davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
TRAPPED IN HULL DE FATED VESSEL,
 SCORES AT PRAYER

Chicago. July 2e-of all stories re- lated by these who escaped death in the Eaatland none are more tragic than those Of the men ana women svlao,- trapped between decks and in the cabins struggled and prayed dur ing the two hours it took rescuers to cut their way larollgh the plates to them.
 They saw the water rush in and gradually rise. They saw women and cildren. exhausted. loosen their grips and slip down into the water some silently some with prayers on their lips. and others begging piteous- for help. In that first two hours after the first mad scramble as the boat cafeened they witnessed acts of heroisnn never to be effaced from their memories.
 George Ginger and his wife, Eliza beth. were among those, who were dragged out after the tcetylene torches had eaten through the boat side. Ginger said yesterday-
 We had just walked p to the main deck and were about to sit down when the EastIand began to keel over. IL would come back and then go over a little further All the people made
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
BASIL AND TRAGEDY RECALLS SL0CUM DISASTER IN WHICH
 NEARLY THOUSAND PERISHED

E45ss
 Similar in many respects to the disaster Of yeste11ay was t1latsof June z15 1904, when kthe General Sloc4n. a three-decked excursion steamer, caught fire andS sank in the East River New TcH7, resulting in the 1000 picnica1ershf from St Marks Ger man LutEeran church in New York on board.
 This d5szsterNoc curTedx7 ns the morn ing within short distance of the New Yarkasz1oEe and within sight of lost 1heT Evesss tl1es suaJorifys of whom were women and children, either burned tofdea1h oreWere drowned by jumping 1OHerboard. Some lost their lives by being, fhroEx1s into. the swhir1- pools by the zzrc1a1ng of the vessel H1AS1z a 4 ------~ 1gexzE.6et lkezasf-
 GzaesaE prseTsa had a1een made snx. sEF1sB4 sssves iasSEa. annual excursion s5E E5t- Mark sss Sunday school, the con esa4ton Of wz11c 1ca1s is Slra V11 from h1e sdsaseg oo1n7H 44naaseO6 lower New YoElz The boat which was in charge Of Capkz1n EVdI1fazn Wan 5caA3ck, one of f1he best known errcuxsson boat CAD ta4EB aaooz1 E7ssv York " ass bound dor Locust Grove on Long Island Sound en Alea1osse, off 36Th street. when , fire a4aEted ina 7uxcz1S room on the forv deck, cauaed aby the over turning of a pot Of grease A high wind 1anned the blaze 1n1o instant fury
 EffortsE&o slbd dEns tF1ss fire were fu- tile, and the captain started at once perceav1ng that f11ero were a number of oil tanks and lumber yards there, he changed his course for North Brother s Island Lone Of the twin Isl-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Chicago, July 26-Greater by hum dreds would have been the number of dead but for prodigies Of heroisrn- The heroes ranged from slips of girls to ragged dock rats and hoboes.
 A frail mite of a girl craw1ed over the side of the ship at the imminent risk of her own life and with her thin little arms dragged a number of chill dren to safety.
 A gloomy man who was out of work and contemplating suicide in the river found plenty of work when the ship capsized. He plunged in and rescued nine persons before he was dragged out almost dead by other rescuers. A policeman made a rnotornaan stop between stations ran back along the tracks, plunged into the river and saved eight from drowning.
 There were numerous cases of boy heroesi in two cases the little fellows themselves perished after helping many women and children to safety.
 One boy, whose identity is yet a mystery. jumped from the dock into the river to help two women cIinging to some object in the middle of the dock with one of the women when the other flung her arms around his neck and all three drowned.
 l Tugs pulling immense lines of grap- bling hooks yesterday encountered wha was thought to be a group of bodies. A diver went down and found the hooks had grappled the Eastland's $ piano.
 Morris Jorgensen. professional diver, who had. brought out thirty bodies and was sitting on the dock, dazed and hysterica1. was clubbed in to insensibility by policemen under the orders of Capt. Bernard Baer because he could not comprehend the order move on.''
 William Raphael, manager. of a commission house, Ieaped into the riv- CT and was swimming to the dock with two women when a fat man, his face | livid green with fear, clutched the dress of one woman. Raphael kicked him in the face, but in the struggle the fat man and one woman were drowned.
 All witnesses agree that in the crisis women were the stronger and more sensible. While the men fought nadly for their lives, the women and girls after the first panic quickly re- covered. They c1ung patiently to bits of wreebage and obeyed commands of rescuers. Those trapped in the hull
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Syracuse, July 26.-Wi11ian1 C. Red field Secretary of the Department of Comm cree, made public last night cor respondence between the St. Joseph Chicago teanship Go, owner of the EastIand, and the Department of Com merce, relating to the new Seaman's act.
 Secretary RedfeId believes that un- der the Seaman's act the passenger carrying capacity of the Eastland would have been reduced from 2,570 to 1,552. The steamship company op- posed the Seaman's bill The core spond ence5 com prises four letters. -s In the first letter w. H. Hull, gen era1 manager of the steamship com pany. registers a protest, under date of June 25, 1915, against the Seaman's s bill being made effective on Novern- Der 4.
 Safety Equipment for I'll
 On June 30 MT Hull sent second letter to Secretary. Redf1e1d, saying:
 Replying to that portion of your letter of June 2S, in which you ask. What is it specifically in the law to which you ohect?' I can answer this in no better way than to state the effect it s would have in the operation of our S. s. Eastland
 "This boat is operating this sea- son from JuneF12 to September 8, inclusive; is licensed to carryS2,- 570 people. is equipped with life preservers for that number of people, and has life rafts and life boats capacity under the last inspection for I'll people.
 ssIn order to keel, her maxi mum carrying capacity at the present figure we would have to increase her equipment in life beats 66 2-3 per cent This is physical i1npossfbility.
 "Tf it were possible to put this amount of equipment on the East land the weight that would be added to her upper deck would make the boat difficult to handle. .~fz eff our life saving equipment is 2. aIfowed to remain as it it at pres ent our carrying capacity would bo decreased 40 per cent. or 1.O2S. You can see that a daily reduction of 40 per cent. in car rying capacity would amount to considerable during the season in operating revenue.
 saThe requirements 6f the sea- mems bill relating to certified lifeboat men @and able seamen would increase the number of our crew and would afford an op- portunity to able seamen to fix an arbitrary wage and tie up the boat without provocation Even if our traffic would stand an in crease in the passenger rate and it certaihly will act, the increased operating expenses and5Tthe fact that we would be at the mercy of the so-called able seamen would
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
OWNERS OF EASTLAND COMPANY FOUGHT LAW
 LOWERING CAPACITY
Secretary Redied Makes Public Correspondence From Steamship Company, Showing Opposition to Safety Provisions of New seamens BilI-Would Have Re duced Passenger Carrying Capacity.

