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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 25, 1915)
74 Pages Section One Six Sections Pages 1 to 16 VOL. XXXI V. XO. 30. PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MOIi.MXG, JLLY 2,, 1915. lMUCi: FIVE CEXTS. 1000 DROWN AS VESSEL UPSETS Excursionists Perish With in Few Feet of Shore. MY ARE STILL IN HULL Picnic of 7000 Employes of Electric Company and Their Friends Ends Tragically. RESCUE EFFORTS FUTILE Large Proportion of Women and Children Among Vic K tims of Disaster. CHICAGO, July 24. A thousand persons lost their lives in the Chi cago River today by the capsizing of the excursion steamer Eastland, while warping from its wharf with more than 2400 employes of the "Western Electric Company and their relatives and friends on board, bound for a pleasure trip across Lake Michigan. After ceaseless work all day and far into the night, the bodies of 842 victims of the catastrophe, most of them women and children, were col lected from the temporary morgues and taken to the Second Regiment Armory. Coroner Makes Estimate. When these bodies had been tagged, Coroner Hoffman, taking into con- sideration estimates of bodies thought to be in the hold of the steamer lying on its side in the river and in the stream itself, said he had hopes that the total dead would not exceed 1000. The Eastland, said by marine archi tects to have been top-heavy and bal lasted in an uncertain manner, turned over inside of five minutes after it began to list, pouring its passengers into the river, or imprisoning them in its submerged hull. Many Drown Near Land. Every effort was made by thou sands of persons on the river wharf to rescue the drowning men, women and children, but many drowned al most within grasp of the river bank Mothers went to death while their children were snatched to safety Other children died in the arms of their parents, who were finally saved. Hundreds of girls, freed for a day from their tasks of making telephones and other electrical apparatus in the factory of the Western Electric Com pany, dressed in their smartest white frocks, drowned miserably. Factory Street in Mourning. Kolin avenue, a small street near the factory of the Western Electric Company, was in universal mourning tonight. Every house lost from one to all its occupants in the disaster. And many of the ill-fated residents of this street tonight lay in the morgue or beneath the steel hull of the East land, over which searchlights shot (Concluded on Page 6. Column 5.) : ' CARTOONIST REYNOLDS SETS DOWN HIS IMPRESSIONS OF SOME NEWS EVENTS OF THE WEEK. J mm - KvK" i wW Mil yy (4 CAUSE IS MYSTERY, CAPTAIN DECLARES SKIPPER . ON" BRIDGE WIIEX VESSEL IS OVEHTCRXED. Years of Experience on Lakes and Ocean Said to Hold No Solu tion of Great Tragedy. CHICAGO. July 24. Captain Harry Pedersen, 57 years old, of Benton Har bor. Mich., who was in command of the steamer Eastland, said today: "I was on the bridge and was about ready to pull out when I noticed the boat began to list. I shouted orders to open the Inside doors nearest the dock and give the people a chance to get out. The boat continued to roll, and shortly afterward the hawsers broke and the steamer turned over on its side and was drifting toward the middle of the river. "When she went over, I Jumped and held on to the upper side. It all hap pened in two minutes. The cause is a mystery to me. I have sailed the lakes 25 years and previous to that sailed on salt water 12 years and this is the first serious accident I ever had. I do not know how it happened." TURKS' ATTACK REPULSED General Hamilton Reports Victory for Allies In Sharp Fight. LONDON, July 24. Official announce ment was made here today that the Turkish forces at the Dardanelles have made a new attack on the allies and have been repulsed. The text of the statement follows: "Sir Ian Hamilton reports that In the southern section about 3 P. M., yes terday, the Turks attacked the north ern trenches on our left flank. Our front trenches in that neighborhood were shelled rather heavily. "Under cover of the bombardment a small force of Turks dashed for our sapheads. Two of our machine guns at once opened fire, and the survivors retired, leaving 49 dead Turks lying in front of our trenches. Probably more were out of sight, as our shrapnel was effective. "The whole affair lasted 20 minutes." AUTO MOVING HOUSEHOLD Salem Party Crossing Continent Carry Conveniences and Pets. HOOD RIVER. Or.. July 24. (Spe cial Accompanied by W. E. Llgon. Mr. .and Mrs. C W. Keely, of Salem, who passed through Hood River en route to Chicago by automobile, were enjoying all the little domestic Joys of home life. Singing merrily ln its cage, attached