Medford Mail Tribune
SECOND
EDITION
WEATHER
Fnlr Tonight nrnl Sunday.
Max. 101, Mln. C.r, Hum. 1.
"SI
'-&
rorty-flfth Ycnr.
mily Tun th Tour.
MEDFORD. OREGON, SATURDAY, ,TULY 24, 1945.
NO. 10G
1300 DIE
EXCURSION STEAMER
9
CHICAGO
VESSEL CAPSIZES WITH
STEAMER EASTLAND TURNS TURTLE
AT CITY DOCK WITH PICNICERS
Estimates of Dead Vary Prom 1300 to 1700 Crowding of Passengers to
One Side of Vesssel Supposed to H ave Caused DisasterPanic of Worst
Kind Prevills About Capsizing Vessel Hundreds of Women and Chil
dren Caught Below Decks Affair Was Annual Picnic.
2500 ill)
WILDEST PANIC
ON STEAMER
f
-f
4- l H H -f-r -ff-f-f4-4-f-- 4f f-f
CHICAGO, July 121. Shortly bcfoio -J p. m. best informalion (Ji)
nuido tlio dentil list of llio Eastland disaster 10(10. Tlirin.fiiiuiliu
of. tlio bodies bud been recovered but not nil identified.
At 4:10 j). in. Coroner's Physician Springer vvns ipiutcd ns say
ing that 1300 bodies bud been recovered nnd tagged.
RANCHER
KEPT
BY
HID
KIDNAPER
2500 Excursionists on When Vessel
Started to List and Hawsers
Snapped Women and Children
Scream, Rush to Side of Ship.
' -.
CHICAGO, July 21. Loaded with
U.)()0 excursionists, employes of the
Western F.lectric company and their
families, the steel steamer Eastland
capsized at her dock in the Chicago
river today.
At 2 o'clock n tnbulntion of known
dead nt ten morgues showed a total
of 070.
At 2:10 o'clock this afternoon Cor
oner Hoffman estimated the number
of dead nt 11100.
First Deputy Cbiof of Police
Schueltler estimated the number of
dead at 1700.
Tln crowding of passengers to one
fiido of tlio boat is supposed to huvo
caused the tragedy, but authorities,
not satisfied with this explanation,
ordered tho arrest of officers of tho
boat and dipt Jin Harry I'ederspit
and Dell Fisher, first mate, were
taken to nolicchendnuurlors.
Panic Among Passengers
1'nnio of tho worst kind struck tlio
passengers when tho boat began to
turn over. llcst accounts of tho ac
cident have it that hundiods of peo
ple fought for rooms on the com
jianionwnys and clutched at com
panions on decks mid everything else
that camo within reach.
Women nnd children by tho bun
'dreds wcro caught below deoks and
tho scratched faces, torn clothing and
bruised bodies of tho dead bore miito
evidence of tho desperation , with
which they had fought for u chance
for life.
Some soven thousand tickets had
ben distributed for tho excursion
and fivo steamers chartered by the
company. Tlio KusIIuihI was first
to receivo its ipiotu and when its
chartered capacity was reported fed
eral inspectors ordoivd thnt no moro
bo taken aboard. Tho crowd then
streamed over tho Clark street bridge
to tho stenmor Theodoro ltoosovelt
which was to tako tho second load.
Pollro Clear llriilgo
Scrcnms of tho Kastland victims
halted this rush and tho bridge was
jammed with people until police, fear
ful that tho strtieturo would collapso
ordered it cleared.
Every resource of tho city was
turned to tho rescue work. Itcmcm
boring (ho Iroquois theater disaster,
mcrcantilo concerns in tho vicinity
hurried motor trucks to the sccuo
laden with blankets to warm tho liv
ing or cover tho dend. Pulmotors by
tho score wcro sent to tho dock, phy
sicians, police, fiicmen nnd govern
ment lifo savers and nurses wore
summoned and all hospitals and mor
gues notified to prepare for patients,
or corpses.