render it impractica5b1e for us to operate. In addition to that. there is no reason for an increase in life saving equipment on this run.
 The boat in question is con sructed of steel throu ghout. Her run between Chicago and St. Jo- seph is approximately sixty miles. which she will make on an aver age of three hours and ten min utes.
 Assistance Always Near.''
 She is at no time in excess of one hour and thirty three minutes from shore, and at all times on her run is within ten to sixty min utes of all steamers Assistance in case Of trouble could readily be secured from ether steamers and the ports Of Chicago. Mfchiga-n City, Milwaukee, St. Joseph and South Haven
 s'I sincerely believe it win be impossible to operate this boat under the sean1an's law and make expenses. This will natural 1y affect the stock and the bonds and in the case Of a great many companies win render their bond issues practically worth less.
 T realize, as you state, that 5t is your duty merely to enforce the law, but have taken the liberty of stating to you that we specif- caIly object to that portion Of this law relative to life-saNdng equip ment, able seamen and cerdheah- ed life-boat men and give the reasons therefore in answer to your above question
 Replying to the last letter. AIrz Redfeld said in part:
 Speaking candfdly, i6 seems to the writer personally and without criticism of your present course, which is permitted bsy the lawful autnorities, that the existing conditions permit great CT risk of serious loss Of life ana less protection against same either for you or for the pubic, and that the requirements oE the seamen's law, however tempsorsr- fly difficult are in the interest Of public policy and public safety.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
GEN. sLOCUM SURVIVORS
 SEND THEIR CONDOLENCES

