The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], July 26, 1915, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
jl VOLUME XXXXV . BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MONDAY, JULY •_><>, 1915 NUMBER 81
CITY OF CHICAgWgRIEF-STRICKENASHORROR
OF DROWNING OF HELPLESS PICNICKERS GROWS
■■■■ ■ 1 1 . .....
EASTLAND DISASTER
BRINGS DEATH LIST
TO ONE THOUSAND
Death Ship Has Already Given Up
820 Bodies—588 Still Missing, But
400 of These Are Supposed to Be
Alive—Divers Still At Work
CORONER HUFFMAN CALLS
ON PUBLIC FOR RELIEF
Churches Throughout Chicago Yesterday Held
Services and Prayers Were Offered f'.^the
Unfortunates—Various Theories/?
Overturning of Boat Discuss^.?
Investigation is On •*/
- o/
__ o *_
Wilson Orders Investigate
Coroieh, N. H„ July 25—President Wilson today ordered that the de
partment ot commerce investigate thoroughly the sinking of the excursion
steamer Eastland in the Chicago river with a loss of many hundred lives.
Acting Secretary Sweet of the department sent the President word that
the causes of the disaster would be looked into and the President directed
that nothing be left undone to fix the responsibility.
Chicago, July 25.—Bodies of 901 persons drowned when the
steamship Eastland capsized yesterday at its wharf in the Chi
cago river, had been recovered tonight after 40 hours of search
ing by divers.
The total dead was put at approximately 1000 by Coroner
Hoffman, whose reports indicated that possibly 100 bodies were
held in the mud of the river by the superstructure of the boat.
While only 1002 of the 2408 passengers of the Eastland have
registered as saved, it was thought that about 475 survivors, in
cluding the crew of 72, had failed to report.
About threescore bodies were recov
ered today. By noon divers had con
:luded that all bodies had been re
moved save those crushed into the
nud under the Eastland’s port side
ind those that had gone down the
river.
The Eastland lies on her side with
divers tonight still floundering
through her interior and burrowing
Linder her in a death search, while
Chicago, appalled, is just beginning
lo grasp the significance of one of
,he greatest of marine disasters.
While the grieving thousands who
ost relatives walked through the
norgue in the Second Regiment ar
mory gazing into the faces of the
lead, Chicago citizens and city, state
ind federal officials turned their at
lention to investigations of the catas
trophe and the work of providing >-e
ief for those left destitute.
There was confusion In the totaling of
jodies recovered, owing to duplications
ind removals. As a result of all sorts of
estimates were scattered about the city
vlth guesses from 1300 to 23<X>, but officers
ji charge of clearing the wreck have been
mable to tabulate more than the 901
jodies listed.
The morgue was cleared tonight of all
jut a score of corpses, all other victims
laving been identified.
Investigation to determine responsibll
ty for the calamity will be under way
omorrow in a dozen quarters. City and
:ounty officers were unanimous In declar
ng that some blame rested with federal
Inspectors, alleging they permitted the
Steamer to operate while unsafe.
To Raise Relief Fund
While no families were made wholly
Sependent by the disaster. It was said
many victims had been working only half
Lime or less in recent months.
Several men who made this report, In
asking for aid, were asked why they
darted on the excursion while in poor
iircumstances. They replied that an
irganiaztlon of employes gave the picnic
ind that experience had taught them it
was best to buy tickets, if they desired
jreferment for work. They said the com
lany had nothing to do with this condition
ir the management of the excursion, but
hat members of the organization faund
jurchase of tickets for the annual lake
rip almost compulsory.
Acting Mayor Moorhouse and his ad
visers today aeciaea 10 raise a v^uv.uw
relief fund to be distributed by a sub
committee acting under the direction*
of the national Red Cross, the Asso
ciated' Cbaritbps and Uio municipal
health department. In addition to this,
the Western Electric company, whose
employes formed most of the ill fa'ed
excursion party, announced that $100,
000 from its employes' insurance funds
was available for relief. Numerous pii- ,
vate relief funds were started.
Mayor Thompson, at the Panama-Pa
cific exposition, was speeding toward
Chicago tonight on a special train to
take his place in Investigation and re
lief work.
Coroner Hoffman issued an appeal to
the public for a fund for the burial of
whatever dead may remain unidentified.
City officials declared that all the dead
should have proper burial.
