Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-28
HARBOR OFFICIALS
TESTIFY EASTLAND
WAS OVERLOADED
Contributing Causes of Dis
aster Were Underballast-
ing and Grounding.
TESTIMONY is HEARD
BY CORONER'S JURY
Redheld States Formally That
Government Supervision Had
Not Been Lax
no PROGRESS ON DEATH LIST
To-Day Is Officially Proclaimed as
TESTIMONY Is HEARD
BY COR0NER'S JURY
no PROGRESS ON DEATH LIST
To-Day Is Officially Proclaimed as
One Of Mourning In
Chicago.

CHICAGO. July 27.-Ovcrloadinr
river bottom were cited to-day In tcsti-
mony AT the coroncrs inquest as rea-
sons why the steamer Eastland topplcd
over on Saturday ~ IT'S wharf here and
drowned hundreds Of cxcursionis,s
Adm! = wcckler harbor master. and
Joseph r. Lynn. assistant harbor mas
ter both OF whom were present when
tho steamer caps!zed with it's licensed
capacity OF $500 persons aboard. in
ascribinG the accident to these causes
told the coroner's jury that the boat
was cranky" and should never have
been permitted by government inspcc-
tors 10 carry moro than 1000 persons
while the coroncr's jury was hearing
ihis and other testimony. Secretary OF
commerce Rcdncld inspected the East
Land and watched divers combine the
wreck and surrounding waters recover
three more bodies. He stated formally
that government supervision had not
been lax, and that the Eastland had
safely carried many more passengers
than were aboard when she rolled over.
He said that Federal officers would do
everything possible 20 fix the blame, IL
there was any
Harhnr Master Wcckler testified that
he arrived Al the Eastlands wharf
twenty minutes before the steamer was
due 70 start and saw that the boat was
listing 10 port. He said he called to
Captain Pcdersen, OF the Eastland. 10
trim thu vessel. shouting that he would
no' o?ei the Clark Street bridge until
the boat was righted
UNABLE TO TAKE WATER
INTO TANKS FAST ENOUGH
Mr. Wccklcr said the captain tried
10 right the ship. but seemed unable
10 take water into the ballast tanks
fas; enough
II never saw tho Eastland loaded so
heavily as II WAS on Saturday morn
ing" said MIR Wccklor, and ] have seen
her depa;, many times The boat first
listed about seven degrees. then came
back Slightly and again started over
and kept on going
II don't think that the Eastland
should hav" been allowed to carry
more than 1900 passengers. because
i: did not have enough draft and stahll-
ity TO carry larger load only last
Tuesday told CAPTAIN pederscn that
his boat needed trimming. as i, was
constantly travelling on i,s ears Ne
said that the twin screws kent the
Enstland on an even keel while under
wav
'.Atte' his arrest | heard Captain
fcderscn SAY that he tried for seven
teen minutes 20 trim the steamer. but
could not get water into the ballast
tanks fast enough I don't believe
Captain Pedersen realized the danger
untl the hnal plunge c;me."
Mr.. Lvnn. assisrar; harhor master.
testified that when he saw the danger
Gus LIST of tho steamship he called the
police and fire departments Returning
10 the wharf he saw passengers leap
ing from 'hr decks 20 the river
y believe" said Mr.. Lynn, that the
ship was OF the bottom aft and amid
ships. IF the captain tried for seven
teen minutes 10 right tho boat without
attempting to get OF those on board
there was negligence"
Mr. Lynn said that he saw many of
the crew leap or tho wharf while the
ship was carccning.
TowED BOAT Four TIMES.
AND SIIE. ALWAYS LISTED
Captain John II. O'Meara. Of the tug
kenosha which was to tow the East
land out of the river. testified ne had
towed The Eastland four times. and she
always listed
H. {. wheeler assistant division su-
ferintendent of the Department Of Jus-
tice. submitted government INSPECTION
certificates. including the latest one
issued by Robert Reid on July .. 1915.
at the request of Captain Petersen. that
the Carrying capacity he increased
This certificatr allowed the Eastland to
lake on o.5'0 passengers. an increase Of
500 over previous permits.
Efforts to check up the total dead
made no progress to-day. The official
list Of identified again totaled saI
While the list of missing grew only
three bodies were recovered, and divers
said that probably not more than q
icore Of victims remained in the shin
While States Attorney FIoyne said bo
mad evidence that some 2,700 were on
The ship. the government checkers snid
that they were positive that no moro
han 2,iuG went aboard. including
children.
4 contract to raise the steamer wos
ct to-day, and the work will be ber,,n
as soon as possible. Many funerals
will be held tomorrow The day has
officially been proclaimed as one of
nourning, public buildings already
having been draped.
REPORTS OF FRICTION
DENIED ny REDFIELD
Secretary Of Commerce Redfield to-