Arizona republican., 1915-07-28
Experts Testify at Coro- ner's Inquest That Vessel Was Under-ballasted and Not Fit to Carry So Many People
MASTER SAYS
 STEAMER CRANKY
Describes Listing of the Steamer and Says It Was Badly Crowded - Death List Grows, But Few Bodies Are Found
rAssoc1ArEp PRESS DIsrArcHI

CHICAGO. July 27.-Overloading. underballasting and grounding on the river bottom were cited in the testi- mony at the corouer's inquest by two experts as reasons why the steamer tastlard toppled over on Saturday at it's wharf and drowned hundreds of excursionists. Adam Weclder. har loImaster and Jos. Lynn. his assist ant. both Of whom were present when the steamer capsized with 2,5Qo aboard. in ascribing the accident to these causes told the coroners jury vhicu began the inquiry that the boat was cranky" and should never lave been permitted by the govern ment inspectors to carry more than half of the 350O persons it was en- titled to transport under license.
 hile the jury was hearing testi- mony in an attempt to fiX the blame Secretary of Commerce Redneld look cd over the upset boat and watched the divers combing the wreck and the surrounding water to recover three more bodies.
 lie maGe d statement to the effect that government supervision had not teeu lax, that the Eastland had sale iy carried more passengers than when she rolled oser but that federal of ticers would do everything possible to tiN the blame. fl any. let the blow iau where T might. No progress was mace in learning the number of the dead.
 While the list of the missing grew only three more bodies were recover cd. and divers said probably not more than score of victims remained m the ship. The divers walked alons the river bed hand in hand but found no corpses. IL was said the uuInber missing might be greatly reduced by weed.ng out Implications and tardy reports from those saved. While States Attorney Hoyne said he had evidence that there were some 2,700 on the ship, government checkers said they were positive no more than 2.- 5CO went aboard. including children.
 The contract to raise the steamer has been let. and work will be begun as soon as possible. Many funerals will be held tomorrow, and the day has been officially proclaimed as one of mourning, public buildings having already been draped.
 According to official lists S24 bo- dies are now recovered and identified. At the inquest Harbormaster Wreck Ter testified he arrived at the East lands wharf twenty minutes before the steamer was due to start, and saw the boat listing to port. He called to Captain Pedcrson of tn Hastlard to trim the vessel. shouting Co tue captain that he would not open the Clark street bridge until the boat rightcd he said. Wecllcr said the captain tried to right the ship but seemed unable to take va ter into the ballast tanks fast enough. He said he had no doubt the tanks had been pumped dry but the cap tain should have been able to fill them in from three to six minutes if nothing was wrong with the bal last tank valves.
 "1 never saw the Eastland loaded SO heavily as it was Saturday morn ing. said Wcckler 'I had seen her depart many times. The boat first listed about seven degrees then came back slightly and again started over and kept on going. A boat that IS difficult to handle under all circum stances is known as q cranky boat and [ noticed the Eastland to be cranky constantly
 T don't think the Eastland should have been allowed to carry more than 1900 passengers, because it did not have enough draft and stability to carry a larger load. Only last Tuesday I told Captain Pederson his boat needed trimming as it was con stantly travelling on it's ears. He said the twin screws of the ship kept the Easuand on an even keel while underway.
 After his arrest I heard Pederson say he tried for seventeen minutes to trim the steamer but could not get water into the ballast tanks fast enough. I don't believe Pederson realized the danger until the final plunge came"