In churches and homes throughout
the city prayers were offered for the
thousands whose hearts have be^n
pierced by grief. The day was one of
gloom. There was more than the usual
Sabbath quiet and the crowds of out
door pleasure seekers were thin. Base
ball games again were postponed.
Various theories as to what caused
the Eastland to turn over were dis
cussed. The four considered most prob
able were; That the boat was overload
ed; that she was not properly ballasted;
that a tug that made fast to warp the
Eastland from the docks started pull
ing too soon; that congestion of pas
sengers rushing to the port side at
tracted by some passing sensation
tipped the steamer over.
Electrio company officials said to
day that not more than one-third of
the victims were employes, the others
being members of employes’ families
or friends.
Today's stories by witnesses and sur
vivors cleared many details of the ca
tastrophe and events immediately preced
ing and following it. All the Eastland's
passengers except 300 or 300 who clung to
the starboard rail or climbed out star
board port holeB were thrown into the
river, crushed into the slimy mud of
the bottom or imprisoned between decks.
Listing of Boat Noticed
lasting of the boat was noticed, some
said, 16 minutes before she turned over.
Captain Pedersen said five minutes. When
full realization came the slow list had be
come an overturn. Men, girls, women and
children and deck furniture slid into the
water in a conglomerate mass. Thirty min
utes later survivors had been put safely
ashore and the fishers for the dead started
the work that was to continue in a long
monotony throughout the day and night.
Beginning late last night a line began
passing through the armory. They came
all through the night and all today. Iden
tifications were made with rapidity and
f Continued on Pago Two)
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••■••••••••••••a
I THE WAR SITUATION l1
The nature of operations around Warsaw indicates that the Russians have
10 immediate intention of withdrawing from the city, if at all. The pressure
if the Austro-German forces from the north, however, is making itself felt,
md the Germans have crossed the Narew river on a 30-mile front.
The fighting east of the Vistula in southeastern Poland has lost much of
ts vicious character. Both Berlin and Vienna say comparative calm prevails
n the Lublin-Chelm region, near Ivangorod, and in the region where the Bug
iver flows across the Russian Poland border into Galicia. At these points
he Russian defense has been well sustained.
Besides crossing the Narew the Teutonic allies have made towards the Bug,
vith an important railway as their objective. Progress also is recorded to
he south, with the capture of two villages by storm, 10 miles south of Warsaw.
French troops have stormed and carried strong German defensive works in
he west between LaFontelle heights and the village of Launois, more than
'00 unwounded Germans being taken prisoners. Artillery engagements have
>revailed on most of the other sectors. Berlin admits the French have estab
Ished themselves in German trenches in the Vosges.
The latest official communication from Rome lays no claim to the capture
if. Gorizia or the evacuation of that town by the Austrian general staff, both
if which reports have been current. The statement merely asseerta that all
Austrian attacks along the leonzo front have been put down. Small gains have
teen made by the Italians In various other sectors.
L Four men of the crew of the British steamer Firth were killed. Ten men
ft the crew of a Grimsby trawler, destroyed by a mine, lost their lives.
"The Russian government, to show that all political parties are harmonious as
egards the war, will give socialist and labor members of the Duma represen
ation on the military and naval committees.
President Wilson lias a "travelling expression.” Proof of this is found In photographs taken b.v a reporte
while Mr. Wilson was on the way to Washington from the Cornish Hills, where he passed three weeks. The uteri
visage which peers out from his posed photographs is entirely missing. The expression of amusement visible on Mi
Wilson's face in one of the pictures evidently was called forth by the exertions which the reporter, who Is an aniatoin
photographer, made in getting the snapshot. Being but casually acquainted wilh the intricacies of a camera, the re
porter's picture taking performance was of the kind that would drive a regular photographer to an early and violen
demise. In another of the pictures the President is seen looking smilingly downward. He had Just been holding ;
little conversation wilh a young mother who had an Infant in her arms. "Pretty hot for bullies.” he said. The motliei
P'ujnp young country lass, blushed a violent purple and stammered Unit ii wag. The other picture was snapped jus
after a bevy of young women at Bellows Falls, V, H„ had shaken hands wlfli* ffl? 'VresTd enj. Besides I lie 'JTgliic
moods which these pictures portray they also indicate a more Important fact. They show Mr. Wilson to he In betlei
condition physically than at any time since he has been President. His physician. Passed Assistant Surgeon Cary T
Grayson, U. 8. N., vouches for that. The President has gained In weight and endurance in tin cool, bracing niouu
tain air despite the hard work he did there.
