Thousands gathered along the chicago river for western electrics fifth annual employee picnic. Happy picnicgoers headed for an employee outing across lake michigan suddenly found themselves in a struggle for their lives. Patricia sutton describes the tragic launching of the ss eastland in a dramatic, riveting narrative filled with the vivid firsthand accounts of those onboard that brings readers along on a harrowing day trip. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite. The history of the deadliest shipwreck on the great lakes kindle edition by charles river editors. Eastland disaster, capsizing of the passenger liner ss eastland on the chicago river in chicago on july 24, 1915. Jul 01, 2018 a badly designed ship, a careless captain, and decks jammed with 2,500 passengers are a recipe for disaster. Apr 17, 2015 books arts news history the eastland disaster. Chicagos deadliest day is the compelling and tragic story of how hundreds of immigrant factory workers and their families, setting out for leisurely summer cruise, died aboard a heavily loaded steamship that tipped over while. On this day in 1915, the steamer eastland overturns in the chicago river, drowning between 800 and 850 of its passengers who were heading to a picnic. Includes pictures includes accounts of the tragedy by survivors, witnesses and rescuers includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading and then movement caught my eye. On july 24, 1915, the ship rolled over onto her side while tied to a dock in the chicago river. New film remembers the ss eastland and the day 844 died in. Second saturday series the edmund fitzgerald investigations w ric mixter jan 2018 duration.
This particular saturday was going to be anything but a routine summer day. Haunted history the ss eastland disaster and the spirits. Websites the fall of the eastland at alan bellows website the eastland disaster historical society the eastland memorial society the ss eastland wikipedia page oprahs connection to the ss eastland books lost passenger steamships of lake michigan, ted st. The disaster took more passenger lives than the titanic and stands today as the greatest loss of life on the great lakes. The ss eastland, while still tied to the wharf, rolled into the chicago. The events drew a capacity crowd to the chicago authors room on the 7 th floor of hwlc ursula bielski, local author and owner of chicago hauntings, spoke to a crowd of loyal followers and. The event, which claimed at least 844 lives, ranks as one of the worst maritime disasters in american history. This madness went down on july 24th 1915 but there are plenty of ghostly remnants still vividly present today. This volume is pretty heavy on the courtroom trial aspect, and i would have liked more of the aftermath outside the courtroom, but i can learn about that in different books. The eastland disaster killed more passengers than the titanic and. On july 24, 1915, more than 800 people died in chicagos deadliest disaster when the ss eastland rolled onto its side in the chicago river, only 20 feet from shore. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Patricia sutton describes the tragic launching of the ss eastland in a dramatic, riveting narrative. Shortly after the mutiny captain pereue was replaced.
Chicago has been known for disasters, loss of life and violence in the past. The ss eastland was a passenger ship based in chicago and used for tours. For the ss eastland, this meant the weight of five additional lifeboats, 37 life rafts at. Shortly after the disaster, chicago officials set up a makeshift morgue at the 2nd regiment armory. More people died on the eastland than did on the titantic, says patricia sutton, author of capsized.
Eastland was gone, but her story has continued to linger for years. Not just an accident but one of the great injustices of the 20th century. More than 7,000 people living in the chicago area and michigan city, indiana, eagerly anticipated saturday morning, july 24, 1915. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster by.
Apr, 2014 this is footage taken of the rescue effort of the ss eastland disaster which happened on 24th july 1915 on the chicago river. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the ss eastland disaster. The eastland disaster killed more passengers than the. Many more photographs of the events surrounding the ship, the sinking and the aftermath. The eastland disaster, illinois images of america series by ted. Eastland, known as the speed queen of the great lakes, was part of a fleet of five excursion boats assigned to take western electric employees. The history of the deadliest shipwreck on the great lakes. Aug 17, 2005 author ted wachholz is the executive director of the eastland disaster historical society. Jan 23, 20 second saturday series the edmund fitzgerald investigations w ric mixter jan 2018 duration.
Though the ss eastland had some design flaws and had experienced close calls in the past, the 1915 disaster was largely caused by the seamens act. However, charles river editors need to hire a more effective editor as there were spelling mistakes throughout the small book. Ultimately, several individuals were charged with crimes in connection with the eastland disaster, but none would be found guilty. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster kindle. Jul 17, 2019 stranded passengers wait on the hull of the ss eastland on july 24, 1915, as the tugboat kenosha serves as a floating bridge to let survivors reach safety after the eastland steamship rolled over. Eastland disaster author events draw capacity crowds. Eastland tipped over in the chicago river only three years after the titanic sank in the north atlantic. In a tautly written, vividly detailed, suspenseful narrative, sutton chronicles the event that stands today as the greatest loss of life on the great lakes. Nearly 850 people lost their lives, including 22 entire families.
