
gence for not ordering his crew to get
passengers off after he had failed to
fill the water ballast tanks in II min.
/ utes. The fact that there were bub-
,bles on the surface of the water
! showed the Eastland was stuck in
the mud, he said. The mud undoubt.
eddy prevented the water from being
pumped into the ballast tanks, he
said.
Federal Judge Lands issued bench
warrants for Capt. Harry Petersen
and First Mate Delbert Fisher of the
Eastland; Martin Slaton, traffic man,
ager of the ST. Joseph Chicago Trans,
portation company and Chief Engi
neer Erickson of the Eastland. They
will be brought Thursday before the
federal grand jury investigating the
{ ship disaster.
Always Dangerous Boat.
It has been said that the Eastland
was dangerous boat from the day she
first dipped into the water. 1t has
been said that she was constructed
without regard to fundamental prin
ciples of naval architecture, and it has
been said that she had no keel, and
that such an appurtenance would have
prevented the capsizing which cost /.
500 lives or more.
Coroner Hoffman wishes to know Il
this is true. Coroner Hoffman is GU
to ascertain If economy rather thar
safety dominated the activities of the
original owners of the Inflated East
land.