to the raised hood of the car, was a little canary bird. The tonneau of the machine was divided by Mrs. Keely with a 3-weeks-old pup and another dog, a family favorite. Toilet articles were suspended from hood braces and robe rack and seemed as much at home as though the ton neau had been the closet of milady's bedroom. FOREST FIRE IS RAGING Residences and Farms Near Grants Pass May Be In Danger. GRANTS PASS, Or., July 24. (Spe cial.) A big forest fire, which started this morning near the granite pit, one mile west of town, has been raging all day, and rapidly approaching town. No alarm is felt for the outlying res idences, as that section was burned over a year or so ago. There Is some danger to the small farmers Just beyond the city . limits. and if the wind from the north stiffens tonight or tomorrow the fire 'may spread westward along the low hills to the large farms and orchards of the lower valley. Salvation Army Auditor Here. Colonel Bates, the international Sal vatlon Army auditor, will speak here today at 207 Salmon street. Colonel Bates has Just come from British Co lumbia and Is on his way to Japan. He will be here all day. WORK OF BESG!' 0U1GKLT UNDERWAY Divers Hastened Into Submerged Hull. STEEL PLATES CUT WITH FIRE Morgues Extemporized Near by on Water-Front. MANY OF INJURED WILL DIE Efforts to Resuscitate Those Taken From River Seldom Successful. Baby Taken "Alive From Heart of Vessel. CHICAGO, July 24. Stories of hero- Ism In connection with the disaster to the steamer Eastland were almost as numerous tonight as the number of persons on the scene immediately after the disaster. Boats took rescued pas sengers to the wharf or to the steam er Theodore Roosevelt, which had tied up near the upset Eastland. In an hour the water was cleared of excursionists. The bodies that had not been taken to land had sunk or were swirling along the river towards the drainage canal locks at Lock port. 111., many miles away. The locks were raised to stop the current and arrangements were made to take bodies from the river along its course through the southwest part of Chicago. IMvera Hastem lo Scene Shortly after the water was cleared ship engineers and helpers were on the exposed side of the Eastland's hull cutting through its steel plates with gas flames. Divers were hurried into underwater suits. A bridge of boats was formed between the pier and the capsized ship. As thi. divers gained entrance to the hull the scene of distress moved for the time being from the river to the extemporized morgues. Warehouses of wholesale companies clong the river were thrown open and bodies were laid in i wa n the floor. Scores of persons taken from the water were severely injured, and these were taken to the Iroquois Hospital, built in memory of the 600 women, children and a lew men who were burned and crushed to death in the Iroquois Theater New 1 ear's eve sev eral years ago. Kew Are Kcanacltated. .Efforts to resuscitate those taken from the river were unsuccessful ex cept in two or three instances. It was said that many of those injured would die. The whole city was soon in conster nation over the catastrophe. Word of the accident spread rapidly, and to the thousands already at or near the wharf other thousands added themselves. The Clark-street bridge, near the wharf, was crowded until it threatened to col lapse. Streets had to be cleared by the police to allow the movement of am bulances. Business men sent their automobiles and anotor trucks to help aid the In jured and carry away the dead. One warehouse soon was filled with bodies and other dead were taken to the Sec ond Regiment Armory, a mile away. City Draped In Hoaralaa;. Mayor Thompson was In San Fran cisco and Chief of Police Healy was also out of town, but Acting Mayor tiloorehouse sent out a request that the city display signs of mourning. Flags on public buildings were placed at half mast and many places were draped with mourning. Baseball games were postponed and festivities largely ceased. While those on land were disposing Concluded on Page , Column 3.) INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Wither. