Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-26
Exact Number of Dead Is Not
Yet Known, and May
Never Be
ESTIMATE OF THOUNSAND
ACCEPTED AS CORRECT
Investigations Are Set on Foot
By City, County, State and
Federal Authorities

Chicago, July 26,-Whilo Chicago
continued its sorrowful task Of search
ing for bodies of those who went to
their death in the Eastland disaster
Saturday, and investigations We're set
on foot by city, county, state and fed
eral authorities, 1t was still uncertain
today how many exCursonists perished
when the big steamer turned over in
the Chicago river.
That the death toll will be more
than 1000 was accepted by authorities.
At & O'Clock today SIG bodies had been
recovered. OF those who left their
homes for the holiday with the en-
ployes of the Western Electric company
and are supposed to have gone aboard
the Eastland GAO are missing, Sixteen
bodies are still held at the big armory,
which served as temporary morgue.
They have not yet been identified,
With these figures available, Deputy
Police Chief Schuettler and Coroacr
Hoffman estimated the number Of dead
at from 1900 to 1900.
Divers and dredgers resumed work
Of searching for bodies early today
How many of the s6men and girls who
went aboard the Eastland may have
beon crushed into the muddy bottom OF
the river beneath the weight of the
Eastand is prOblematical. But work
Of raising the bulk of the steamer has
begun and it is hoped this question
may soon be answered.
"'Who is to blame,' is the big ques
tion now to which officials and the
public are seeking an answer Each OF
the six Investigations which have been
put under way win be pushed to an
early conclusion, it was declared today
in an effort 10 fix responsibility fol
the worst disaster in Chicago's history
States Attorney Hoyne is directing
one investigation, Coroner Hoffman,
and District Attorney Clync are direct
ing others, while the mayors office
Chief Of Police llealy and the govern
ment steamboat inspectors are il
charge Of separate probes.
Questions To Be Answered.
The chief questions to which Al
answer will be sought through each in
yestigation are.
Did the EastaHd have more passcn
gers aboard than permitted by hcl
| lieensel
Was the capacity Of the steamer over
rated deliberately and for gaini
Was the ballast out Of adjustment ?
If this was not known by the Ia
spectors. who did know il, or who
criminally permitted capacity loa,
10 be taken ON in the face OF mcl
! knOwlcdgcl
Robert Reid, federal Inspector OF
! Hulls issued tho Eastland's license
Reid's soniuIuw, j. NJ. Erickson, Nh,
Eastlaud's 's chief engineer aud who re-
ceiyes large nlary, had charge OF
the ballast machinery.
Criticise Inspector
Criticism was today ccntering upoi
the government steamship Inspection
for permitting the Eastlaud, lonl
known as ",muky' ship and hnyinl
narrowly escaped disaster before, 4
remain in service Officiah Of the sea
mems union were bitter m thci
criticism of tho inspectors
"No passenger boat IN safe that vii
not stand up without water ballas
with a maximum load Of passengers, al
on one side, Andrew Furuseth pfesi
dent uf the union said. "Water b. uo
a. safety device az all, or should no
be, II lake boats are properly inspected
\ Il !. used merely 10 help keep au cye
keel. reduce friction, make Tor spcrl
and reduce tho cost of fuel
can scamcu Knew the Easiland wa
'cranky' ship meaning b. was no
carrying the proper ballast The fedora
steamboat inspection il 10 blame'
NJ Xtator DIsrfrr. secretary 0f the LAX