New York. July 26-char1es 8Dersch, president of the organiza- stion.s of General Slocum survivors of New York. yesterday sent this telegram Nto Mayor Thompson of Chicago:
 kindly convey message of con dolence from the organization of the General SIocum survivors of New York to the afflicted people and survivors of the steamer East1and disaster. We share their sorrows with ours and extend our heartfelt sympathy to them in their great bereavement and to the people of Chicago for the great calamity that has befallen them,
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

fun of it They shouted, All togeth- CT. hoi' We both grabbed posts when she went over. We could see the water pouring dn like a torrent below us; 1t rushed along the stairs and spurted through doors and port holes. Men and women were foun- i dering and scrambIing as the water rose.
 fsThere were twenty women and seven men where we were. The rnen held the women, but many sank dur ing the first five minutes. kissed Elizabeth and we prepared to die. am not a church mem Der, butsI pray ed right there. As the minutes pass ed the water stopped rising. Then knew the side was on the bottom and we had a chance.
 We heard tramping feet above on the hull. PorthoIes were opened and the voices of fremen and police men came to us. The rescuers start ed to pull some of the women up through the portholes. but the open ings were too small and they were forced to drop the people back in the water.
 clothes and was pulled through An other who was slim. took off all but her underc1othing. and this was torn off in pulling her through. My wife took off her dress. but. she was too. big for the porthole We waited and changed positions. Soon we heard the fire torches at work. Then. af- ter two hours. we were taken out Only five of the twenty women about us when the boat turned were say Fed
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

today. States Attorney Hoyne. Cor oner Hoffman and Chief of Police HeaIys held a conference,
 Jurors will make 2. thorough in spection and then adjourn indefinite 1y.
 sI believe that there area number of bodies still in the water held down by wreekage or the weight of the boat and that it will be impossibl les to recover these until the EastIands is raised, ,s' the coroner declared
 An effort will be made to complete the identification of bodies at the se- cond regiment arInory today. Only fourteen of the. 728 cared for remain unidentified this morning.. Early es- inmates of the loss are being con- stantly lowered but tn ere is only spe- cuiation to indicate the number still in the vessel or in the 3riyerss
 A fund Of $S0O,0 will be ready .fo- morrow for general relief work, it is announced. Keller committees which were appointed yesterday took up their work early to-day. The finance office this morning to complete the plans for raising fund of $200s0OO to which thel Western Electric Com- pany has added $10O,o0o.
 Deputies from the states attorneys s office began the work of sumnoning members of the crew who are known to have escaped. Among the men sought is said to be George B. Nun ger of Kalamazoo, Mich, purser of ness
 Many spectators of the disaster will be examined by city oh1cials who plan an investigation separate from those of the federal and county ofi- cia1s-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
President Orders Thorough Inquiry
 To Fix Responsibility For the Disaster

order that 
  Acting  nothing left
 
 
   responsible
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

ands near the entrance of the Sound,
 about a half-rnile away The boat
 was beached there, and after burn ing to the waters edge, sank at 12.25
 o'clock, two hours and twenty five
 minutes after the fire was discover ed
 In the meantime, the passengers had become pan5cstIicken and those who were not caught by the flames
 rushed to the stern of the vessel where hundreds Jumped overheard in-
 to the swi1tay running water It was alleged that the life pre- servers were too securely fastened to their holdings to be available and sto- rzess were told afterwards of frantic efforts by strong men to cut them
 loose. Mothers and children became separated and fantical1y sought each other while, in many cases, fathers and mothers, gathering their children together, jumped with them into the wafer It was alleged later that men fought with women to escape, result ing in the trampIing under foot of scores of children.
 Captain Van SchaicA was among [ those saved He Jumped overheard with the rest when it was seen that the steamboat was doomed. Later he was tried for negligence and sentenced
 to a short term of prison.
 The General Slocun was built in 1891 by Divine Burtis of South Brook 1yn. She was oYerhauled in 1904 and was regarded as practically a. new vessel She was fully provided with life preservers and life boats and was rated as an A fire risk by the under writers. She had a carrying capacity
 of 2500; was 235 feet long. and had a
 beam of 37.6. Her crew was composed Of IS deck hands. She was owned by the Knickerbocker Steamship com
 pany.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
SEEK PLACES OF THOSE
 WHO DIED ON EASTLAND

