Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-25

over on its side climbed over on the
side of the boat and stayed there until
was taken off by life savers. Many OF
the passengers leaped into the water as
the boat went over. Scores Of others
were caught in the cabin and drowned
When the small boats began coming out
to us 1 worked with other survivors in
taking passengers out of the water and
cutting holes in the cabins to remove the
bodies"
Policeman Rescues Fifty.
Policeman Henry Sesher, one of the
first to go to the rescue, gave a vivid de-
scription of the accident. "I saw scores
Of men and women, many Of them hold
ing children, plunge into the water.
Jumped Into rowboat and pulled out TO
the drowning. think 1 got about fifty
ashore The fireboats and tugs hurried
to the scenes and picked up more than
100 people.
I'VE grabbed those nearest us first At
one time had four women in the boat
with me. Others / aided by dragging
them from the water onto the docks"
Captain Harry Peterson. 81 years old. Of
Benton Harbor. Mich, who was In COM
mand OF the boat. said:
II was on tho bridge and was about
ready to pull out when noticed the boat
begin to list. shouted orders TO open
| tho inside doors nearest the dock and
give the people chance TO get out.
The boat continued 20 roll ana shortly
afterwards the hawsers broke and tho
steamer turned over on It's side and was
! drifting toward the middle OF the river
When It went over / jumped and held on
to the upper side. 1t all happened I'm two
minutes. The cause Is q mystery TO me
have sailed the lakes for twenty-five
years and previous 70 that sailed on
salt water twelve years and this is the
first serious aocident ever had. I do
not know how It happened"
! The steamer Theodore Roosevelt wac
turned into a temporary morgue Bodies
OF women and children lined the cabin
waiting for Identification. It was re-
ported that more than fifty bodies were
aboard the Roosevelt at 9:15 o'clock.
Boat Filled to Capacity.
The steamer was filled to capacity and
hundreds were turned to other boats, ac-
cording to S. G. Hall. one Of the Western
Electric plcknlckers He estimated that
1000 tickets had been distributed to the
employees snd that more than 1850 were
crowded on the Eastland.
Il got to the dock" said Hall, "and
was told to go to the other boats as tho
Eastland was already too crowded.
There were fifteen or twenty persons be-
hind me and more coming fast.
Il was told that 1000 tickets had been
distributed among the oompany's en-
pioyes and that there were to be six
boatloads. The only boats 1 heard were
TO be useds however, were the Eastland
and the Theodore Roosevelt.
II had scarcely gone ten feet toward
the Theodore Roosevelt when the East
land began To list. Hundreds ran TO the
rail and many climbed over It sides as II
turned over. All were thrown INTO the
water"
Boat starts 10 Roll.
Mr. Emmett o'Donnell Of Berwyn, ILL.,
said:
THE steamer was getting ready to
leave and was crowded with excursion
lists. The officers Of the boat pushed
the crowd back which was around the
gang-plank in order 10 pull It in. think
this Is what caused the boat 10 list to
one side. 1t never stopped when It started
to roll. and few minutes later it was
out in the middle of the river on its side,
saw dozens OF people drowned around
me. but was unable 70 give assistance.
BY great effort was able TO climb on
the upper side Of the boat and managed
to hold on until 1 vas taken off by res
cuerB."
Lysle Goyatte. ftss South Ayers ave-
nue.. Chicago. said:
my wife and I had Just entered the
boat and were In the crowd on the main
deck near the gangway Then / heard
some one shout. Get back and we were
pushed over to one side. A moment later
the boat started to list. We were all
paniestricksn and could do nothing. l
lifted my wife IN my arms and orawied
out OF an openins on the upper side Of
the boat as 1t slowly went over"
w. X. Greenebatm, manager Of the In
diana Transportation company. VINO was
in charge OF the excursion. said;
I'VE had chartered five steamers for
the excursion Of the Western Electric
eompany's employees 2 Michigan City,
Ind. today. We had the steamers East
land. Petroskey. Theodore Roosevelt. Ra-
cine and haywood.
Inspectors Count PnsrenKerH.
The Eastlnud was the first boat 20
Load and the docks were crowded with
passengers who were 10 be takol en- the
other boats near by One United states
steamboat inspector and two assistants
watched the Eastland load. They stood
at tho geng-plank and counted the pas
sengers as they went aboard. Their re-
port shows there were a5oo passengers
on the Eastiand It full capacity under