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 64 decrees; minimum, wb degree. TODAY'S Sunday, fair; northwesterly winds. Eastland Disaster. One thousand persons lose lives when ex- currlon steamer Eaatland aapalxed t pier In Chicago River, taction 1, page 1. Work of rescue ts quickly under way. Sec tion 1. page l. Federal, state and local Investigations be- cun at once, section 1. paae 1. Eastland's captain says cause la mystery. ixcuon l, page l. Many driven insane by disaster. Section 1. page U. Eastland catastrophe la laid to carelessness. section 1. page o. Removal of bod lea from vessel's hull de scribed. Section 1, page 6. Chicago Mayor and other officials hasten home from ban Iranclaco. .section 1. page T. Eastland dtnaater Is greater than, on 81o- cum. Section 1, page . People driven on to overloaded upper deck by steamer crew. Section 1, page War. Berlin is expected to modify views - as re- sul t' or latest American note. Section 1. page 1. French making all their own munition. Section 1, page 5 f DomeM Ic. Anne Shannon Monroe misses old-time fire In Colonel's speech. Section 1. page 1. Auto route from Redding to - Los Angeles. Cal.. declared iuai py biitm man. sec tion 1. page 8. Roosevelt denounces effort to "Chlnaf jr United States. Section 1. page u. Sports, Pacific Coast League results: Portland 5-S, alt Lake 4-Z!; San Francisco 3. L.oa An geles '2; Vernon 4. Oakland 3 tlif Innings). - Section 2. page 1. Parsons. Elliott and I-ents take principal honors at auto races. SectUm 2. page 2. Deputy Sheriff at Federal League game la foiled by umpire. Section page 3l Triple play features Cleveland's double vic tory over Athletics. Section 2. page 2. Brooklyn tightens hold on second place in .NaUonal League. Section 'J page 1. Ty Cobb pushes his batting average up to .408. Section '2. page 5. Vancouver shot Is first among amateurs at Tacoma. Section page 4. Roscoe Kawcett sees big league talent In Coast teams. Section 2, page 1. Coast League feeding batters Increase aver ages In week. Section 2, page 3. Spokane and Seattle welcome at any time in Coast Lesgue. says J udge McCredie. Section 2, pegs 5. Matty says baseball is always honest. Sec tion 2. page 5. Harry U. Smith thinks Bobby Jones Is not quite rsdy for major league ba.L Sec tion 2. page 3. Stanford Is left w fthout much chance for football. Section 2, psge 4. Possibility exists that Stanford may give up rugby. Section 2. page 4. Redmen meet Sell wood for league leader ship today. Section 2. page 4. Northwest track men not expected to win contesta at fair. Section 2. page 4. Golf champion gives advice to players. Sec tion . page 4, Big attendance expected at Oregon State tennis tournament. Section X, page Pacific Northwest. Mr. Hay announces he Is not candidate for Washington Governorship. Section 1. page 6. k Kidnaper of Idaho rancher student of philosophers. Section 1, page 3. Bull Moose hope for Colonel's retention tn party cllntr. Section 1. page O. Netatorluxn de51r :un it Pendleton draws biz crow section 1, page b, Oregon rural school exhibit at fa(r draws attention of ducators world over. Sec . tion I, page t. Vancouver merchants art gay; at picnic. Sec. iion l, page v. Commercial and Marine, Highbury will load lumber, supposedly for war. section z. page 14. Half -mill ton-pound Idaho wool clip Is con signed. Section 2, page 33 Chicago wheat market higher on black rust reports Section 2. page 13. Pacific Coast chamtera of commerce oppose Government ownership of merchant ma rine. Section 2. page 14. Portland and Vicinity. New manager of Portland Chamber off Comniene comes with record of high efficiency. Section 1. page 12. Washington 8ons of Revolution take promt nent part In recent convention here Section 1, page 13. All citizens asked to Inspect Columbia Highway Labor Day. hectlou 1. page lu. M rs. SC. T. Allen, wi f e of Port land m 1- slonary In Persia, announces safety but tells of horrors. Section 1. page 11. Top prices for apples in prospect. Section 2, page 14. John Philip Sousa and his band at the uaks today ana tomorrow. section l. page 10. First delegates to osteopathic convention are due this week. Section 1, page 14. John Hurkn, Treasurer of 1'nlted States. visitor in Portland. Section 1. page Charities campaign ends with 40iX sub script Ion. Section 1, page 13. Depletion of city funds la Inevitable. Sec tion 1, page 1 Lack of economy cause of crisis In city's financial affairs. Section 1. page 1.. Cincinnati "See America First" tourist party Is due today. Section 1 page 13. Industrial Trade Commission will in vest I gale conditions here. Section 1, page 10, New customers to be gained by Portland merchants Buyers' week. Section 2. page 14 U. S. cruiser Albany arrives today to take naval militia on annual cruise. bee tlor. 1, page 13. Weather report, data and forecast. Section 2. page 14. Life and services of Thomas O'Dsy eulo gized by associates. Section 1, page 1'. CAUSE OF ACCIDENT IS SOUGHT AT ONCE Federal, State, Local Inquiries Begun. COMPANY OFFICERS ARRESTED 'reparations for Inspection of Vessel Are Made; RAISING TO BE TRIED Health Officer Arranges to Purify Chicago River as Precaution Against Epidemic Caused by Bodies in Water. CHICAGO. July 14. Moves toward sweeping Investigations of the disaster to the steamer Eastland were under way