Tho steamer floated on its side nto
mid-stream and tugs, motor boats
nnd other river craft swarmed about
it. Firemen climbed on tho hull,
CHICAGO, July 21. Thero wore
2500 "persons on tho steamer East
land. When the boat started to tip
tho officers shouted warnings, but
it was too late. Tho heavily loaded
steamer continued to roll until the
hawser which held it to tho dock
snapped. A moment biter amid tho
screams of passengers tho steamer
turned over on its sido and floated
out into tho middle, of tho river. Ap
parently scores of women and chil
dren in tho cabin wcro drowned with
out being given a chance to escape.
Hundreds of other pusseinrers wero
nblo to climb on tho sido of the boat
which is abovo water and wcro later
taken off by rescuers.
llodlcs Piled In Heaps
City fire boats, polico launches
and lifo boats from nearby steamers
in tho river rushed to tho rescue. A
holo was cut through (ho nido of the
lower deck by lifo savors and the
bodies of victims, taken out out.
When firemen chopped nnd forced
tlioir way through tho sido of tho hull
of tho overturned boat, they found
bodies piled upon one another liko
Shecphcrdcr Captured By Cowboys
Admits Crime Took This Means of
Getting Money Treated Captive
Who Escaped While He Slept, Well
Thinks Man Is Demented.
forced openings in tho steel hull and bo many boxes of merchandise. Thoy
RUSSIANS
Fl
T
GAMELY
10 SAVE
CITY OF WARSAW
LONDON', July 2 L On tho battlo
fronts of tho Warsaw trlanglo what
bus been considered tho most Import
ant struggle of tho war slnco tho bat
tlo of tho Mnrno, Is stilf raging with
out any indication of tho ultimate
outcome
Both Vienna and Berlin clalmj
without giving details, that Austro
German forces aro now fighting vir
tually along tho fatuous Lublin
Chclra railway.
Tho battlo for this Imnortant Rus
sian line of communication has now
been under way for ten days, and the
Itusstans assort their opponents aro
approaching tho limit of tholr endur
ance. The Impression Is growing hero
that Grand Duke Xioholas Is now
fighting In the hone of saving War
raw and defeating the Germans.
Tho western front Is again com
paratively quiet. Italy olalms fur
iner sucoass aiong ma uario piaieau rade ft Mansm of ha
jvnere the fighting has been fierce. I (urued tbe gteamcr over,
through theso searched tho cabins for
possible victims.
Dhorw Seek IPmIIos
Equipped with ropes tho divers
groped their way into tho innermost
recesses of tho hull. Every other
minute their nssistants wero sig
nalled to "pull" nnd another victim
was added to tho number of dend. It
was tho results of tho divers' work
that caused tho coroner's estimate to
rise to n thousand moro dead.
Minimis of tho disaster spreiyi
rapidly. Its full significance swas
realized when motor trucks, piled
high with blanketed forms, rolled
through tho "loop district to morgues
and undertaking establishments.
"WorMJ Than Iroquois"
"It's worse than the Iroouois,"
was tho word than went about tho
streets and immediately the, city went
into mourning. Tho American and
Fedoral Lcaguo baseball games wero
culled off, many theaters announced
that thoir doors would bo closed to
night ami churches summoned thoir
membors to prav for the dead and of
fer comfort to tho living. Flags wero
lowered to half mast and mourning
symbols woro draped on ninny busi
ness establishments. Gray, leaden
clouds that ovcrcomo thu city early
in tho day grew heavier toward noon
and a bleady drizzle turned into rain.
Watchers at tho wreck remained nt
their placos despite tho' discomforting
conditions and searchers for missing
persons continued their wearying
rounds of tho morgues.
Ship's Const ruction llUmcd
A few hours' inquiry caused inves
tigating officials to lean btrongly
towaul tho theory that tho nceuliar
construction of tho boat was re
sponsible for tho accident. The
hastlnnd was equipped with water
ballast so that it could outer the
harbor of South Haven, Mioji., and
other shallow jHirls nnd river
mouths. Wbon approaching such on
trios tho water would ho forced from
tho tanks, reducing tho boat's draft.
