Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOLUME IL OVER THOUSAN WHEN_STEA1V EXCURS5QN BOAT EASTLAND, LOADED WITH 2,500 PLEASURE SEEKERS 'I GOES TO BOTTOM OF CHICA GO RIVER MORGUES OVERFILLED WITH BODIES ; ENTIRE CITY MOURNS CATASTROPHE Heart-Rending Scenes attend Indentification of Dead By Heart Broken Relatives-Officials Busy Investigating Cause of Tragedy and Disposing of Dead and Injured-Flags Flying at Half Mast and All Forms of Amusements Cease-Business Men Extending all Possible Aid to Sufferers. Chicago, July 2k- Eight hundred and forty tero bodies had been recovered Inte tonight, according to official count, from the twenty four hundred em ployes of the Western Electric Company and their relatives and friends who started ont aboard the excursion steamer Eastland this morning for a holiday iieros? the lake. Coroner Hoffman announced he believed the total deaths will aot be over a thousand. Others bodies are supposed to be In the steamer or In the river. The coroner announced an order to arrest every official ot the Indiana Transportation Company which leased the Eastland. Three juries, federal state and the coroner's were summoned te enquire wit/ the vessel rolled over before ?he left the dock this morning, dumping her living load Into the water and drowning hundreds within twenty five feet of water and almost within reach of the thousands of friends waiting to take ohter boats on the same ex cursion. Fealty construction of the ship, peer management, and a reshapf the crowd tn one side of the deck to watch a moving picture machine are among the varidas canses giveu. ~ There is nothing to indicate that the boat was.dver l4WXJ?e; but aa.eh? lwge?to Otk ssea^ wea*ea, children a>ek ehstrs ail other movable objects slid In an indescribable BUMS Int? ttt? water. While people crushed under each other in the water had not a chane* atea to swim. Seores of other i caught below were drowaed like ra tv. Efforts be? gan today to aid survivor d', were taken ap tonight by the Bed Cross, city and other authorities. A mob tonight stormed the armory morgue and had to be beaten bark with policemen's dubs. Survivors of employes of the Western Electric Company wIU get insurance from the company. Chicago. July 25.-Under misty skies 7.000 men. women and children went to Clark'street dock early today to fill Ave large steamers with holiday mirth on a trip to a Michigan City. The steamer Eastland was the first to be load ed. " .1. ' . . . . ? Hain began to fall an the wharf superintendents lifted the.gang planks from the Eastland, declaring that the government limit of 2,500 passenger? bad .been readied. Passengers swarmed to thc left side of the ship as other steamers drew up tho river towards the wharf. A tug was hitched to the Eastland, ropes were ordered cant off and the steamer's engines, began to hum. The Eastland had not budged, however. Instead the heavily laden ship wavered sidewise, lean ing firstr towards the river bank. The lurch was ?o startling that many pas sengers* joined the large concourse already on the river side of the decks. The ship .never heeled back. It turned slowly, but steadily towards its le<:? side. Children clutched the skirts of mothers and sisters to keep from falling. 'Water began to enter the lowor port holes and the hawsers toro out spiles to*-Which the vessel was tied. Screams- from passengers attracted the attention of follow excursionists on tho dock awaiting tho next steamer. W liar t men. and picnickers soon'lined the edge of the embankment, reaching out helplessly towards the wavering steamer. For nearly Ave minutes the ehlp turned before lt Anally dived under the ' swift current ct the river. During the listing of the vessel life boats, chairs and other, loose appurtenances ou her decks slipped down the sloping doors, crushing passengers towards the rising watara. Then there was a plunge with a sigh ot air escaping from the hold, mingled with the crying of chil dren and'the Bhrieks of women and. the ship was on the bottom of the river, casting hundreds of living creatures Into the water. Many sank, entangled with clothing and bundles and did not rise, but hun dreds came to the surface and seized floating chairs and.other objects. Per sons on ehoie threw out ropes and dragged in those who could hold these life lines. Employes of commission firms along the river threw crates, chicken coops and other floatable objects into the river, but most of these were s wept away by the current. Boats put out, tugs rushed to the scene with shrieking whistles, and many men imped Into the river to aid the drowning. With thousands of spectators ' ready to aid and the Wharf within grasp hundreds' went to their death despite every effort at 'rescue. One mother grasped her two children In' her arms as she slipped tram the steamer Into tho water. One child was tern from her but she and the other were saved. Fathers wero drowned after aiding their wives and children to safety. One man waa seen to cling to/a spike fu the side of the wharf while two women and three children stepped ?