New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-12
INQUIRY
FINDS EASTLAND
OWNERS GUILTY
Captain and Engineer Also
Indicted, but on Minor
Charge.

Chicago. Aug. 11.-Unusual in that
employees are not made the scaDegoats,
indictments charging manslaughter
and criminal carelessness in the East
land disaster were returned to-day be-
fore Judge Kersten, in the Criminal
Court. The captain and engineer OF
the excursion steamer are charged
with the minor offence. but four Off
Gals of the st. Joseph Chicago Steam
ship Company are indicted for man
slaughter.
Bonds were fixed at $4,000 each for
the company officials. W. c. Steele,
secretary and treasurer. has submit
ted to arrest. Counsel for George T.
Arnold, president; William II Hull,
vice-president and general manager
and Ray w. Davis, assistant secretary
and treasurer. announced that they
would resist extradition. They are
residents of Michigan.
The officials were named in a joint
indictment. Separate bills were re-
turned against Harry Petersen. the
captain. and Joseph VI. Erickson. the
engineer. Bonds were fixed at 10000
each.
Five Counts Against Officials.
The bill against the officials con-
tai. ed five counts, charging:
That they knew the Eastland was I'M
seaworthy and had no stability.
That they permitted $500 passengers
aboard the vessel, which is more than
its carrying capacity.
That they were negligent in hiring
an incompetent engineer, who, because
of his lack of skill, was unable to con-
troll the boat DroDerly
That the crew did not number enough
hands to manage and control the East
lar properly.
That the ballast tanks were allowed
to be out of repair and were not filled.
Against Captain Petersen these
charges were brought;
That he permitted aboard the boat a
larger number of passengers than she
could safely carry.
That he neglected to warn the pas
sengers to leave the Eastland when it
became apparent t. him that she was
about to overturn.
That he was negligent in not seeing
that the ballast tanks were in repair
and we're properly filled.
That he was negligent in not seeing
that the chock-holes and gangways
were closed when the ship was loaded.
Instability" Caused Disaster.
The grand jury finds that the disas-
ter was caused by instability under
conditions of loading" and states that
the instability was due to zone of three
main causes, or any two, or all OF
them" as follows:
The overlooking Of the vessel with
passengers.
The mishandling Of water ballast.
The construction of the vessel.
THAT the instability of the boat was
not corrected years before we regard
a. indicating criminal carelessness OF
incompetence on the part of all per
sons connected with the design. CON
struction, control, operation and in
spection of the boat" says the report
II points out that Federal inspectors
had tht right TO refuse a permit to the
boat, but that they are generally not
trained men and failed to make sta
bility tests.
The jury recommends that exper.
Federal approval hereafter be required
for the construction Of steam vessels.
and constant inspection and supervision
when in service.
Navy Department Control Urged.
1t is further recommended that the
inspection service be removed from
control OF the Department of Commerce
TO the Navy Department, and urges