It was the theory of tho officials
that tho ballast had been removed
ft oin tho tanks in anticipation of a
heavy load today. Tho btoamer was
thus rondored top-hoavy, it was
thought, and this, if a fact, would
oxplttin why she unprized so quiekly.
The strength of the rivor oiirrout
wa6 anothor factor that ongngsd at
tention in oonneotion with the possi
bility that tho keel had grounded in
the inud of the rivor bud. Those who
dikoaMiid tliiti theory thought that
the current, working Hgiiiiut the jmll
ef the hawsers toward the dok.
keel und
began taking them out and placing
them iijion tho tug Unripe which
stood nlongsido and from Ihoro they
wero placed on stretchers nnd carried
ashore.
As fast ns bodies wcro taken on
tho docks, thov wero carried to the
steamer Theodoro Hoosevelt or into
neaiby buildings, or tho stretchers set
down in tho streets where scores of
physicians nnd volunteer rescuers
began attempts to revivo them.
L. D. Gndory, employed us a "candy
butcher," on tho steamer was tho
first oyo witness to tell n detailed
story of tho accident.
J-Jj'o Witness Story
"It was about 7:10 this morning,
and tho boat which had been char
tered by tho employes of tho Western
Electric-company for an excursion
to Michigan City was lying nt the
dock near, tho Clark street bridgo
loading with passengers," said Gad
ory. "Wo woro to Icavo in 20 min
utes and tho upper deck and cabins
woro crowded with pnsscngors. Thoro
wero hundreds of women and chil
dren. I was standing on the lower
deck near tho gang plunk watoli the
people conio aboard. Suddenly I
noticed tho boat lit towanl tho cen
ter of tho rivor. It rolled slightly
nt first and then seemed to stop.
Then it started to roll again. I bo
camp alarmed and shouted to the
crowd to keep still. Apparently u
majority of tho passengers woro on
ono bido of tho boat and this had
overweighted it and caused it to list.
Suddenly tho hawsers which hold tho
boat to tho dock snapped and tho of
ficers pulled tho gang-plnnk in and
refused to allow any moro on tho
boat.
Hawser's Suddenly Simp
'(At this timo everybody was panic
stricken. Women screamed and men
tried to quiet them. 1 attempted to
reach nn upper deck, but could not
becauso of tho crowd and excitement
and ran back to tho "ort whoro tho
gangwav hud been. Tho boat then
slowly drifted away from tho dock,
rolling as it slipped into uud-stroiim
and a moment later it had turned
over on its side. I climbed over on
the side of the boat und stayed there
until I was taken off by lifo tuners.
kid-had
ago,
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, July 21.
Lon Dean, a sheep licidcr, who (id
mils that ho kidnapp'cd E. A. Empcy,
wns lodged in tho IJonncvillo county
juil early today by cowboys offer a
hard ride to save their captive from
would bo lynchers. Dean wiih cap
tured on Sheep mountaliti last night
after Empcy had escaped.
Dean, n slightly built man, ex
plained his act by Raying:
"I took this means of getting
money, ns I thought 1 could do moro
good with it limn those who luid it."
Dean, who claims Salem, Utah, as
his home, said he bad a common
school education. Differing from
tho usual run of "bad men"' whose
minds have been nourished on cheap
"thrillers," Dean's reading has been
chiefly tho works of Darwin, Hux
ley, Fayno and Ingersoll.
A Former Kinplojo
Continuing his story of tho
napping, Dean said that ho
worked for Em fivo years
Early in tho summer ho was in Colo
rado, then went to Hailoy, Idaho. Do
said ho had planned tho kidnapping
for somo time.
Tho ransom was sent yesterday,
and Would hnvo been paid had not
Empcy escaped whilo hisi captor was
asleep.
Dean, in recounting, his exploit.
said:
"If tho money had not been deliv
ered I would not hnvo killed Empoy,
but I don't know when I would have
turned him looso. I treated him well
and gave him tho best of everything.
