The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-07-24
Steamer
Continued from Page u

been. The boat then slowly drifted
away from the docks, rolling as It
slipped into mfdstream. and a mo.
ment later it had turned over on its
side. climbed over on the side Of
the boat and stayed there until was
taken of by life savers. Many Of the
passengers leaped into the water as
the boat went over. Scores OF others
we're caught IN the cabins and
drowned.
Captain Harry Jederson. 81 years
old. Of Benton Harbor. Mich. who was
in command OF the boat, said: Il was
on the bridge and was about ready
to pull out when l noticed the boat
lift. shouted orders to open the
gang ways nearest the dock, and give
the people chance TO get off, The
boat continued to roll and shortly al.
forwards the howsers broke and the
steamer turned over on its side and
was drifting toward the middle Of the
river. When she went over | jump.
ed and held on the upper side. 1t all
happened in two minutes. The cause
is mystery to me. have sailed the
lakes for 25 years and previous to
that sailed salt water u years and
this is the first serious accident |
ever had. ! do not know how 1t hap.
pened."
Chief Steward Albert Wycoff said:
Il was in the lunch room on the main
deck when noticed the boat begin.
ming to lift. Dishes fell from racks
and a scene OF excitement followed.
l shouted for the people to save
themselves A minute later jumped
into the water and managed to rescue
three women"
Mrs. Emmett O'Donnell. of Berwin.
ILL.,, said: The steamer was getting
ready to leave and was crowded with
excursionists. The officers Of the
boat pushed the crowd back which
were about the gang plank in order
to pull il in. l think this caused the
boat to lift 1t never stopped rolling
when it started to roll"
An Associated Press man who got
by the guards on the Theodore Roose.
welt, counted $50 bodies in the cabin
on that boat. Most Of these were
women.
Crowding Of passengers to one side
of the boat is supposed to have caus'
ed the tragedy. but authorities. not
satisfied with explanation. ordered the
arrest OF the officers OF the boat and
Captain Harry Petersen and Dell
Fisher, first mate. were taken to the
police headquarters.
Deputy Coroner Davis Jones and
Sheriff John Traeger. Of Cook county,
who were directing the work OF re-
moving the bodies from the hull, stat
ed that from all reports that the oou.
les still within hull feared the list Of
dead would reach 1900 and might
reach 1900.
When fremen chopped and forced
their way through the side Of the hull
they found bodies piled on one an
other like so many boxes OF merchan'
disc. They began taking them out
and placing them on the tug Racine,
which stood along side There they
were placed on stretches and carried
ashore. AS fast as bodies were taken
on the wharf they we're carried on the
steamer Theodore Roosevelt. or taken
into nearby buildings or the stretchers
were set on the street where scores
Of physicians and rescuers began at
tempts at resuscilitory.
Fifty Catholic priests, summoned
hurriedly from various churches,
reached the scene of the disaster
shortly after 10. Some Of them went
aboard the steamer Theodore Roose'
Welt which was turned into tempo
rary morgue. but most Of them devot.
ed their attention to the dying and
injured.
There we're 70 men in the crew Of
the Eastland and all Of them were
reported to have escaped by swim
ming to the wharf. Bodies were re-
moved to down town morgues in
wagon loads, where their clothing was
examined in an attempt to identify
them.
Sixty Der cent OF the dead were
women, deputy coroner said. Faces
OF the women more the appearance
OF desperate struggles for life. Some
were scratched and clawed and the
clothing torn, and faces bruised.