The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-25

i Most of the victims were women
and children, many, according to res
cued passengers and eye witnesses,
were beaten down without chance
for their lives by frenzied men, ana
by some of the stronger women pas.
sengers as well. Stories all agree that
the panic as the boat went over was
| frightful. Many women had their
clothes literally ripped from them as
others fought to grab life belts ana
chairs.
Hundreds jumped from the decks
and from port holes. Scores OF those
saved were badly cut and bruised.
| During the early panic and before
| the police had the vast crowds that
| swarmed the boat dock well in hand,
Captain Peterson and First Mate Ben
Fisher of the Eastland We're arrested
on the demand of Commissioner OF
Public Works Burkhardt.
Shortly after this those of the
ships crew who were saved were
held as witnesses for special grand
jury which District Attorney Clyne
asked Federal Judge lands to con-
vene for the purpose of investigating
the Eastland sinking. Manager Green
baum was served with subpoena TO
hold himself ready for the call of the
authorities Judge Lands at once is
sued court order to jury commits
sioners to select sixty names from
which the jury will be impannelled.
United States Steamboat Inspector
Manifold did not wait for court action.
Late this afternoon he put fnvestlga-
tors to work. He will begin to hear
their reports tomorrow.
Mayor William Hale Thompson, up
on learning of the disaster while at
the Panama-Paciffc exposition, called
his Offices on the telephone. Receiv-
ing first hand news OF the accident,
he arranged for special train to
bring him back to his desk. He will
arrive late Tuesday.
Care for the Sufferers.
CHICAGO, July 24.-The families of
those who lost their lives when the
lake steamer Eastland sank in the
Chicago river here today will be pro-
vided for. This was the statement
tonight of officials of the Western
Electric company. The passengers of
the Eastland were nearly all employees
of the electric concern.
''Thus far nothing definite can be
said in regards to aiding the families
OF our workers who lost their lives"
said Charles Culp, head of the dis
tributing department Tomorrow we
will meet at the Union League club
and make formal plans for burial and
also for the care of the needy. / am
sure, though. the Western Electric
will spare nothing in taking care Of
the sufferers"
Federal Investigation.
SYRACUSE, n. Y, July 24.-eLeaye
nothing undone to determine the cause
of sad disaster to steamer Eastlan1
and fix responsibility for same. In.
quire strictly and fearlessly whether
any official neglect or incompetence.
You will be given any needed help
from Washington. Go to the bottom
of the matter"
Secretary of Commerce Redfield
this afternoon sent this message to
Deputy Supervisor General Hoover, of
the steamboat inspection service. Chi
tcago.
oddly Built Boat.
SOUTH CHICAGO, ILL.,, July "a
That the steamer Eastland was noted
for cher peculiar tricks because of her
odd build among seaEen and ship
builders, was asserted here tonight by
Charles Cords, former master me-
chanic at the Chicago Ship Building
yards.
THE Eastland was in drydock here
getting fixed up again. about ten days
ago" said Cords. Marine men I talk
ed with at that time, mentioned that
she had too much above water for
what she had below.
81 was on board the Eastland out N
Lake Michigan some years ago when
she cut up one of her tricks. Some
thing got the matter with her ballast
at that time so that when too many OF
the passengers got on one side at the
same time the captain had to turn
complete circle until the crowds were
evenly distributed again.
The Eastland was 265 feet long with
a depth of 1872 feet and 3S.5 feet wide
She was twin screw steel boat with
two decks besides a hurricane deck.