T stole food from several sheep
camps, nnd always gnvo Empoy tho
best of whnt I hud. If tho monoy
had not been delivered and Empcy
had not escaped, I probably would
have- written another letter, repealing
my demands."
Chained (n a Trro
Empcy today was at tho Long Val
ley ranch whoro ho took refuse uf.
tcr escaping nnd sending cowboys to
search lor his captor.
"Dean kept mo fastened to n tree
with a chain and padlock," ho said.
"Ho gave mo tho bout of food and
bedding, and seemed to try to tako
excellent enro of me. I thought him
demented and my captivity was moro
trying on that account. I wiih ex
hausted nftor my eseapo yesterday
I had to run thrco miles down tho
mountain."
After Empoy's eseapo n posso of
cowboys started for the plaeo ho dos
iiribcd on Sheep mountain. They
found Dean at the loot of tho litll,
having coming down, presumably in
search of his late captive.
FUNSTON USES
TROOPS TO STOP
DORDER FIRING
American Commander Given Drastic
Orders to Force Protection of
Americans In Nap, Nooalcs and
Other Border Towns Endanncrcd
By Battles Between Mexicans.
GERMAN TOLD
AM CA
1
FOR HER RIGHTS
President States That Continuation
of Submarine warfare as at Present
Conducted Will Bo neuarded as an
Unfriendly Act Rights of Neu
trals to Freedom of Sea.
5375ACRES0F
LAND SIGNED UP
FOR IRRIGATION
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 21.
Definite orders huvo been received
from Washington by Major-General
Frederick Funston, commanding the
border troops, to repel any firing
into American lerutory in fighting
threatened between Carranr.ii ami
Villa forces at Nogalcs and Nuco.
WASHINGTON, July 2l.-Oencral
Fiinstoii'ri orders to repel any firing
into American territory in lighting
along (bo Mexican border nro tho
most drastic tho war department Ins
yet given for protection of Ameri
cans in Naeo and Nogalcs or any
other placo whero they nro endung
ei ed by battles between the Mexican
factious just over tho line.
It is understood that both Car
ranzu and Villa huvo been notified
that the United States would uso
force to prevent harm to Americans
through any violation of the so-called
neutrality agreement by which Drig.
adior-Geiicral Scot, chief of staff of
tho army, got tho factious to agree
not to battle where their firu would
fall over tho border.
General Fupston's orders don't
mean that ho must send United States
troops over the border into Mexico.
Officials havo previously cilidinMzed
that repelling the Mexican fire by
forco is in no sense an invasion of
Mexico.
It would really bo considered us a
lawful act to repel invasion from
Mexico. If forced to net General
Funston probably would plaeo his
artillery in position to drive tho Mex
ican factions so far from tho border
that American tcrritoy would not be
threatened by their battle.
PRESDENT
PLAN
SAN
E
PROGRAM
OF
EVANS WINN
EROFs
NATIONAL DEFENSE
GOLFCHAMPIONSHIP
HEIILLV, July 21. Tho German
army under command of General von
Huelow has defeated tho Russians In
a battlo near Sliavll, according to the
official statement Issued today by
the war office.
Tho Germans fighting toward War
saw, also have stormod tho fortresses
of Ilozan and Pultuik and bare ore
ed a crossing' of the Narow river, tho
statement adds.
CLEVELAND, O, July 2I.Chas.
Evans of Chicago rctulnod tho west
ern amateur golf championship by
defeating J. D. Standlsh Jr. of De
troit 7 up and G to go In tho final
championship round at tho Mayflcld
Country club this afternoon,
Chlok Evans finished tho morning
round 2 up on J. D. Standlsh, Jr. De
troit western golf champion. Evans
was 1 up at tho 17th holo but holed
out on a 100 foot reeovory shot on
the ISth.
Blandish proved a big surprise
through the earlier holes of tho morn
ing. Ho payed accurately und was
leading Evans by ono holo ut tho turn.
He Has playing eory shot for all 11,
was worth when "Chlok" appeared
to be In a dozo.