Chicago. July 26-Hundreds of =un- employed assembled in front. of -5the Western Electric Conpany's plant at Cicero this morning, seeking positions left open by deaths in the Bastland disaster. They were deniedq ad1nit% tance to the employment office and were told that the company had no positions for them. Police were call ed to disperse the crowd and clear the pavement in front of the conn pany's offices.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Chicago aly428-Federal and state authorities to-day fixing the responsibility for the overurnng steamship Easand at her dock in the Chicago river last Saturday which approximately 1000 of 24o6 excursons drowned.
 Examination of the members of the continued if the regulations for the operation of vessels or her complied with
 Evidence was soughtto show whether the vessel rI1r- r-eonstr nd- - !
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Tn the event fl.war between the United States and Germany, Amer . can property worth S1OO,o0o,oOO could be confscated by Germany and Austria-Hungary.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Samuel Edwards, general superin- tendent of the Tidewater Oilp lant at Bayonne. and Il of his armed guards were arrested when the guards shot at strikers. homes.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

While lodging a. trolley car at Tenth avenue near 173rd street, New work Pauline Katz. 19, of Jersey City! was struck by an automobile and ser rious1y injured
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Fred swigert, Chicago fireman. fell unconscious when he recognized one of the bodies he was taking rom inc steamer SEastIand as that of his own daughter.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

The Swedish Government will take over a cargo of 5000 tons or wheat taken to Malnaa from New York on the stamer Fir, and destined for Hamburg.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Although unable to swim herself, Mildred Fall, 16. of Bradford, Mass. jumped into a lake in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and rescued eight-year-old Ida Btesh Of New York city who had fallen in while playing.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
THE PRErrTTsr rar1

THE Is1tEsI@15L I1z5L IFA[lE l-- and the 1nost beaItirul haRal arc 1,fs- ten disfIsursd by an unHlshslg vT6azE It can easily be removed "a 0 fou days without pain by uIaE CTrur Wart Removet. For GAlo sUtV co Ave.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

As a. result of many steamers being taken over by the government as transports, St. Johns. N- F., has no passenger stamers connecting 1t with England. -
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Unable to swim when he fell in the water, Philip Rosenberg, 24, was saved from. drowning at ' Yorkyilie' Pa, by his, 1o-year-old sister, who reached him with a boat.4
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Three persons were struck speech less for 5 minutes, and three stunned when a bolt of lightning struck the home Of Preston Gernand at Myers vile, Md.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

1 N Custom s1e Suit Sale B 1 NOW LYFORD BROTHERS BUY " East Side and West End
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

President Orders Full Inquiry By Commerce De- parfment-Owners of Ship Had Opposed Sea- mems Bill Says Redfield- d- Chicago, Stunned By Tragedy, Blindly Strives to Learn Exact Toll of Death.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Troubled by his conscience, charles Bays paroled convict wanted in Michigan City for breaking his parole surrendered to the police at Vincen- nes, Ind.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
forwarded to Secretary of the Navy
 Daniels

forwarded to Secretary of the Navy Daniels.
 Troubled by his conscience, Charles Bays, paroled convict wanted in Michigan City for breaking his parole. nes. Ind.
 Three persons were struck speech less for l 5 minutes. and three stunned when a bolt Of lightning struck the home of Preston Gernand at Myers vile, Md.
 As a result of many steamers being taken over by the government as transports, St. Johns N- F., has no passenger stamers connecting 1t with England.
 Although unable to swim herself, Mildred Fall, 16. of Bradford, Mass. jumped into a lake in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. and rescued eight-year-old Ida. Btesh Of New York city who had fallen in while playing.
 The E. ". Bliss Co, which is duing large orders for war munitions, re- ceived permission to station two arIneo guards at the Brooklyn end or the Manhattan bridge, Tearing that bombs might be dropped on it's plant beneath the bridge.
 Herbert Finch was shot in the neck and seriously tn5ured when he tried to escape. from Policeman 1rcLouEhlin in Philadelphia, as the latter called t6 him to- halt when he was discovered crouching in the doorway Of a mercan= tile building.
 A London newspaper states that no Canadian contracts for war munitions have been placed through the hrrn of J. F. Morgan 6 Co. The newspaper quotes David Lloyd George in this as4 sertion.
 Paul Jackman Of Jersey City Heights was seriously injured when a trolley car struck the motorcycle he was ria ing near the Paiisade Amusemen6 Park. New Jersey. and threw hzna from the machine.
 Kenneth Carpenter, 2o of High View. N Y, was killed. and vVa1EzIz stoddard, 22s of Brooklyn, was serious ly injured when a car Carpenter was GI7. tavarfI1r0eT
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Eight destroyers of the Creek navy were ordered to the Gulf of SyTnrna to protect several thousand, Greeks at the Znort of VurIa, who have been or dered to leave for the interior.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