today long; before the bodies had been taken from the hull of the over turned vessel. Federal Judge Landls ordered a grand Jury Impaneled to Investigate the catas trophe. State's Attorney Hoyne pre pared for a county grand Jury. Coroner Hoffman selected a Jury to look Into the cause of the deaths. The police ar rested all the officers of the Eastland and the health commissioner arranged to purify the river for fear death might be spread by the presence of so many bodies in the stream. Vessel to Be laepeeted. Arrangements were also made to set at the sunken vessel to determine the underlying: causes of the accident. Der ricks on scows were taken to the side of the Eastland and marine engineers were engaged to make an Inspection of the ship. Coroner Hoffman announced Iste to night that he had ordered the gYrest of every official of the Indiana Trans portation Company, which leased the Eastland. No individuals were men tioned In the Coroner's announcement. Coroner Hoffman began the Inquest late today. He had several photo graphs of the boat taken and then or dered it pumped out and raised. Chief of Police Healey. who Inspected the hull late in the afternoon, expressed the opinion that there were still 100 bodies In the boat, which could not be recovered until the boat Is raised Passengers Ruk (a Mde. That a sudden rush of passengers on the deck of the Eastland to port side to look at a speeding launch caused the catastrophe, was the assertion of Jack Elbert, gauge tender of the steamer. He ealj he and J. M. Erlckson. chief engineer, escaped drowning by wading through water in the hatch and crawl ing out of a hole Into the river. "The steamer Eastland was kept stable by means of a water ballast system:" Elbert said. Water is pumped Into the chambers In the ship until she becomes steady. This was done before even freight wss taken on board. The first thing I noticed this morning was that the Eastland begsn to lean to starboard. Erlckson, the chief engl necr, was in charge of the pumps used to pump the water Into the chambers. "lie said: 'Boys, steady her up a lit tle. and then we pumped water into the otner side until she waa up even and all right. He had Just evened her up when a launch came down the river and passed the Eastland and the crowd on deck rushed over to port side to look at It. The weight all on one side apparently proved too much and the Eastland begsn to list badly. "We worked frantically at the pumps to try to bring her back." Eye-witnesses informed the police that there was a man In the launch operating a moving picture camera and that this attracted the attention of passengers on the Eastland, who rushed to one sile of the boat. Saturday's War Moves THE Austro-German armies seem unable to force the Russians from the Important position to the immediate west of Warsaw and from the line along the Lublln-Chelm railroad, but German victories In Northern Poland and north of the Polish capital have tightened their grip on the city and military critics say that the abandon ment of Warsaw by the Russians again becomes more probable. - After weeks of battering, the Ger man forces for the flrst time have crossed the Narew River north of War saw and now have a considerable weight of men on the south bank of that river, between the fortresses of Kosan and Pultusk, which a Berlin official statement describes as having been stormed irresistibly. The com munication. However, docs not say whether the fortresses capitulated. The fight In Southern Courland. ac cording to German assertions, has re sulted in something akin to a crushing victory such as was familiar in wars of former yesrs. General Von Buelow's forces having cut off the Russian retreat and delivered a body blow. It said that the Germans cut up the retiring troops badly, dispersing those who were not killed, wounded or cap tured. That the Russians are plainly hold ing the Immediate Warsaw front la plainly evidenced by a German official statement, which refers to minor opera tions in this area and tells of a com paratively Insignificant number of prisoners taken. Military critics say this indicates that there have been no serious attacks on either side, which probably means that the Ur ians are dug in, awaiting reinforcements and some favorable circumstances, while the Russians, from their strongholds, are risking nothing in counter attacks. The report of the Investment of Ivan- gorod la now patently erroneous, as the Germans speak of attacks west of the city and. though asserting that ther hurled the Russians across the Vistula to the northward of the city, do not contend that their forces obtained a foothold on the eastern bank: Mining and grenade throwing around touches constitute about the only note worthy event along the western front, and this has brought no change in the situation. The Turks again nave assailed the British left on the Galllpoll peninsula. The attacking party approached the British trenches with the snap that they have heretofore shown, but the Turks withered before the machine gun fir and the British lost no ground. Yesterday wss the anniversary of Austria's ultimatum to Serbia, which so soon was followed by the great war. Little has been heard of the Ser blan army for several moaths. but It would cause no surprise If something developed soon along this front witn the Serbian forces. 