WASHINGTON, July 21. Formal
announcement wns made at tho white
hoiiso today that President Wilson
on his return to Washington will con
fer wjth Secretaries Garrison nnd
Daniels on n program for national de
fense. Tho president has written to
tho heads of tho war and navy, de
partments for reports on thu subject,
pointing out tho necessity lor work
ing nut plans for increasing tho ef
ficiency of the military arms of the
government.
Tho white hoiiso statement fol
lows :
"Tho president has been consider
ing every phuso of tho matter of mi
tionel defense and intends immed
iately on his return to Washington
to confer with tho secretary of war
and (ho sccretaiy of tho navy, his
purpose boiug to procure informa
tion on which ho can formulate a
sane, reasonable and practical pro
gram of national dofousu,"
Although nothing was stated offi
cially concerning tho purposes of tin
government, it was hinted officially
that with tho despatch of tho cm
phatin note to Germany, tho presi
dent bad doaidod to hasten tho re
ports nnd recommendations being
prepnrod by tho war and navy depart
mniits for (he regular sobaiou of con
gress, so that all nocomarv'lnfoniia
tinu might bo available if omorgwuoy
aroko.
As yet there nro no intimations
that tho provident has fixed any de
finite timo for nubmilting the pra
grsni of national defense, to euiigro
but hw Mirpowt in said to be to map
out uflmpruhonaivu plans so that no
timo will be lost should ho deoido to
call a. special hcksiqu,
WASHINGTON, July 21. Follow
ing Is tho official text of tho latest
American nolo to Germany regarding
suhmarlno warfare, which was deliv
ered to tho foreign offlcfo nt IJorlln
today by Ambassador Gerard:
Tho sccrotary of stato to AmbaBan
dor Gerard:
Department of Stato.
Washington, July 21, 191C.
You nro Instructed to dollvor tox
tually tho following nolo the inlnlstor
or foreign affairs:
"Tho noto of tho Imperial Gorman
government dated tho 8th of July,
101C, has received tho careful con
sideration of tho government of tho
United Btntos, nnd It regrets to bo
obliged to say that It found It vory
unsatisfactory; becauso It falls to
moot tho roar dlfrcicnccs between
tho two governments, nnd IndlcntoH
no wny In which tho nccopted princi
ples of law nnd humanity may bo ap
plied In tho grave matter In contro
versy, but proposes, on tho contrary,
nrrangomontB for a partial suspen
sion of thoso principles which vir
tually sot them asMo. .... - -
"Tho government of tho United
States notes with satisfaction that tho
Imporlal Gorman government recog
nized without reservation tho validity
or tho principles Insisted In tho sov
oral communications which this gov
ernment has addressed to tho Imper
ial Oerinan government with regard
to Its' announcement of n war tono
and tho used or submarines against
merchantmen on tho high seas tho
principle that tho high seas arc freo,
that tho- charactor nnd cargo of a
merchantman must first bo nscortaln-
od boforo sho can lawfully bo seized
or destroyed, and that tho Hvos of
non-combatants may In no caso bo
put In Joopardy unless tho vossol ro
slsts or nooks to cscnpo after being
summoned to submit to examinations,
for a bolllgerent act of retaliation Is
per so an act beyond tho law, nnd tho
defense of nn uct as retaliatory Is an
admission that It Is Jllcgul.
Keenly Dlsappoliidsl
Tho government of tho United
States Is, howover, keenly disappoint
ed to find that tho Imporlal Gorman
government regards Itsolt as In largo
degreo oxompt from tho obligation to
obsorvo thoso principles, even whoro
noutrpl vessels nro concerned, by
what It bollovos tho policy and prac
tice of tho government of Great Drl
tnln to bo In tho present war with ro
gard to neutral commorco. Tho Im
porlal Gorman government will read
ily understand that ho government of
tho Unltod 8tatoH cannot discuss tho
policy of tho government of Gront
Drltala with regard to neutral trado
oxcept with that govorument Itself,
and that It must regard tho conduct
of ohor bolllgerent governments as
Irrelevant to any discussion with tho
Imperial Gormun government of what
Two-Fifths Farm Land and Three
Fifths Orchard Land-No Effort
Yet Made to Secure Signers
Water Users League to Keep Office
Open Another Week.
