The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-26
DID IT. SAYS
EASTLAND CAPTAIN
Peterson Declares His Order
to "Let the People OF"
Scared Them.
ALL LINES NOT CAST OFF

CHICAGO. July 25.-Capt. Henry Peder-
son OF the Eastland agreed TO be inter-
viewed to-day on the circumstance lead
ing to the disaster. He Is quoted YER
batim as follows:
We'll. cir. we had a moonlight ex-
curslon Friday night. About 3 or $3.50
o'clock / backed up into dock. I got
orders to back up at that time from
the manager Of the steamship lines, who
lives in St. Joe. ] wal told that our
passengers for the trip woul be on st.
Joe steamship tickets, There were three
Custom House inspectors at the gang
way. Although we used to go out alone
we had a tug to tow us past the State
street bridge. where there is a sharp
turn"
How much did you list before you
gave the order to stand by'?' was
asked.
NO much. First she listed to star
board and she came back. and then she
didn't list 70 very much; then she
Strengthened up all right. and ! was
going TO send out the word TO let 20
the line. She listed over ana hesi-
tated. had already given the second
mate orders to stand by and let go the
stern lines.
Give. tn. w~.-n,Ie
~ gave the warning to stand by be-
cause she was listing. and she kept on
listing. The harbor master was on the
deck. He shouted. Are you ready,
captain?' He wanted 10 throw the
lines out. didn't start. l thought she
was going to straighten up. but she
shifted and ! shouted Open the inside
doors and let the people on This was
to the crew.
.'The passengers were panicstrlcken
when I uttered those words and II was
all off. .jefore hat time ] didn't think
there was any danger at all"
U. Were the tow lines on the tug AT
the time? A. Yes.
@. The tow lines were on the tug at
the time she listed? A. Yes. sir, she had
lines on both ends-two lines forward
and two lines aft.
q. Were the lines taut? A. No.
Q. You had given the signal to go?
A. No. sir.
y. w as tne tuH noIuIHs the III "
after the Eastland listed? A. No.
.. II was then that you said. open
the doors and let the people out?" Is
that right? A. Yes.
q. What Is the capacity of the East
land? A. our limit is 2,570. including
the crew Of about sixty.
Ready to start.
About Z .25 o'clock in the morning.
the captain continued. Il went down
from the br ridge and rang up the marine
telephone. The Eastland Is a twin
screw and double engine. ] ordered the
crew to stand by because we were loaded
and ready TO go and the crew answered
back promptly. stand by ] gave the
order TO stand by and to be ready with
the engines"
@. Why did you give that order 70 be
ready at the engines? A., To leave the
dock. 1t was pretty near time to go.
We had a tug from down here to tow US
out. The harbor master was on the
dock and asked me II | was ready. She
listed more han | wanted her to-more
than ! liked, and | hated to shout those
words which ! did because | knew |
would create a panic even If l was
wrong.
O.. What was the situation at the time,
captain? A. What do you mean?
.. What | mean is. was the situation
dangerous A. Well, sir, there was no
panic Of any kind.
Q At that time the ship listed more
A. Well. she kept listing then.
Q. Why did YOU think the situation
more dangerous at that time than at
any other time? A. Well, II is hard to
judge as to when a boat Is going to
cGpsize.
.. Has she ever listed before? A. Yes.
pretty bad before.
q. But you were not afraid of her?
A.. No, sir.
g. Were you surprised at her listing?
A.. Yes and no.
Q. What caused her to keep on listing?
A ! don't know.
Q, Have YOU any theory as 10 why she
kept on listing? A. Probably too heavy
a weight listing side"