The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-07-28
Secretary of Commerce Alb
solves Federal Inspectors
on Basis of Testimony
Given During Examination
ALL BABIES COUNTED
Sets Hearing of Steamship
Inspectors for Thursday
Promises to Punish Any
Negligence Found.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, July Is Secretary
of commerce Redfield today gave the
federal steamboat inspectors who
were on the Eastland a clean bill OF
health. following an examination con-
Quoted by him in the federal building
into last Saturdays disaster.
The secretary queot1ene0, the in
spectors with great 615os He asked
them specifically as tQ49 number Of
persons permitted on board on the
fateful morning. They answered that
2,495 persons were checked in on their
automatic counters and that each baby
in arms was counted a person.
Il see no reason why any fault for
the disaster should be placed on these
men," said the secretary. at the con-
clusion of the examination. 81 hold
them blameless from their own testi-
mony."
Secretary Redfield took occasion
later to explain that his decision did
not mean that all federal inspectors
who had to do with the Eastland
were exonerated from blame. The
steamboat inspectors are yet to be ex.
amined. Their hearing will begin to-
morrow.
Promises Punishment.
"And II find any guilty of negli-
gence or failure to carry out his duty
strictly to the letter I'll take 1t upon
myself to discharge them from the
service even before the department Of
justice or the grand jury can take up
their case" he said. "There will be
no immunity baths in this investiga,
ton"
r. H. McCreary. navigation inspec-
tor. when questioned. told Secretary
Redfield that he was a son of Gov. ].
N. McCreary of Kentucky.
Secretary Redfield ordered that
watch be kept day and night by feder-
al officers over the Eastland and not
to permit anything disturbed which
might serve as evidence
The federal grand jury had its hear.
Ing all day and there were rumors that
indictments to the number of IL would
be returned by night and that arrests
might be expected.
Funerals Conducted.
The funerals of the victims which
began yesterday went on today. In
one church SO bodies were placed in
position before the altar rail and the
priest said one service for them.
AAoAy ocINICcS were HcIu at the homes
of the victims. In one home on West
Jackson street six were dead in one
flat and four in another. There was
scarcity of hearses and undertakers
fairly rushed the bodies to the ceme-
teries and then hurried homeward for
another funeral. In several instances
moving vans with the tops removed
were used as funeral cars. On one
of these five bodies all in white cof-
fins were piled and over them was
spread a tarpaulin to shield them
from the rain. Not all of the dead
can be buried today and the funerals
will continue tomorrow and the day
following.
The body of a man bearing cards
with the name of Paul Karner was
taken from the river shortly before
noon today.
The work of raising the sunken hull
has not yet been started. A close in
spection of the bottom of the river
near the ship was made today by
divers with a view to finding proper
places for placing the lifting chains.
The problem of raising the Eastland
is a serious one and river men are in
clined to the belief that the big tug
Favorite has not sufficient power and
that pontoons will have to be EN-.
ployed.