The "cribbing'' inquiry at the Naval Academy at Anna polls closed. Find ings of the Board Of Inquiry will be
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

General Carranza compiled with the request of the United States that he observe the neutrality of Naco, So- nora, by withdrawing his troops from that place.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Kenneth Carpenter, 20, of High View, N Y, was killed, and VVa1Eaz stoddard, 9, of Brooklyn. was serious ly injured when a car Carpenter was driving overturned when several spokes in a rear wheel broke.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Shortly after leaving Bayonne, N. J. the steamer Teueer- collided with an unidentified schooner off Tomp- kinsville, Staten Island. and was so seriously damaged that she returned to port.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Richard de Silva. convict serving a hve-year sentence at Sing Slns prison. was drowned in the open air swimming pool for the conyicts which was used yesterday for the first time
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26
BRIEF NEWS NOTES.

Bf1lEF NEWS INOA E40.
 In the event of war between the United States and Germany, Amer = can property worth s100,0oo,000 could be conf1scated by Germany and Austria Hungary.
 The Swedish Government will take over a cargo of 5000 tons Of wheat taken to MaIna from New York on the stamer Fir, and destined for Hamburg.
 Fred swigert, Chicago fireman. fell unconscious when he recognized one of the bodies he was taking from the steamer East1and as that of his own daughter.
 tendent of the Tidewater OiIp lant at Bayonne,. and II of his armed guards were arrested when the guards shot at strikers. homes.
 While lodging a trolley car at Tenth avenue near 173rd street, New York. Pauline Katz. 1s, of Jersey City. was struck by an automobile and se- riously injured.
 Unable to swim when he fell in the water, Philip Rosenberg, 24, was saved from. drowning at orkV1lie' Pa, by his, 1e-year-old sister, Who reached him with a boat
 Eight destroyers of the Creek navy were ordered to the Gulf of Synarna to protect several thousand Greeks at the port of VurIa, who have been or dered to leave for the interior
 Richard de Silva, convict serving a hye-year sentence at Sing Sins prison, was drowned in the open air swimming pool for the conyicts which was used yesterday for the first time
 Sergeant Michael O'Leary, V. C., a member of the Irish Guards. who won fame and the Victoria Cross at the front, was appointed a special re- crufting officer by the British War Office.
 Shortly after leaving Bayonne. N. J. the steamer Teucera collided with an unidentified schooner off Tomp- kinsville, Staten Island. and was so seriously damaged that she returned to port.
 General Carranza compiled with the request of the United States that he observe the neutrality Of Naco, So- nora, by withdrawing his troops from that place.
 The "cribbing', inquiry at the Naval Academy at Annapolis closed. Find ings of the Board Of Inquiry will be
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Sergeant Michael O'Learys V. C., a member of the Irish Guards. who won fame and the Victoria Cross at the front, was appointed a special re- cruiting officer by the British War Office.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Farmer WaI- Ads. One cent Word,
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Paul Jackman Of Jersey City EIsislitls was seriously injured when a trolley car struck the motorcycle he was rEdz ing near the Paiisade Amussuen6 Park. New Jersey, and threw hzs from the machine.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-26

Canadian contracts for war munitions have been placed through the firm oE J. F. Morgan 6 Co. The neWspaper quotes David Lloyd George in this as4 sertton.