The Washington times., 1915-07-24

.~h vs. .!sss: |: % sses s| s s and morse
Police from outlying districts were called in a: well as
traffic policemen to aid A. a result the normally anned
LOOP district thoroushares well night impossible.
Street motomen had to tell them when to
busy At crossings impossible masses OF
wagons automobiles and virtually locked those
streets for many minutes at time.
The excursion was the annual picnic given the West.
Electric employees by the firm. Nineteen thousand
On the Ea.tland and FIVE other boats chartered by the
company to take the men, women and children to the
grounds at Michigan City for the holiday play
The excursion Cancelled, and the other boats dis
gorsed their passengers of whom had relatives
close friends on the boat that went under
because of this scattering of the employees that
it was almost impossible first for frantic officials to get
any list of those who were aboard the Eastland.
PANIC ON BOAT INDESCRIBABLE.
According to Ross H. Geetins, commission salesman
who passenger the panic the boat went under
indescribabe Ann. Colnc who saved herself by hang
ing two chairs, cooborated Geetnss statement that
carrying babies beaten down and tramped by
men in the wild rush from under decks
'The boat swung several times unsteadiy," said
Geetins 'before the final dip. 1t that last terrible
urch that everyone at once seemed to grasp what was
happening"
THE men were more frantic than the women" said
Anna Goldnick Eleanor Doneske, her chum Miss Gold
nick said was drowned before her eyes, personaly
men fighting and tearing the clothing well As febets
and chairs, from women"
Little Jim Crawley, "candy boy" the boat, wa.
dragged .ensele.. from the water Although small he held
two women up until he lost con'cou'ne'' Both were
drowned.
Il tried so hard save 'em the first words Jim
uttered when the puoor brought the color back to his
cheeks and the life into his weakened little body.
The screaming and panic frghtful. Many women
had almost all of their clothing off before they could
get to the rail or a portfolio to jYmp.
There were also terrible scenes enacted about
sanchons and every stable upright the upper deck
n hold fhah hoaf
settled her side there struggling the slippery
upturned side plates
There must have been at least fifteen or twenty of all
and who literally pushed off to their deaths,
who might have been saved had they needed the calls from
Captain Petersen and other ships officers to remain quiet
Among the passengers who put the death list high
figure Theodore Soderstrom, who pulled out
conscious. He declared he held his wife up for what
seemed hours and then she torn from his grasp by
women who struggled hold themselves up his should
ers. She drowned.
NOT lair CHUTE" HE SAYS.
Soderstrom said he did not believe it was a broken
"a chue the captain declared that caused the big
boat to tip
The passengers were crowded on the outer rail from
ten thirty deep places. noticed the boat beginning
slightly but at first it gave uneasiness.
Then just before pulled several hundred passengers
who had been waving to persons the dock
to the outer rail- Almost instantly the boat lurched drunk
eny, righted itself and then pitched once more.
by this time passengers knew there something
wrong. 1t all happened quickly. For third time the
boat urched, this time slowly and there
everyone tried at get the side the DOCK
MANY were beaten down to the deck unconscious in
this mad rush. Probably dozen persons-it may have
been more-jumped into the Several were women
They crushed under by the side of the boat before
they had chance to swim away, for after the boat got
part way over it seemed drop its side like a stone
THREE DREDGES PUT TO WORK.
Threehu
on
to
To possbn o
down the is