The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-09-17
Finding Of States Attorney
Hoyne After Examining
Many Witnesses.
OTHER VIOLATIONS FOUND
Federal, State and City Authorities
All Striving TO Fix the Blame
Secretary Redfield May Name
Naval and Civilian Board.


was responsible for the tragedy OF
Saturday"
This was the finding OF States At
torney Maclay Hoyne. made after ex-
aiming more than 100 witnesses. An
nouncement OF the finding was made
/ by Edwin J. RAIDER assistant states
attorney, who was preparing the testi-
mony for presentation TO the grand
/ jury.
AS the investigation progressed.
headed by officials of the city. state
and federal governments. divers. fire
men and policemen continued their
sorry task OF removing bodies from
the sunken hull Of the death ship.
II was believed that between 1000
and 1900 persons lost their lives.
/ Coroner Hoffman declared, however.
| that with more than 500 dead already
accounted for there are still 700
bodies trapped in the hull and caught
in the life nets stretched across the
| Chicago river at frequent intervals
for a distance Of nearly two miles.
Overlooking Is the Main Fact.
The statement OF Assistant States
Attorney RAIDER discussing the results
OF the investigation said:
"All our testimony points 70 the fact
that the boat was overloaded. There
are other considerations, but the main
/ fact is that overlooking caused the
| tragedy.
They had too many persons too
high on the ship. The question OF
ballast has been brought up. but that
is OF secondary importance. We have
been investigating since early Satur-
day morning. We have questioned
more than 100 witnesses. Everything
points TO overlooking. and the states
attorneys Office is prepared to charge
this.
There were other violations and IT.
regularities. Some Of the inside facts
as to the working OF the government
inspectors will be revealed in our
complete report on the catastrophe.
We found that the gangways were
not closed This would have helped
stop the thrush of the water The
lower portfolios were not closed either.
as they should have been. But all
these are of minor importance com
pared 10 the big fact that the ship
carried more passengers than she
should have carried"
Acting Mayor Moorehouse gave out
the following statement:
In 1914, the captain OF the East
land filed papers with the Chicago
chief of police, swearing in them that
the capacity OF the vessel was 1000
persons. The company admitted that
I $500 were on board when she capsized
In the Chicago river Saturday. That
certainly seems 10 be overcrowding.
on the face of It."
Inquiry by Federal inspectors.
AS soon as Captain Petersen of the
Eastland and the other ships officers
are released from custody by States
/ Attorney Hoyne, so that they can be
used as witnesses, Capt. Ira b. Mans
| field. in charge OF the federal steam
ship inspection bureau in Chicago, will
begin his investigation of the capsiz-
ing OF the liner. Captain Mansfield
issued statement in which he said
I he believed federal inspectors could
determine the cause of the accident
much more quickly than anyone else.
we are more familiar with steam
ships said he, land we know how
they should be run. We could con
duct an investigation along entirely
different lines from those followed by
anybody else"
Along with the investigation into
the cause OF the Eastland tragedy,
Captain Mansfield expects an investi-
cation OF his department.
Il do not fear any such investiga-
ton" he said The Eastland had com
piled with all government regulations.
II had been passed by four boards Of
federal inspectors. at Port Huron,
Mich. Chicago Cleveland and St
Joseph, Mich. Four boards would not
have made the same mistake If the
vessel had not compiled with the regu.
lations.'
Three Invest cations Started.
Besides the investigations by the
coroner's jury and the county grand
jury, the federal department OF com
merce. spurred on by an order from
President Wilson. has men here in
curing into the disaster.
Secretary Redfield at Washington
was considering naming a board OF
civilians and naval officers to conduc,
an inquiry AT the same time de
mands were loud IN Chicago against
the departments investigating its owl
responsibility
Judge Lands in the federal court
called a special grand jury to meet
Thursday and consider the evidence
which Is being collected by Charles +
Clyne. United States district attorney
The federal officers are expected t
present all they get on the Eastlanc
TO him. The city police already hay,