STUBBORN DEFENSE
Despite Furious Attacks the
Russians Still Hold For
midable Line of Fortresses
Surrounding City
London, July 2TL—(fOtl'O p. m.)—Only
the northern tip of the pincers the
Austro-Gcrmans for more tknn a week
have been trying to close nround War
saw and the Ruaatan armies In the
Polish salient has moved the laat few
days. This point has forced Its way
across the Narew river, between the
fortresses of Pultusk and Hosan, and
Is advancing toward the Bug river,
which stands for the greater part of
the way between It and the Waraaw
Yllnn railway. Its objective.
The other point, which Field Marshal
Von Mackenzen iB directing at the Chelm
Lublin railway, has gained hardly a yard
since it reached the village of Retovetz,
Just south of the railway.
In stubbornly resisting the German ad
vance the Russians are making a con
tinual threat at Von Mackenzen's flank
along the 13ug. river from east of Chelm
to east of Lemberg. Betweeen Krytow and
Sokal their attacks have been especially
severe, compelling the Germans to send
reinforcement to meet them.
Along the Vistula, South and west of
Warsaw, there has been little change ex
cept for the German occupation of posi
tions evacuated, by the Russians when
they drew in their line.
While Warsaw is under heavy pressure
the Austro-Germans have a lot of stiff
work before them if they are to capture
the Polish capital. After-, crossing the
Narew they still have the broader Bug,
lined with fortresses, to face,'
Many are of the opinion that the most
dangerous attacks at the moment are
those in the provinces of Courland.
Kovno and Grodno, at the lines of cem
munlcetions between \yarsaw and the
northern interior of the interior. These
are being delivered for the most paiit by
cavalry and doubtless Will be met in, due
time by a concentration of Cossacks.
The French report another success in
the Vosges at Ban-De-Sapt, Where they
claim to have taken more than 800 un
bounded prisoners. The Germans admit
the loss of trenches there.
There Is no diminution in the Italian of
fensive along the Tsoonzo river, which
the Italians say is proceeding favorably
for them, but which the Austrians de
clare is meeting with no success.
A war office statement issued Saturday
B&id:
in Cadore we have completed occupa
tion .of Tofnna,and, repelled: slight enemy
lUAiUiutd mi Pi«« Twsti
; ■ . • •
Pending Chief Executive’s
Return from Cornish Of
ficials Are Busy Prepar
ing Report
PLANS CONTEMPLATE
INCREASE IN ARMY
AND EFFICIENT NAVY
Army Officials Hold That
Ample Equipment of Am
munition Must Be Pre
pared In Advance
Washington, July 25.
Pending President Wilson’s
return from New Hamp
shire when he will formulate
with Secretary Garrison and
Secretary Daniels what the
White House has announced
will be a sane, reasonable,
practical national defense
programme, army and navy
officials are busy assembling
information on which the
new military policy will be
founded.
It 1« knoWn that the army and navy
boards at work on the needs of the re
spective services already have their tasks
well advanced. It had been planned to
}ay the reports before the respective sec
retaries ,within a month or six weeks,
but in view of the White House state
ment it was regarded as probable tonight
that they would be submitted within a
few days.
It is known that navy plans contemplate
a big increase in submarines, 30 and per
haps 50 being recommended; that several
batfie cruisf?rs will be urged, and at least
fouT dreadnaughts, and that a big increase
in the auxiliary fleet and in navy , air
craft will be sought. Several additional
(CMUiued 0B Pag* Two)
Oil Plant Superintendent
and 32 Guards Arrested
By Sheriff Kinkead—Ed
wards Released on Bond
New York, July 2.“.—Samuel II. Eil
wnrdH, general superintendent, find 32
guards of the Tidewater Oil eomiiany’s
plnnt at llayonne, \. .1., were arrested
today elinrged with Inciting to riot.
The arrest* were ninde after guard«
hud fired several shots nt home* nenf
the plnnt.
All were arraigned immediately. Ed
wards was released on $600 bail and Au
gust 1 was set for his hearing. Tin*
guards, nearly all of whom came from
other cities, were jailed In default of
$600 bail each.
P. Eeonbergoff, a labor representative,
arrested with the guards, was released in
$1000 bail.
