The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-28

Petersen wa directly blamed for the
Eastland disaster by witness after wit
ness at the Coroner's inquest to-day.
Harbor Master Adam weckler. a ma
rine expert. testified he noticed the dan
gerous list Of the vessel and warned
Capt. Petersen that he would not open
the Clark street bridge and permit the
ship to pass out into the lake until tn,
vessel had been righted.
James r. Linn, assistant harbor mas
ter. testified that In his opinion Capt,
Petersen wac guilty of negligence for
not ordering the crew to get passengers
Off after he had failed to I'LL the water
ballast tanks In seventeen minutes. The
fact that there were bubbles In the river
showed that the Eastland was stuck in
the mud. he said. the mud undoubtedly
preventing the water from being
pumped into the ballast tanks.
W. X. Greenebaum. general manage
OF the Indiana Transportation Company.
charterer OF the boat. testified that ne
believed II the water ballast tanks had
been filled the Eastland would not have
toppled owe He put the blame on the
captain and chief engineer. j :. Erick-
son. whose father-in-law Is Federal In
spector J. ". Reid of Grand Haven. II
was Reid who granted papers increas-
ing the Eastland's carrying capacity.
One says 5000 Were Aboard.
Other witnesses told of the list of tho
boat and asserted II was heavily over
loaded. one witness. a. G. Hickey. tes-
tifying that there must have been be
tween 1000 and 1000 passengers on the
SHIN"
The Coroner's inquest. which was di-
le'tcd in large part by States Attorney
floyne. was the first OF the several In
yestig ations to swing into action.
Preliminary TO the Government in
quiry ordered by Federal Judge Lands
to begin Thursday with the ~inpaneling
of u Grand Jury, subpunas were issued
by Judge Lands for the appearance
OF Martin .Flatow. Chicago manager of
the st. Joseph-Chicago steamship Com
pany. CHIEF Engineer Erickson, Capt.
Petersen. Delbert Fisher, first mate,
and Peter Fisher. member OF the crew,
to insure their presence before the FED
eral jury.
william c. Redheld. Secretary Of Com
Htrtf ilu LtIDls dIIlN t'l lA wv 81 N''
morning and Immediately went into con
ference with United States Attorney
Clyne in connection with the Govern
ment's investigation. Mr.. Rediield later
visited the scene OF the disaster and his
FIRST act wac TO direct that a search he
made for the safety first sign whic.
Federal regulations requir. all steamers
to carry so far the sign has not been
found.
Mr.. Redfeld also directed his atten-
ton e the life pfcservers on the boat
and pointed out that all bore tho GOV
nme stamp showing that they had
been inspected Ave times In the last Ave
years. The Secretary aid he was ready
TO appear before any Of the .nvestigat-
ing bodies. and that he had summoned
various employees In the Government IN
spection service to Chicago so that they
would be within the jurisdiction NJ the
Courts and could he called to testify. He
defended his suhordinates and quoted the
Bible and Shakespeare IN pleading for
suspended Judgment until more of the
facts are learned.
II arrived at the bridge 1t 40
Harbor Master Weckler testified at the
inquest. AT that time the boat was
listing TO port. ! called 10 capt. Pcder.
sen and told him 20 trim his boat, shout.
ing that | would not give him the bridge
until the boat was righted. Tn captain
ordered "a line thrown from the stern
and then stepped back. telling passengers
to keep back. | don't think he rega!ned
the bridge. ! did not see him again.
II never saw the boa loaded as
heavily as she was Saturday morning
and | have seen her depart many a time
The boat first listed about seven degrees
and Their came back slightly, then il
started over and kept on going"
When asked his opinion of the u
OF the listing the harbor master said
There was no water in the hallas'
tanks. There is no doubt that she hat
been pumped dry during the night and
the captain seemed unable to take water
fast enough to trim the boat before II
went over. He should nave been able I,
trim II in from three 10 six minutes. Fol
some reason he could not take water fas1
enough TO 10 the work" !,
"a boa that Is difficult to handle
under all circumstances" the witnes,
said In response to "A question by thu
Coroner. "is known as a cranky boat.
constantly.
observing all these conditions.
don't think the Eastland should have
been allowed to carry more than l.2OC
passengers. NV reason for this is that
In my opinion the Easiland did not hav,
| enough draught and stability TO carry 4
larger load. Only last Tuesday | talked
to Cant. Petersen and told him that hi.
boat needed trimming and was con