Show THE EASTLAND HORROR T experiences with P PREVIOUS the steamer Eastland would seem to Indicate that the terrible accident I of ot Saturday might havo o been avert avert- ed Competent inspection before tho the vessel was commissioned for service should have havo detected th the fatal error In construction n If Ir error there was as RS tho the peculiar circumstances surrounding surrounding sur sur- rounding tho the catastrophe Indicate The The Eastland nearly met with a similar accident years ago when hon in commission between Saginaw Sag and I South Haven Mich The Tho boat crowded crowd crowd- I ed cd with passengers listed suddenly in th the South Haven harbor when the tho water ballast ballast was being being- tak taken I aboard Officers of ot tho ship drove tho the passengers to the other othor side of ot the vessel ess 1 and thus probably averted a 3 disaster similar to that which occurred occurred oc oc- oc Saturday The remodeling of ol the steamer Immediately afterwards sugg suggests her owners were aware of her faulty construction and arid sought to remedy it But that they failed tailed Saturdays Saturday's Saturdays Saturday's Sat Sat- 8 terrible happening demon mon strates Public opinion will heartily Indorse orse the tho action of or the Department o of Commerce In ordering an immediate and thorough Investigation by the steamboat inspection service It is isan isan an tm American habit to be he criminally careless of or possibilities before an accident accident ac ac- ac- ac and amI sternly rigorous and rigid afterwards While the Eastland hors hor is no exception to the rule It Is possible po an inquiry may establish wherein lay the fault that caused then tho the n accident and thus prevent similar I occurrences In the future I With commendable and characteristic characteristic character character- promptness g the Chicago police authorities arrested the thc officers of the boat upon suspicion of or criminal negligence negligence neg neg- It Il Is unlikely however that the they were at nt fault The ordinary oi fresh freh water captain I h is sufficiently iu- iu Int in interested t in his hit own safety at least to take lake proper precautions Oto to Insure it H trouble was more likely something something some some- thing with which the officers of or th the boat had hadN S nothing to do and of or which they they- wet were 6 probably even e ignorant It c 8 to the designer r and tho the owners of or orthe the Eastland that the government must look for lr an explanation and arid upon whom the punishment pun must b bs inflicted if fe punishment Is deserved f |