The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-07-27
OVER EIGHT HUNDRED
BODIES RECOVERED
Many More Are still in Hold
Of Ship and Large Num-
Der Are Missing.

Chicago, July 27-Divers engaged
in rescue work reported to Coroner
Hoffman that they believe there are
200 bodies still in the hull of the
steamer Eastland, many of which are
in such a position they cannot be
taken out until the vessel is raised.
The work of searching the sub
merged interior of the boat and drag
ging the river for victims progressed
slowly
Arrangements were completed for
raising the steamer Immediately.
Dynamiting the river bed to release
bodies that may have been stuck in
the mud will be resorted to only when
all else fails
The Western Electric company has
begun the preparation of list of it's
missing employees and when this is
completed it will be possible to make
an accurate estimate of the number
of lives lost on the Eastland.
The total number of bodies recov-
cred from the steamer Eastland was
announced by Coroner Hoffman as
$40.
His figures show that the total num-
ber of lives lost probably will reach
1880, as follows:
Number of bodies recovered, SO.
Number of missing, reported to
Western Electric company. 270.
Number of bodies estimated still in
the hull of the steamer, 200.
All but nine of the bodies recover
ed have been identified.
Overlooking Caused Accident.
Investigation to determine the cause
of the accident and punish the guilty
was vigorously pushed by Coroner
Hoffman, States Attorney Hoyne and
United States District Attorney
Charles f. Clyne.
After questioning members of the
Eastland's crew and scores of eye
witnesses States Attorney Hoyne and
his assistants expressed the opinion
that the accident was caused by the
overlooking of the boat
The investigations undertaken by
the federal, state, county and city of
ficials are being pushed in an effort
to fix responsibility for the Eastland
disaste~
f. II. Avery. in charge of the divers
engaged i'm the rescue work, said his
men are able to see many bodies in
the hull which they are unable to
reach After talking with the men
working under the water he formed
his estimate of 200 bodies still in the
boat
The first funeral services for the
victims OF the disaster were held
when more than 300 corteges passed
through the streets. These solemn
professions will become familiar to
the passersby before the week is over,
for arrangements have been made to
hold the services for some of the va
rious victims on every day of this
week.
Captain Warned of Danger.
John Davis. a fruit merchant, told
| Edwin j. Rober, assistant states at
torney, that he and another man stand
\ ing on the Eastland's wharf called
Captain Pedersen's attention to the
fact that the ship was listing danger
ously.
Five minutes before the Eastland
turned over we saw it was listing and
we cried to Captain Peterson we
thought its position dangerous" Davis
raid.
THE captain paid no attention
whatever to US and five minutes later
the ship keeled over"
In all probability no state grand
Jury action will be taken until after
the coroner's inquest has been com
pleted, according to States Attorney
Hoyne.
He said he will obtain a court order
to have the July grand jury continue
in session to investigate the disas
ter.
Charles H. Westcott of Detroit, su
pervising inspector for the Eighth dis
trict of the federal steamship inspec.
tion service, was subpoenaed to ap
pear in the states attorneys office to
be questioned regarding the Eastland
accident.