The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-29
WITNESSED DISASTER
Howard Wilcox Saw The Wreck OF
the Steamer In Chicago.

Howard Wilcox of the Wilcox vii
j bur Company OF Oskaloosa was al
eye witness of the Eastland disaster
in Chicago Saturday morning Mr.
Wilcox returned today from market
and a goods buying trip AMI tells a
gsaphic story OF his experience but
asserts that anything he may say OF
the affair fails in expressing the aw,
tuihsss OF the catastrophe. ~
Within few moments after the
boat had turned over at her dock, Mr..
Wilcox was on the State street bridge
Overlooking the Eastland dock He
then went to the boats dock and wit
messed the recovery of bodies from
the hold of the vessel The scenes at
tending The disaster beggar iescrip-
ton. MIR. Wilcox asserts he will new
er be able TO forget the terrible ex-
preston of the faces OF those rescued
from the boat and the water. The fac
es OF the living were blanched and OF
a CHASTITY white, they were agonized
and frightened. The appearance of
the dead was, far more life like than
the countenances of those who es-
capped.
Word of the disaster swept the city
with incredible swiftness. Alarms of
varied character We're sounded. A
general call for the fire department
was sent in and response to this was
Then people began crowd
ing 10 the wharf and to the Clark
street bridge. So many damned on
the Clark street bridge that the strnc
ture began rofealing and swaying and
police cleared the crowd from the
spans, Fearing additional disaster.
Emergency police were brought
and q thousand or more officers were
used in holding the frenzied mob in
check. Soon all the space near the
docA was filled with people and Tor
blocks back. All day long this lasted
and at ten o'clock Saturday evening
One COulI not get within blocks of
he scene of the disaster.
People were crazed with grief and
he uncertainty OF whether relatives
and family members were living or
lead. Among the rescued were people
Who walked away through the crowd,
They would be stopped and question
ID by the crowd, eager Tor any add
ional word that would throw light ON
he accident. its cause or extent. Mr..
Wilcox heard one woman tell OF los
ng a sister and husband but she was
more distracted over the loss OF a
land bag containing thirty-fye dol.
airs.
Mr.. Wilcox was impressed by the
work OF the federal and
ity authorities in handling the stu
ltion. Almost instantly authorities |
the enormity OF the
hing and rescue work was immeIi- |
.tely in progress,
Bodies were being taken from the |
'oat late last evening. Search lights |
we're obtained and the work OF reliev- !
ng the overturned boat OF its freight |
Il dead went on without interruption. |
III day SatdFday-all day Sunday.
All Chicago appears stunned by the !
of the disaster Nothing else |
n mind. II is the one thought, the one |
ubject before everyone. All business
vas suspended as by common consent |
nd every energy in the direction OF |
elief or help of some kind. No amuse |
lents were INDUCED. Play houses
we're closed and baseball games lie.
Jared of. People were not in humor |
or entertainment. Had such places |
een opened no one would have Ell
cred. Sympathy ami feeling went |
ut to the beTeaved ones from the
hole city, rich and poor alike.
I'm numbered acts of kindness and |
We're every where en-
Autos, trucks and convey
noes Of all kinds were contributed
Inc big dry goods house supplied
oyerins for the bodies as they were /
aiken out OF the water. People stood
eady TO do anything within thel.
over.
Mr., Wilcox said he hoped never
gain TO be called upon to witness
nything even approaching the aw-
illness OF the scenes enacted before
Is eyes.