The first arrests came after reports of
shooting from inside the Tidewater plant,
which adjoins the Standard Oil plant,
where a strike of oil workers, marked by
serious ripting last week, is in progress.
The Tidewater plant was shut down alter
the first outbreak of trouble.
Bullets Break Windows
Persons living near the Tidewater works
reported that early in the (lay bullets
had broken windows In their homes.
Father Sigmund Swider, a Catholic
pastor, reported that a bullet struck his
rectory.
Sheriff Kinkead said he was passing the
Tidewater works with two deputies when
three guards appeared on the top of the
wall surrounding the plant. He told them
they were under arrest; but one guard, lie
said, levelled a rifle at the sheriff's head.
When this guard saw the sheriff’s two
deputies preparing to Hhoot he dropped his
weapon and all surrendered.
Edwards w'as arrested In a group of
eight outside of the plant. The other
guards were arrested later inside the
plant.
TODAY’S AGE-HERALD
1— Eastland disaster appalls Chicago.
German newspapers bitter ugainst
American note.
Information being compiled on new
military policy of government.
Stubborn defense prevents capture
Of Warsaw.
Superintendent at Bayonne arrested
2— Secretary Redfield gives out East
land correspondence.
3— Traveling men notes.
4— Editorials.
5— Mission of church discussed.
6— Sports.
8—American Red Cross withdraws.
' -A"' .v.
AN INVESTIGATION OF
EASTLAND DISASTER
STARIED BT THREE
DIFFERENT SOURCES
Government Inspectors Of
Steamboat Traffic on the
Scene and Confer With
Chicago Inspectors
STATE S ATTORNEY IS
SEEKING WITNESSES
FOR PROSECUTION
Naval Architect York, In
Letter to Hayne, Con
demns Faulty Construc
tion of Eastland
Chicago, July 25.—Three
j investigations in full swing
here today aimed at ascer
taining the cause of the East
land disaster. Dickerson N.
Hoover, government steam
boat inspector and Federal
Supervisor Charles Wescott
arrived from Washington
and conferred with local in
spectors, gathering facts for
the federal grand jury’s or
dered impaneled Tuesday.
Mu clay Moyne, state's attorney, had
a full force of men locating witnesses
to go before tin* county grand jury to
morrow.
The police department has obtained
evidence of criminal negligence in con
ne.elion with the wroi k, Chief Ileal y
hinted. He said valuable Information
was found in inspection papers seized
yesterday in Cnpt. Marry Pedersen’*
cabin. These papers, according tc
meager information, showed the how'
'Tvn.s 10 t>.- permitted to carry p«»<
setigers and n crew of TO.
Coroner Hoffman issued this state
ment today:
Coroner Speaks
“I intend to use every effort within
my power to punish every person, dire.
;y or indirectly responsible for tills dis
aster. None shall escape/’
One theory advanced today to a< -
j count for the accident was that tin
i water ballast had been pumped out t •
i lighten the boat and tin weight of li t
! passengers, crowded to one side, turned
her that way. Another was that Hu
boat simply was overcrowded. A third
was that the bow of the boat bad be
come embedded in the mud and thus
careened and turned over. Faulty con
struction, alleged by some, was denied
by owners and inspectors.
Copy of a letter from a naval arc! i
tect condemning the Eastland's con
struction will be used by State's Attoi
ney Iloyne in investigating the diaster
(The letter was written by John Ilever
< aux, York of Chicago to the Unit 'd
States harbor Inspector here, August
3, 1913.
"I stated in that letter,” said York
today, “that the Eastland was not a
safe boat. Every naval architect who
knew the construction will tell you sin
was extremely dangerous.
"There was not a coal passer In tli€
hold who was not aware of the danger.
Tin* fact that none was found In the
‘glory hold’ after she turned o.rr
showed that. There was a scaling lad
tier leading up from that hold and 2(1
men worked there. It would take 20
men 20 minutes to get out by tin* lad
tier, but they were all out when the
ship listed.”