-> tis body to safety. He fell exhausted into the river aa the last one ot them reached the pier. Entire City h. Mourning. . Tho whole city was tn consternation over the catastrophe Word of tho -^ra?t spread rapidly astf to the thousands already at ar. near the wharf other thousands added themselves. Clark street bridge near the wharf was crowded until lt threatened col ase. Streets had to he eleared by the police to allow the passage of ath . ImlaAces. Business mest sent automobiles and motor trucks to hAp aid the Injured and carry aw??, the dead. One warehouse soon waa Ulled with bodies and - othee dead were taken to the second regiment armory a-mlle away. Identification waa. stow and scenes at the morgues were aa affecting sa (CONTINUED ON PAGE 8.) LAUNCH ATTRA TO PORT S AND CAL Chicago, July 21.-That a sudden rush of persons on tile deck or the Eastland to the port side to look at a speedJng launch caused catastro phe was the assertion of Jack Elbert, a gauge tender of Itho Eastland. He said ho and J. M. Erckson, chief ngineer, escaped drowning by wading through water in the hatch and crawl ing out of a port 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 shin until ehe becomes steady. "Tne first, thing I notie -tl this morning was that tho Eastland began to lean to star board. Erickson, ih0 chief engineer,, was In charge of the pumps usu! to pump the water into the chambers. sliPF WONT ACCEDE TO DEJANOS KfclUSLS rVSODlfr 1LD L>fc MANDS OF STRIKING EMPLOYES MEN WILL NOT RETURN TO WORK Sheriff Can't Control Situation Longer Unless Troops Are Sent? New York, July 34.-Bayonno oil strikers wore notified late tonight by officials of thc Standard Oil company that the company would accede to the modified . demands Of the strikers. Tlie strikers called a meeting and de cided not to return to work Monday. Bayonne, N. J., July 24.-The sit uation at the Standard Oil strike is tense end has about reached the breaking point. Sheriff's Kinkade, wearied by his alght's work admit ted that he wee at the limit of his resources unless Governor Fielder Bends troops. Tho strikers aro short of food and aro unable to buy any. This oddB to the seriousness of the situation/ Mrs. J. Sargent Campbell known as a social worker, and Amos Plnch ot, eaid, after an investigaci?n, thur, their sympathies wero wholly, with the strikers. GOWS STATEMENT DOESNTAID BECKER Said He Heard Rose, Webber and | Vallon Plotting Against I Albany, "July 24-The plea . of Joseph Murphoy, e> slnt, sing cuuv'ct, <wbo today told Governor Whitman he heard Jack Bose, Bridgie Webber and Harry i Vallee conspire in thc j Tombs prison tin je veer? ago to put tho blame od Chart a Becker; ia m u ? to get Booker oven a stay of execu- ' ton. Gen. Funston Ort Mexicans Firit - (Washington. July 24.-Orders wore I issued todty with Wilson's approval, to Major General Funston to repel with force If necessary any, firing in- i to Am.iicau territory daring the Sghoiau between Mexican factions in border towns and a note was dispatch ed to Carranxa advising bim of that tact. Shortly afterwards the Car ran?, garrison, which had occupied Naco, Sonor?, opposite the border' ACTED CROWD IDE OF SHIP /SED ACCIDENT "He said, 'boya steady her up a lit tle,' and then we pumped water Into tho oilier sido until she was up even and all right. We had just evened lier up when the launch caine down thc river and passed the Eastland and the crowd on deck rushed over to the port Bide to look ai it. "Tho weight all on dne side appar ently proved too much nnd the East land began to Hst badi t. "We worked franl kally at tlio pumps to try to brlni her back but she was too far gone.' Eye witnesses infor ned thc police that there was ? mai in a launch with a moving ptctu e samera nnd that this attracted tie attention of the passengers on. the Eastland who rushed to ono side of the hoat. II EQUAL TO IN -THE WORLD [WILSON'S CALL FOR REPORTS ON NA MUN AL DErfcNSL IS EXPLAINED ARMY WILL ALSO BE IMPROVED Possibilities of Foreign Situation Cause of President's Inquiry Into Conditions ot Defense. Washington, July 24.'