Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-26
LOSS OF 1000 LIVES TO BE lNvEs-
TlGATED BY FEDERAL AND
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
SHIP OFFICERS BEING
SEVERELY cRITIZED
Accused of Being Asleep on Job in En-
CINE Room-Survivors Describe Cap.
sizing of Vessel Just as II Sought to
Leave Pier-Many Thrilling Reseues
Made-Women Show Bravery.

Chicago. July 26-The full power of
the city, county, state, and federal au-
thorities was directed TO fixing the re-
sponsibility of the disaster Fixing the
blame, the officials declared. will be
followed by indictments and trials on
charges OF criminal negligence.
TWO Grand Juries to Act.
Two grand jury Investigations were
sci in motion. Federal Judge kenesaw
NJ. Lands summoned a special jury to
convene next Thursday. States At
torney Maclay Hoyne ordered the as
sembling Of the state grand jury today.
The state and federal governm ents
have concurrent jurisdiction.
Secretary of Commerce Redheld said
that he had ordered a full investigation
Of the Eastland disaster.
Women the Stronger.
In the crisis the women were the
stronger While men fought madly for
their lives the women and girls. after
the first panic. quickly recovered. Eth
er they chung patiently to rails and bits
of wreckage, or. If trapped in the hull.
they waited calmly for rescue or death.
ttSSIuSI, lASIl IiiOLS4 It's ICI llle llIOSl
part We're of those not SO fortunate.
With the men it was different They
dragged the women from places of
temporary safety in order that they
might be saved. They struggled mad
ly to save life. not for others. but for
themselves And some. when rescued.
others at work.
Most Victims Suffocated.
Coroners Physician Joseph Spring
er examined most OF the bodies as they
were brought ashore. BY pinching the
throat Of each victim with his fingers
the physician determined how they had
met death-whether from drowning or
suffocation. DR.. Springer said the ma
jority had been suffocated
Under the steel shell Of the Eastland
the rescuers could hear tappings and
faint cries. After divers had failed 70
locate the imprisoned passengers a call
was sent out for acetylene torches. 1,
was planned to cut eight holes in the
steamers side.
Try TO Stop Reseuers.
Captain Peterson. Dell Fisher, his
first mate, and a dozen of the crew
were still lingering among the rescuer:
! on the hun. AS the torch operator:
set to work Peterson rushed to hal
them.
Here, stop that" he cried.
My orders are TO save lives not te
be careful Of the boat replied one o.
the operators.
Later fifteen Of Peterson's crew were
arrested for interfering with the wori
| Of the electricians and torch men. The
captains actions led n. W. LIE vally
manager Of the Oxweld Acetylene
Company in charge of the work o.
piercing the hull, to lodge a complaint
against him.
Forty Brought Thru Hole.
J. H Rista. chairman Of the Odd Eel
lows Lea que and relief board, was an.
other who told of interference by Cap.
tain Peterson.
| II was using torch on the hui
when Peterson rushed UP and ordered
| me to stop" he said. II told him TO 81
| to a place where it is hotter than an,
torch fame. After I got RID of Peter
| son we dragged forty people thru tn
hole ne had tried to stop me from
making"
/ Louis Scheleiert. employed by thu
city fire prevention bureau. was a res
| cuer who went to work with a deflnit'
end in view. Sch1eiert's own wife ant