4 ♦
4 S. O. S. CAIiL RECEIVED 4
4 4
4 New York, July 2f>.—An S. O. S. 4
4 signal was received at Fire Island 4
| • late tonight from a ship apparently 4
! 4 about 200 miles at sea. but the wire- 4
j 4 less failed before the name or po- 4
4 sition of the ship was given. 4
j 4 Repeated calls failed to bring a 4
| 4 response from the vessel 4
! 4 Steamship men here did not know 4
j 4 of any big liner that distance away. 4
i
NEW NOTE RECEIVED
MOST UNFAVORABLY
BY THE NEWSPAPERS
OF GERMANIC ALLIES
Count Reventlow, Naval
Critie, Speaks of Ameri
can Note As a “Domineer
ing Demand”
GERMAN NEWSPAPERS
CLAIM TEUTON VIEW
IS CURTLY REJECTED
I
In England Newspapers Re
gard Note As An Ulti
matum — Praise Firm
Stand of President Wilson
Berlin, July 25.—(Over
seas agency dispatch by wire
less to Sayville.—The latest
American note to Germany
concerning the submarine
warfare was received most
unfavorably by the German
newspapers, in which it was
printed Sunday.
The Voissische Zcitung in a lengthy
editorial says:
"The refusal to accept Germany's
practical proposal to protect Ameri
can passengers shows nn absolute lack
of readiness to understand the Ger
man standpoint. The principle that
belligerent states must protect neu
trals is untenable if applied in the
fullest sense as it would mean abdi
cation to neutral states. It is true
that belligerents must respect neutral
rights, but only provided neutrals do
everything to prevent their citizens
getting into situations where protec
tion is impossible.
“Victory over tin* enemy is the supramo
law for every belligerent. Those who
rentier morn difficult this task than does
international law support the enemy. The
war on land has shown clearly that re
strictions are necessary. A person who
remains within a beleagured fortress or
walks Into a gunfire zone risks his life
without the right of protection from hi*
home government.
Trus in Naval Warfare
"The same also Is true of naval war
fare. hi spite of the mistaken phrase,
TOreedoin of the seas.’ It Is granted that
the ocean Is free for peaceful travel, but
naval battles also take place on It. Neu
tral ships sailing between fighting battle
ships run risk of being hit by shells and
also of being struck by mines. The sub
marine's only Instruments are the firing
of torpedoes.
"Those who demand that Germany
should conduct the war according to
rules laid down by some academic pro
fessor, expect Germany either to endan
ger her submarines or to give *p this war
fare. which means the weakening of Ger
many 111 the Interest of her enemy. This
•i nut neutrality, but partisanship against
Germany.
••We know today that the passenger*
,of the laisltanlai eould have been saved,
hut that they were neglected. Germany
regrets their death, but she has a clean
conscience nnd has no reason to disap
prove of the conduct of her submarine
commanders.
"President Wilson considers the further
torpedoing of British warships carrying
American passengers a deliberately un
I friendly act. While Germany always Is
! glad to respect American friendship, she
j has conceded everything that can be con
ceded. One lilt more would he considered
t Continued nn I’aue fail
j «*••#.»*»#####••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••*********•••••••
German Submarines Are
Active In English Waters
French Steamer and Four British Trawlers Are Sunk by the
Undersea Destroyers of Germany—One of the Sub
marines Was Reported as Seriously Damaged.
Steamer Firth is Torpedoed
Loudon, .July 25.--German submarines today resumed their
activity in English waters, sinking a French steamer and four
British trawlers. One undersea boat is reported to have been
destroyed by bombs and gunfire.
The French steamship Fanae, Oliver
pool for Archangel, was mink off Cape
Wrath. Scotland. The trawler* Henry
Charles, Kathleen, Activity and Pros
per were sent to the bottom in the
North seu. The crews of ull the vessels
were saved.
The Danse was attacked by two sub
marines.
Crews of the trawlers declare one
underwater craft was sunk by bombs
and guns tired from the trawlers.
The Ilanae was a vessel of 1505 gross
tonnage and was 257 feet long, 35 feet
beam and drew 14 feet of water.
: v' * i J
> • V i
British steamer Firth, of Aberdeen,
bound from France for Firth of Forth,
was torpedoed today by a submarine
in the North sea. Four of the crew
were killed by the explosion. The ves
sel whs of 406 tons.
The Grimsby trawler Perseus waa
destroyed today by a mine Her crew
of 10 were killed.
London. July 26.—(3:47 a. m.)—The ad
miralty announces the loss of the Aber
deen trawler Briton, but does not state
whether by torpedo or mine. The trawl
er's skipper was killed and five of th$
crew missing are believed to have bees
drowned.
V . r. »