312 JITNEYS PASS TESTS Time to Take Out Permits Under Xfw Law Kxplrcs; 3 6 ltcjccled. Portland has 312 Jitneys. This waa the total number that obtained permits to operate under the city's new ordl nance up to 5 o'clock last night, which was the last hour for taking out per mils. All Jitney drivers operating from now on without a permit will be ar rested. It had been arranged to close down on the Inspection at noon yesterday. but Jitney Inspector Gallup was un able to finish his work, so the time was extended five hours. In that time 14 machines were examined. A total ol 34 machines has been rejected. GERMAN REFUGE ASKED Aberdeen Urged to Offer Asylum to Those "Persecuted in Canada." ABERDEEN. Wash, July 24. (Spe cial.) A clrculsr letter, urging the -Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce "to Invite the persecuted German residents of Canada to come to Washington and that they be 'assured equal protection with other residents here. has been received by X. P. Bryan, secretary. The letter contains a resolution drafted by the North Pacific Gymna sium Union of America In session in Seattle. BERLIN EXPECTED TO MODIFY VIEWS Diplomats in Washing ton Optimistic. SOLUTION APPEARS CLEAR Opinion Is Germany Will Re tire From Position. NOTE GIVES OPPORTUNITY Belief Prevails at Capital That Un derstanding Now Kxlsts That Submarines AVII1 Obscrtc Kulcs of War. BT LOUIS 6EIHOL.D. WASHINGTON. July 14. (Special.) The two views of the President's lsst communication to the German gov ernment relating to the issues grow ing out of Germany's submarine policy that excite tile 'greatest Interest, while reached by different points of analysis. agree as to the probable result of It. This Is that, unless the German gov ernment Is really Intent on picking a quarrel witn the United Stales. Its Ministers can find no legitimate provo cation for one In the President's dec laration of principle. The consensus of opinion among offi cials, legislators, the press and tha public generally carries with It the. fullest indorsement of the President's position. Chnne (Jits la Back Down. The diplomatic view is that, while the President has couched his final words in tho dispute with Germany in forcible though polite language, he has stretched a point to give the German government sn opportunity.- to bark down from tho stubborn altitude per sisted in by it since the beginning. The acceptance of this opportunity. International authorities believe, will not cause Germany loss of prestige abroad or humiliation at home. A bit harsh, but friendly. German Viewpoint favorable. The German viewpoint as reflected In official circles is alnaularly favor able. While Count von Bernstorff. the German Ambassador, sedulously re frains from making any comment re garding It. there Is Justification for the statement that his Interpretation of the President's final declaration Is that "while the first and last parts of It are a trifle harsh as to language. the rest of it is couched in most friendly terms." Diplomatic opinion privately express ed la decidedly optimistic as to a peace ful outcome of the controversy between the United States and Germany, unless, as s-itd. the latter government fears the possible consequences at home of what might be regarded as a surrender of lis rights. The solution of the difficulty appears to bo reasonably clear to diplomatists. -ITofouaai ltearef Acceptable. Germany has only to indicate her profound regret at consequences to American lives and Interests of Its policy of making war on Great Brit ain. Its enemy, and to continue the pre cautions that it has observed since the destruction of the Lusltania. This will. It Is believed, be accepted by tho United Elates if It is accom panied by the expressed willingness of the Kaiser's government to make such material reparation as may ap ply to the situstion. The process by which it can be ac complished according to lesding of ficials of this Government and repre sentatives of foreign nations accredited to It. is decidedly simple. By making the disavowal called for by the clr- tl.'crrlu1d on rag 6. Column