Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-28

. 7 $
HENRY 'PEDERSON.
Captain of the Eastland.
don't know why the boat overturned.
but it might have been caused by any
of several reasons.
First ballast in the hull, | believe.
but if the ballast tanks had been filed
with water the boat would not have
gone Too much water in the
tanks on one side would have caused
it: or too great weight of people rush
ing to one side could have tipped the
boat over
The witness said it was the duty of
the captain and engineer to keep the
water ballast properly regulated.
Harbor Masters Views.
Harbor Master Weckler testified that
he arrived at the Eastland's wharf
twenty minutes before the steamer was
due to start and saw that the boat was
listing to port. He said he called to
Capt Petersen o. the Eastland to trim
the vessel, shouting that he would not
open the Clark Street bridge until the
boat was righted.
Mr.. Weckler said the captain tried to
right the ship, but seemed unable to
take water into the ballast tanks fast
enough. The harbor master said he had
no doubt the tanks had been pumped
dry, but that the captain should have
been able to fill them in from three to
six minutes if nothing had been wrong
with the valves.
Il never saw the Eastland loaded SO
heavily as it was Saturday morning."
said Mr.. Weckler, "and 1 have seen her
depart many times. The boat first list
ed about seven degrees, she came back
slightly and again started over and
kept on going. A boat that is difficult
IN hnn 6l orr Of g
known as a cranky boat and l have no.
ticed the Eastland to be cranky con-
stantly.
Il don't think that the Eastland
should have been allowed to carry
more than 1900 passengers, because it
did not have enough draft and stability
to carry a larger load. Only last Tues
day / told Capt. Petersen that his boat
needed trimming, as it was constantly
travelling on its ears. He said that the
twin screws kept the Eastland on an
even keel while underway.
after his arrest / heard Capt. Peder-
sen say that he tried for seventeen
minutes to trim the steamer, but could
not get water into the ballast tanks
fast enough. | don't believe that Capt.
Petersen realized the danger until the
final plunge came"
Called Police Aid.
Mr.. Lynn, assistant harbor master.
Eastland was due to start. He saw the
dangerous list of the steamship and
called the police and fire departments,
returning. to the wharf to see passen-
gers leaping from the decks to the
river.
Il believe" said Mr.. Lynn, that the
ship was the bottom aft of midshp.
If she lay on a bank sloping toward
the middle of the river and was being
damned down against this bank, she
would naturally tip toward the rivers
center. If the captain tried for seven
teen minutes to right the boat without
attempting to get off those on board,
there was negligence"
Mr.. Lynn said that he saw many of
the crew leap on the wharf side while
the ship was careening.
Capt John II. OMeara of the tug
Kenosha. which was hitched to the
Eastland to tow the ship out of the
river, testified that he did not take hold
of the Eastland until after 1925, several
minutes after other witnesses said the
ship had begun to list. Even then he
waited for the order to go ahead, and
the captain of the EaStland was not
working out the stern as was necessary
TO protect the screws. Capt OMeara
said he finally got the word to go
ahead, but before the tow line was
taut. the Eastland listed dangerously
and he stopped. but the ship never
righted. He had towed the EastIand
four times and she always listed, he
said
L. c. Wheeler, assistant division su-
perintendent of the Department of JUS
tlce, submitted government inspection
certificates. including the latest one, is
sued by Robert Reid July . 1915, at
the request of Capt. Petersen that the
carrying capacity be increased This
certificate allowed the Eastland to take
on 2'370 passengers an increase of 500
over previous permits.
Eyewitness Tale.
A c. Rigby. an eyewitness to the acci-
cent, described seeing the Eastland list
to the river side until the freight deck
doors were even with the water
He was on the Clark Street bridge and
shouted to the captain of the Eastland ::
The boat is listing; the boat is listing
Look out"
TO an angle of about 40 degrees the pas
sengers ran to the dock side Of the deck
When the water poured into the freight
decks. the boat slipped more rapidly and
the people began to fall and jump
William J. Wood, naval architect
submitted TO the coroners jury long
technical statement, similar to one he
made Just after the capsizing Of the East
lana, condemnlng various measurements
and arrangement of the ship. Coroner
Peter Hoffman took the jurors to the
wrecked steamboat, so that Mr.. Wood
could explain his technicalities
Walter c. Steele. secretary and treas
urer of the ST. Joseph Chicago Steam
ship Company. owner of the Eastland,
testified for several hours, but shed lit
tie light on the cause of the disaster
Steele said he knew nothing of the
practical operation of a steamship
Martin Flatow, excursion agent on
the Eastland, testified that only $500
persons, by the counters of the gov
eminent inspectors, were allowed on
the boat. He said about twenty babies
in arms were carried aboard
Captain Excused.
Capt. Harry Petersen Of the Eastland
testified that he had sailed, among
other ships. the Northland. which for a
time piled between Chicago and Ham