To tho Public: s
1 have signed up my wholo
placo (1C0 acres) for Irrigation.
I bollovo that wntor, properly 4
usod, will bo bcnoflcjal to both
i' tho orchnrdlsts nnd tho farmers
of this valloy. $
DILLON HILL.
Although no canvas has been mado
for Irrigation, G37G acres bad been
slgnod Friday ovonlng. Tho office
was opened by tho Wator Users' Lea
gue In tho Gnrnott-Coroy building
Tuesday and will bo kept; open all
next week.
Of tho land so far slgnod 20G1
ncrcs Is farm land and 3314 orchard.
Tho Inrgost land ownor to sign up Is
W. II. Goro who signs for 000 acres
of farm land.
Tho following aro tho signers.
Names Farm. Orch.
IL IL Corliss - .........JiO ,
IL W. Frnmo '.l.'..'. 1T
Houston Uros
X
(Continued on pago six)
f
ASHLAND, Julv 2l.-Freight No.
22U camo tq griof yostordtiy in the
vicinity of Mistletoe switch, formerly
known uudor thu prosaiu mime of
AvoHs Spur. A broken fJango on nn
oil (uukerH wheal is supposed to
havo euiiBod tho wrock. Tho track
was oontidorably torn up. Train was
bonded this way under charge of Con
ductor Walt FoiiIhii, with Kill Nel
son, engineer. Hill Jstor, brakeman,
was somewhat injured, ami at noon
today was taken to the S. 1'. hospital
at San Frsaoweo, Train Kl. arriv
ing huro yontenlny at 11:30 u. m.
wus held in local yards five hours on
account of accident.
31
G. A. Morso 7G
S. I. Wilson .'. 25
F. 8, Carpenter 10
It. A. Clark IS
Frlnk Orchard, B. L. Cof-
1 1 ili Xl K
Dillon Hill ... 10
Thomas 13. Scantlln 100
Edmund Durko
O. D. Frazoo 10
O. M. Thomas
HUslngor and Gage
A. W. Stono
L. Aiming 8
Mrs. S. L. Wheeler 20
D. M, Dcor ,.... r
A. P. Conger 10
Fred W. Troacy
Hlllcrcst Orchard Co. ..,
nlddlo & Hoot
T), W. Stono ..
L. IL Wilcox .,
II. C. Garnott
It. W. Huhl .
Charles J. Olson G
Geo. 11. Carpenter ..
Carpontor nroH -
ICgan Orchard Co
Ilonry Hart
Newton Orchard Co.,. ... 10
C. M. Bpock 10
ttdon Valloy Orchard ........ 40
P. H. Wynkoop 6W
Wm. Ilnln .. 0
C. C. Chandlor
J, P. Hanson
L, II. Wurner Sr. .......-.. 4 B
W. A. Folgor - 40
W. IL Hcclanan
Mrs, lion Haymond 100
Young & Hall ..
Lyman O. Orton 70
It. J, Ilrovard 35
N. S. Ilennott 9
O. II. Doan
G. O. Booyamltu
D. A. McCurdy SO
IL L. Hay 10 '
K. F. Guthrie '
(Continued, on Paga Two)
,G0
30
47
25
1G'
8
100
100
40
30
200
13
3G
7.
30
S00
GO
20
20
40
80
100
40
80
20
sa
10
33
,7.
85"
701
15
2K
19i
If
30
VILLA EXECUTES
FIVE
EL PASO, Tex., July 24. Two
Spaniards and three Mexicans wore
oxecuted Wednesday at Torreoa by
order of General Francisco Villa, ac
cording to Information regarded 3
uuthontlc received hpre today.
Tho Spaniards, Manuel PI aero a4
Juan Fernando, were.(URer arrnt
charged with counter Mt&K ' VlUft'fl
money. The Meskaw'ii had fcwa ar
restod on a cbar t speeulatlac I
foodstuff. , j
lr-