-It was Indi cated tonight In official quartern that tho administration's plan for a report on national defenses, which has caus- j ed widespread comment, resulted from . consideration of tho possibilities of the International situation. ) Wilson in letters to Secretaries* daniels and Garrison referred to no particular situation, but rioted he wished to make tho axry as efficient j as any In tho world std to have the regular army adequately dev (doped and equipped and c'-r.zenry trained to arms In a way consistent with Ameri can) traditions. Ater he gets the re ports he will prepare his message to congress. ? Army and navy officers believe thc coming military budget will bc nearby double that ot last year; Washington. July 24.-Formal an nouncement was made at tho White House today that President Wilso:: on bis return here will confer with Sec retaras Daniels and -Garnison on a national defense program v The presi dent hos written the heads of tho war and navy depaiCments for reports on the Hubjoct- He pointed out tho ne cessity of working out plans for in creasing the t file, ie ney of the mili tary and arms of tho government. Nothing was stated officially con cerning tho government's purpose, but lt was hinted that with th > dis patch of tho emphatic n^te to Ge. many the president decided to hasten these reports. Reports ?re being prepared for the regular session of congress so that all available Information may be had In case of an emergency. There are no intimations yet that th? president has fixed a definite time for submit ting the programs fov nut ic ia! de fense to congress. The purpose ls said to be to mop out comprehensive plans so no timo will be lost should he decide to call ah extra session. lered To Stop ig Across Border marched out, thus relieving tho situa tion there. . Ban Atonto, Texas, july 24<-De finite orders have been .received from Washington by Major General Fnn ston, command lug the border troops to repel any firing into American terri tory in the fighting that Io threaten ed between Carranza and Villa forces St Nogales and Naco. How Germans Will Squeeze Slavs j p R u s s 5a 0/S^ . dktfistow* c?r^l x?y?ngorod ?<?\ ^^^v / ?LubHn' fa^A?**-/ _; <3J?L !?^??- ^ A V GB//. VOW'"V,' .^VT t _? * * * "__j This map shows how tho Germans, ] then follows a comae southeast down commanded on the north by General as far aa Bukowina, von Jlindcnbcrg and on tho south The boundary lines between East by Genoral Mackensen, proposo to Prussia and Russia and, Germany and squeeze the Russiann ont of Warsaw, Poland as" well as Austria and Russia and thereby gain one of tho largest are shown in the lino modo up of and. richest cities of Russia. Incl- dots and dashes in the map. Russian dentally t^ey will. If -they succeed, soldiers have boen, driven from East take most of Russian Poland. Prussia, and much of Poland has Tho German-Austrian battle line, been taken from them. However, according to reports, reaches from they hove not been driven from Aus Llbau on tho Baltic Sea, ? south trian soil, and at this time thero ls through Russia to Suwalkl, then little indication they will bo. Von southwest, to Lodz or just east of it Hindenborg will march south and -for lt lias been reported that Lodz Mackensen north to squeeze the Rus has been taken by the Germans, lt elans according to these plans. PROMINENT CITIZEN OF GREENVILLE DEAD Capt. O. P. Milk Expires at Som* mer Home-Organized Mill* Mfg. Co. TELLS GOVERNOR Of ASS??LTJN FRANK Assailant Tells Governor Hants Ile Planned Attack Un aided. Greenville, July 24.-Capt. Otis F. Mills, organizer and prenldont and treasurer of the Mills Cotton Manu facturing; company, and a c'j:izen held in the highest esteem arv' affection, d?pd suddenly last night at 9 o'clock at his summer home at Cedar Moun tain, N. C. Capt. Milu had been in poor health for several years, though his demise was sudden and unexpect ed . He was in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Tho news of his death brought sin cere sorrow to thousands. He was of genial disposition, ev>n temperei and of unchallenged Integrity and his public spirited activity ia the busi ness and ?ocal life of Greenville won for n4?i commendation from thc public at large. Malik Taken to Bellevue. New York, July 24.-The trial of Rudolf Malik, tho Austrian salesman charged with hatting mailed threat ening letters to President Wilson and the consul general of Austria-Hun gary, waa.hot continued today. The man wa? transfered from the Tombs to Bellovue for examination by ox perts in mental diseases. Bundee Beats Rivers. New York, July 24.-Johnny Dun ?oo outfough Joe Rivara In their 10 round bout In Brooklyn last night Dundee bad the better of every round excepting the tenth, which, was even. Noted Scientist Bead. Halifax, N. S.. July 24.