Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-27
Total 1920

Total. 1920
CHICAGO, July 27.-Taking
OF testimony at the coroner's in
quest into the cause of the East
land disaster was begun today.
The first witnesses to arrive were
members of the crew of the steam
er, under guard Of policemen.
Coroner Hoffman declares that
he has no way of computing the
number of unrecovered dead. Late
estimates place the total dead at
between 1000 and 1900.
States Attorney Hoyne said that
from all accounts there were probably
more than 200 persons on the East
land when she turned over.
Il have obtained the stubs Of 1850
tickets, in round numbers collected at
the gangway," said Mr.. Hoyne. No
children under five years We're counted:
children between five and twelve years
TWO were allowed to go on one ticket.
Bodies rescued show that many chill
dren OF this age went on the boat.
crew. and there was an orchestra of
j., at least half dozen men,
First Witness Examined.
The first witness called by the
coroner was Robert Moore, a passen-
Ter on the Eastland.
Moore said he arrived at the East
land at ! o'clock in the morning, and
was on the boat when it overturned.
He was asked by Coroner Hoffman
TO describe what he saw.
"As l went on board I saw a great
Quantity of water rushing out Of a
pipe on the side of the boat. The first
sign Of listing I saw at about 7:15.
j was on a rail on the second deck
and the refrigerator in the bar tipped
interval between the time the boat
began listing badly and the time it
finally overturned.
There was ample time, think, to
have emptied the boat had the warning
been given.
There was no warning. When the
boat went over was thrown into the
water. and was rescued with a num-
Der of others
The witness said that all the decks
were crowded, particularly the upper
deck. and declared positively that there
was no rush across the deck before the
boat overturned.
There was no excitement" said the
witness. until the list became dam
gerous.
Search for Bodies.
Search for those bodies that remain
in the river, the hull of the Eastland, or
in the mud was continued today in a
drizzling rain. After the divers began
their days work the body of woman
was brought to the surface from the CEN
trail part of the vessel.
A few CLEANS OF brightness came from
the gloom of the tragedy today when
several persons listed among the dead or
missing proved to be alive and we'll
Miss Mary Mazurawski called up
Coroner Hoffman On the telephone to say
she was not dead. She s. arted on the ex-
cursion Saturday, but after noticing how
crowded the Eastland was decided to go
aboard the steamer Theodore Roosevelt
Mrs. Mary Gunderlock and Eddie Gunder-
son, whose names were given among the
identified dead, also reported themselves
safe.
Scores of Funerals.
Scores of funerals today passed
through the streets of Cicero and other
westside suburbs that suffered heavily
In the Eastland disaster. Tomorrow.
which will see/the passing of many
more of these silent professions, has
been named BLACK Wednesday" in
Cicero.
Free funeral service has been pro-
Vided for those families left destitute,
and plans have been completed for
community funeral services tomorrow
in the various churches of Cicero and
neighboring suburbs.
Completion of a relief fund of s3oO, 600
for the aid of the families of the VIC
tins is expected to be attained before
the close of the day.
Secretary Redfield. following Presi-
dent Wilson's request for a thorough
investigation of the capszing, is pre-
pared to go into the case independently
of the federal steamboat inspection
service, but will not announce his con-
clusions until he has had time to make
a personal examination of conditions.
= Passed Boat, Got Relative Job.
The last inspection of the Eastland
sHas made by Robert Reid, governmen,
inspector at ST. Joseph. Mich. who
found the steamer fit this spring and
procured position as chief engineer
on the boat for his son-in-law, j. NJ
Erickson.
States Attorney Hoyne declares that
Capt. Peterson of the Eastland told him
that federal sanction for increasing the
. boats carrying capacity without
change in construction was arranged
and that he Pederson) was told to &c
to Grand Haven. Mich. anu get the
certificate.
The coroner the states attorney and
city officers reiterated their charge thai
all possible causes for the disaster
could be charged to negligence by fed
eral inspectors, or failure of fedora
officers to enforce marine laws
To make sure that none of the crew
would avoid the inquest and other in.
quiries, more members of the ships
complement were arrested. Nearly all
of the seventy-tWo men EMPLOYED or
the ship are now held, in addition te
Walter c. Steele. secretary Of the COM
pany owning the boat.
Eight Investigations On.
with the entry Of Secretary Redfield
into the case. no less than eight sep
sarate Investigations are in progress oI