Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-07-27
CRIMINAL Neg
LECT CAUSE OF
THE DISASTER
Police Find Documents in Ship That
Chief Declares Proves
Negligence.
100000 FOR RELIEF FUND
City is Raising 100000 by Public
Subscription to Care for
Victims Families.

Chicago, July 26.-The reported
discovery OF evidence that would
show criminal negligence in connec-
ton with the Eastland steamship
disaster that cost 1000 lives Satur-
day and the raising of a 100000
public relief fund were the outcome
of yesterdays activity following the
catastrophe.
The 100000 fund is being rails
ed by public subscription and the
Western Electric company announc-
ed its Employees Benefit association
had 100000 available for relief
work. The 100000 fund will be
available within twenty-four hours,
according to Acting Mayor Moor
house. The relief work will be han
died by the Red Cross, the Chicago
Associated Charities and the city
health department.
Three Investigations of the disas-
Hoover, government inspector, and
Federal Supervisor Charles West
colt arrived yesterday and conferred
with the local inspectors, who be-
gan to gather facts for the federal
grand jury ordered impaneled Tues
day by District Judge Lands.
States Attorney Macklay Hoyne
had a full force of men locating wit
nesses to 60 before the county
grand jury, to be impaneled today.
The entire police department was
active. That evidence of criminal
negligence had been obtained was
limited at yesterday by Chief of Po-
lice Healey. He said valuable infor-
nation was found in the inspection
papers seized Saturday in Captain
Harry ~Pederson's cabin.
Two different documents were
seized and the captain and twenty
eight officers and members of the
crew arrested. These papers, &C
cording to the meagre information
that could be obtained, are believed
to show that following inspection
the boat was to be permitted to
carry 1000 passengers and seventy
members of the crew Chief Healey
refused to talk about the papers
other than to admit he had them
and would turn them over to States
Attorney Hoyne.
Has there been criminal negli-
gence?" the chief was asked.
mo doubt that there has," Chief
Healey answered. "These documents
are of vital Importance"
In a statement last night States |
Attorney Hoyne said regarding his
Investigations:
I'VE insist considerable portion
Of the blame for the disaster rests
upon the United States inspection
bureau. If the bureau inspectors
had done their duty the accident
could not have occurred We know
the ship was considered unsafe by
the inspectors because there are let
ters on file in Washington which
predicted Saturdays occurrence. I
have copies of these letters and may
Introduce them at the coroner's in
quest"
hn
Eastland at the time of the wreck
1,O72, including the crew, are re-
ported safe, 901 bodies have been
recovered and 5SS are still unac-
counted for. OF these last it is be-
iieved about 400 are safe but have
failed to report and that the bodies
Of the remaining 1873 are still in the
river.
Seven divers had brought up be-
fore 10 o'clock yesterday morning
forty-two bodies. The bodies brought
up this morning made total of 1SS
taken out since last midnight.
Four police patrol boats cruised
around the vicinity of the Eastland
for hours, using trawl lines with .
heavy hooks trying to bring out
bodies that possibly had drifted
away.
Louis Kruger, diver, said he ,
thought several score bodies were
still pinned under the boat, the left ;
side of which, he said, was resting ,
in about four feet of mud These
cannot be reckoned with until after =,
the coroners inquest when efforts .
will be made to right the vessel. !
Get YOUR ioh printins done II tia {