Evening star., 1915-08-11
-Four Officers Of Company,
Arnold, Hull, Steel and Davis,
Accused of MansIaughter.
CAPTAIN AND ENGINEER,
CRIMINAL CARELESSNESS
Steamboat Inspectors Left to Federal
Grand Jury-Evidence of
Overcrowding Given.

CHICAGO. August 1l-Indictments
charging manslaughter and criminal
eareiessness were returned before
Judge Kersten in the criminal courx
To-Day In connection with the Eastland
disaster Of July "a, in which nearly
1000 lives were lost.
The captain ana engineer ana four
officers of the ST. Joseph-Chicago
Steamship Company. owners Of the
poat, are named, as follows;
George T. Arnold, president Of tho
company
William H. Hull. vice president and
w. Z: Steele. sscretary-trsasursr.
ay w. Davis, assistant sscrstarys
Harry Petersen. captain Of tn. East.
Joseph NJ Erickson. engineer.
Heavy Bonds Exacted.
Bonds were fixed At $1,000 each for
the company ofncdals and $4,000 each
for Petersen and Erickson. The two
last named are charged with criminal
carelessness and the ofhcials with man
slaughter
Separate bills were returned against
the captain and the engineer. vhiie the
TOUR officials were nam ed In a Joint
Indictment
Would Transfer Inspection.
I'VE recommend" the grand Jury re-
port goes on. that the steamboat in
spection service be reorganized in a
manner to make all branches co-ordi-
nate and thus eliminate the confusion
caused by the statutes delegating spe-
cfal powers and authority to subordi-
nate branches. Such service should be
provided with technically experienced
inspectors. all under proper systematic
control"
1t is further recommended that the
inspection service be removed from
control OF the Department of Com
merce to the Navy Department, and
urges Illinois representatives in Con-
gress to endeavor to obtain legislation
No federal government officials were
included, as. it is said, evidence con-
cerning them Is proper matter for the
federal grand jury.
that the Eastland was overcrowded
was given before the state grand jury.
Five Counts in Bill.
The bill against the ofhcials cen-
tanned five counts, charging:
THAT they knew the Eastland was
unseaworthy and had no stability.
2-That they permitted $500 passen-
gers aboard the vessel. which is more
than its carrying capacity.
3-That they were negligent In hiri>E
an incompetent engineer. who. because
of his lack of skill. was unable to
control the boat properly.
THAT the crew did not number
enough hands to manage and control
the Eastland properly.
5-That the ballast tanks were AL
lowed to be out Of repair and were not
Against Capt Psdsrssn these charges
were brought:
THAT he permitted aboard the boat
a larger number Of passengers than
she could safely carry.
sengers to leave the Eastland when it
became apparent to him that she was
about to overturn.
and THAT he was negligent in
not seeing that tho ballast tanks were
in repair and were properly nlled-
5-That he was negligent in not see
ing that the chalkholes and gangways
were closed when the ship was loaded.
Counts in the Indictments against
Erickson are in essentials similar to
those against Petersen.
The report of the grand jury finds
that the disaster was caused by "in-
stability under conditions of loading"
and states that the instability was due
to "one of three main causes. or any
two. or all of them." as follows:
THE overlooking of the vessel with
passengers.
2-The mishandling Of water ballast.
3-The construction of the vessel
The report says that the Eastland be-
gan loading passengers without water
ballast and belated efforts to fill the
tanks failed Of success.
Grand Jury Recommendations.
THAT the. instability of the boat was
not corrected years before We regard
as indicating criminal carelessness or
on the part of all persons
connected with the design, construc-
ton, control, operation and inspection
Of the boat" says the report.
It points out that federal inspectors
had the right to refuse permit TO
the boat, but that they are generally
not trained men and failed to mako
tests.
"The handling Of the ballast by the
officers of the boat indicates an entire
lack of understanding of the nature
and proper uses of water ballast and
an absolute disregard of safety after
repeated warnings and frequent indi-
cations of extreme instability" con-
tinues the report which also crfticises
as not preventing the shifting OF the
ballast.
The jury recommends that expert Sed-
eral approval hereafter be required for
the construction Of steam vessels. and
inspection and supervision
when in service.
-Four great pumps had been at work
On the Eastland for several hours to-
iay with the expectation of raising the
lulk to even keel and recovering bodies
and property on board, when II was
discovered that water was re-entering
he hull as fast as 1t was pumped Out
Divers were sent below to search for
eaks.
The district attorney has returned
rom Washington. whore he has been
n conference with Department Of Jus
ice officials He refused to divulge any
regarding his trip.
Waiting for BodieG
Docked beside the Eastland today
seow was waiting to
louse the bodies which officials expect
would be found in the hull Of the ship.
Aboye the scow an American flag
Ioated at half mast and strips Of black
nd purple crepe hung from the canvas
overing. Twenty temporary coffins
hn =. tn