- ?lr San ford Fleming widely known civil en gineer scientist and public man died bera. He waa 88 years old. Mllledgevill-i, July 24;-William C. Creen stabbed Leo Frank because he feared the prison would be attacked by a mob bent on lynching Frank, he told Governor Harris today. Tho gov ernor came here with a Icgislativta committee to^nveatigata prison condi tions and ge? Creen'a statement, as Frank's assailant had sall he would tbll only tho governor or B. H. Har sdy of Macon his story. Creen said ho planned the attack several days be fore and said nothing about it to any one end stole the knife from tho kitch en. After the statement he bared his back to disprove reports that he had been flogged since tho attack. Frank ls better today. Burning Ship tn Port. Durban. Africa. July 24.-(Via Lon don.)-Tho Peninsular, and Oriental lino steamship Bonalla, on which fire broke out on her way through the In dian ocean from London for Australia with 800 emigrants on board, arriv ed here today with ?moke still issuing from her bold. Connan Munitions Steamar Last. Copenhagen, Joly 24.-A German munitions steamer was blown up? in tbs North Sea pg Mano Island. Only Mts or tba wreckage have been i covered. Tesa?. Wanta Mere ledges. Austin, Texas, July 24.-T-T<jx,as ls deciding today the question of adopt ing SJ constitutional amendment to Increase the state supt*me court membership from ihre? tu five mern hers. AUSTRO-GERMAN TROOPS ARE CLOSING IN FROM NORTH AND SOUTH -i . -. QUIET IN WEST SEA TO VOSGES Italians Continue Attacks on G?ritz-Reported to Have. Taken Forts. London, July 24.-German aVfoy headquarters tonight claim farther: breadles In the defense ot Warsaw. , Teutonic troops are closing tn' from . the north and south. Voa Callwitt's army has stormed the Russian for* tresses of Hozean and Pultuck. The Germans crossed the narrow river be tween these places. Further to the north they are also advancing.. To the southeast of Warsaw they are making. headway. Apparently Uie Russians are holding their own south o?! Lublin. Only minor operations are report* ? ed* in the w ? st front the sea to Vosges. The Malleus ere continuing their assaults on Gorits. University re ports say they have taken Gorits. Heavy fighting is known to be in pro gress there. London, July 24.-Private mes sages from Riga report thsit the Ger mans have landed their, entire army corps on the coast near Li bau, ? Petrograd dispatch to Uis Telegraph. ' The Germans seemed'-Orat-ainxing to ward Riga, bat a sudden- awtetg- to ward the south, by this flank confirms tho belief that ?lair real tfbjeetfcfe tv to cut the communication ot th* Rus sian Warsaw army, which atp pro tected by .cavalry and other Hst troops. May Hope to Save Warsaw. London, July 24.-The battle about Warsaw, 4s still raging without any indJcaitions of the ultimate outcome. Petrograd concedes ?hat tfc?i-e is fight ing six miles southwest of Invango rod, where the Germans smashed, the wiro entanglements, hot were hurled back with heavy losses. Doth Vienna and Berlin, without giving details, claim ?the Austro-Ger maa forces are now fighting virtually along Die Lublln-Chelm railroad. Pe trograd admits the German attack on a village on this railroad? but claims lt was repulsed. It is conceded! hy some that this ground was again lost. The impression ls growing be*:vs that the Russians are now fighting M? hope of saving Warsaw and defeating the Sermons. That the Qe-mans feel their forces are not entirely adequate is in dicated by news from Bigs, which says th? German army corps recently landed at Lihou had hean, sent to strengthen tho attack on Warsaw. The western front ls eotnp?ratlvely lulet. Bastian Vessel Stink. London, July 24.-The Russians ihip Fm bon la has beep torpedoed' and anded on the Orkney islands. Tho lunk by a submarine. The crew rawler Star of Peace was also tor pedoed and sunk off Orkneys. The crew waa landed at Stromness. m mm Ix lEKJHsCK Spectacular Trading and New1 High Records Feature of Week. New York, July ?4.-Spectacular roding In war shares marked the ac ive week In the stock exchange, with lew hfigh records hi these Issues. Tba ?tent of those dealing? completely Iwarfed the operation* of other parts ?f the Hst. Profit taking reduced the quoted .slues ot most of these specialties. mt the speculative maniac promises o be renewed unless held in bounds ?y powerful interests. Railways suffered, more or lesa severely. ?t. Paul and Canadian Pocilio made the lowest prices tn nany years. The Southern and Southern-Western lines fall to quota Ions never before recorded, Alto gether the week savored strongly of mreasonlng speculation*. The inter tattoneJ situations assumed a new hase by the forwarding ot the gfT? rnments late note to Germany.