On july 24, 1915, the ss eastland, filled to capacity with 2,500 passengers and crew, capsized in the chicago river while still moored to the pier. Chicagos worst disaster to date was the capsizing of the ss eastland on july 24, 1915. Passengers wait for help after the eastland capsized in the chicago. The ss eastland was still tied to the pier about to take 2,500 passengers and 70 crew members on an excursion across the southern edge of lake michigan to michigan city, and the dancing in the. The fifth annual midsummer excursion and picnic had been. Chicagos deadliest day, a new documentary airing july 25 at 8 p. Jul 24, 2014 it seems the disaster site isnt the only place haunted by eastland victims. Youngadult book about lake michigan 1915 ss eastland. The eastland disaster by ted wachholz in association with. Almost a century on, footage has surfaced of a freak boating disaster that killed 844 people traveling to a company picnic in chicago. The ss eastland was still tied to the pier about to take 2,500 passengers and 70 crew members on an excursion across the southern edge of lake michigan to. The table below contains key information about the passengers who were aboard the s. Eastland disaster historical society, arlington heights, il. The eastland disaster by ted wachholz in association with the.
Ashes under water is a worthwhile contribution to the record of what happened with the ss eastland. The history of the deadliest shipwreck on the great lakes chronicles the story of the disaster and its aftermath. Legacy of the titanic is much more technically oriented including the naval architecture concepts concerning the ship itself. On the morning of july 24, 1915, the 2,500 passengers aboard the excursion ship ss eastland were looking forward to a pleasant outing at a lake michigan destination but instead found disaster. A total of 844 passengers and crew were killed in what was the largest loss of life from a. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster written by patricia sutton is a historical fiction book.
Firstknown footage found of 1915 chicago ss eastland tragedy. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster patricia sutton on. A total of 844 passengers and crew were killed in what was the largest loss of life from a single shipwreck on the great lakes. The eastland disaster killed more passengers than the titanic. The forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster details the events leading up to the fateful day of the disaster and provides a minutebyminute account of the ships capsizing.
The air was filled with anticipation and excitement. Chicagos deadliest day is the compelling and tragic story of how hundreds of immigrant factory workers and their families, setting out for leisurely summer cruise, died aboard a heavily loaded steamship that tipped over while still tied to the dock downtown on the chicago river. The business history and science division at harold washington library center hosted two events in july to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of the eastland disaster. As the years passed, there was no longer a need for a national guard armory to be located so close to downtown chicago. You may search by name, portion of a name, or other keyword.
The ensuing struggle for survival, and the resulting death, heroism, cowardice, greed, and scandal gripped the city of chicago. This is footage taken of the rescue effort of the ss eastland disaster which happened on 24th july 1915 on the chicago river. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the eastland like never before, in no time at all. Author ted wachholz is the executive director of the eastland disaster historical society. Plans had been carefully made for it to be the social and entertainment event of the year, and for some, a. The history of the deadliest shipwreck on the great lakes charles river editors on. There are two main characters and they are borghild bobbie anastad and, helen repa a nurse. I thought this was an informative book and i learned about the ss eastland disaster in a relatively short period of time. Eastland disaster historical society home facebook. The eastland disaster historical society edhs was founded to keep alive the memory of the disaster, victims, survivors, heroes, and anyone affected by the tragedy. Firstknown footage found of 1915 chicago ss eastland. On the morning of july 24, 1915 the ss eastland capsized.
Stranded passengers wait on the hull of the ss eastland on july 24, 1915, as the tugboat kenosha serves as a floating bridge to let survivors reach safety after the eastland steamship rolled over. Ss eastland disaster divers 1915 chicago il illinois pc. This new federal rule, enacted after the titanic disaster, mandated that every passenger vessel must be retrofitted with a complete set of lifeboats. The ss eastland was docked and ready to take off on its next journey at 7. You may also sort individual columns by clicking on the column headers. The eastland disaster is primarily a collection of relevant photographs which augment the other two books. On the morning of the eastland disaster, many of the bodies of the victims were taken to the second regiment national guard armory.
Plans had been carefully made for it to be the social and entertainment event of the year, and for some, a lifetime. Early on the morning of saturday, july 24, 1915, a light rain fell. According to a former harpo security guard, a woman in gray. The ss eastland, while still tied to the wharf, rolled into the chicago river with more than 2,500 passengers on board. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster. A new documentary revisits the eastland disaster chicago. The ss eastland disaster and the pure michigan connection. Oct 27, 2014 the eastland disaster killed more passengers than the titanic and the lusitania. The armory is now the home of harpo studios, site of the oprah winfrey show and several other productions. Jan 24, 2016 eastland was gone, but her story has continued to linger for years. The forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster hardcover july 1, 2018.
Chicagos working poor were expecting a day in luxury. After the disaster, eastland was salvaged and sold to the united states navy. The eastland disaster paperback chicago public library. The ss eastland disaster killed more passengers than the titanic and the lucetania combined. It seems the disaster site isnt the only place haunted by eastland victims. Through his work with the society and in association with the chicago historical society, wachholz combines captivating images with compelling narrative taken from firsthand accounts from families of survivors, victims, and others directly affected by the eastland disaster. It was in just 20 feet of water, but that was deep enough to drown 844 people who were trapped or trampled below decks. The eastland disaster took more passenger lives than the titanic and stands today as the greatest loss of life on the great lakes.
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