The eastland ship disaster book

The event, which claimed at least 844 lives, ranks as one of the worst maritime disasters in american history. Plans had been carefully made for it to be the social and entertainment event of the year, and for some, a lifetime. Bettmanncorbis an estimated 500,000 people arrived to view the disaster scene, crowding onto bridges and the rivers edge. Employees of western electric and their families began boarding the first ship, the s. Jan 01, 2014 this book takes the reader on two parallel journeys, one with erickson, the chief engineer of the doomed vessel and the other with the eastland itself, from the moment of its design all the way through the sinking, the trial and with a brief coda about its postdisaster career.

Now, 100 years later, recently unearthed photos from the chicago. When the eastland began to list, a piano slid across the floor and pinned young elizabeth against the wall. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster. Passengers wait for help after the eastland capsized in the chicago. Apr 17, 2015 books arts news history the eastland disaster. Patricia sutton on july 24, 1915, the ss eastland, filled to capacity with 2,500 aboard, capsized in the chicago river while still moored to the pier. The ss eastland was a passenger ship based in chicago and used for tours. The sinking of the eastland americas forgotten tragedy book. Augusta had the opportunity to escape and get off the ship, but she refused to leave her little granddaughter. When the gangplank closed, most of the passengers settled themselves on the port side of the upper deck so they could view the river. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster by. The eastland disaster killed more passengers than the. The sinking of the eastland by jay bonansinga is aptly subtitled americas forgotten tragedy.

Ashes under water is a stunning piece of narrative nonfiction that equals the likes of jay bonansingas bestseller, the sinking of the eastland. It was a terrible day in the history of western electric and chicago. Jun 24, 2016 but with the death of this quiet woman the last known survivor of the eastland ship disaster in 1915 in chicago, which killed more passengers than the wreck of the titanic and more people than. The sinking of the eastland took more lives than the chicago fire and happened in the same city. Jul 28, 2019 hundreds drown in eastland disaster 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. 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.

Legacy of the titanic is much more technically oriented including the naval architecture concepts concerning the ship itself. Hiltons book, eastland, legacy of the titanic became my source for hard data about the ship and the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. 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. Dressed in their finest, the passengers swarmed onto the boat. The eastland capsized in the chicago river on july 24, 1915 killing 844 people. Chicago historical society eastland disaster historical society. Most everyone has heard of the titanic disaster, but few people have heard of this ship disaster that took the lives of 840 people. Perhaps its because the ss eastland capsized in just 20 feet of water while the ship was still docked on the chicago river. On july 24, 1915, the ship rolled over onto her side while tied to a dock in the chicago river. The eastland disaster took more passenger lives than the titanic and stands today as. One of the greatest inland waterways disasters in the history of the united states took place in the chicago river, chicago, ill. The eastland disaster was incorporated into the 1999 series premiere of the disney channel original series so weird. More than 7,000 people living in the chicago area and michigan city, indiana, eagerly anticipated saturday morning, july 24, 1915. June 10, 2012 a large crowd of horrified spectators watched as the ss eastland only a few feet from the shore of the chicago river downtown turned on its side.

Marion eichholz, last known survivor of eastland disaster. I promptly ordered that one as well and while searching for additional information i learned of a third book the eastland disaster images of america. This new federal rule, enacted after the titanic disaster, mandated that every passenger vessel must be retrofitted with a complete set of lifeboats. Sadly, grandmother augusta and granddaughter elizabeth both perished in the eastland disaster that tragic morning. Eastland disaster, capsizing of the passenger liner ss eastland on the chicago river in chicago on july 24, 1915. The most deadly shipwreck in great lakes historya calamity that. In 1915, as it sat in port on the chicago river, the steamship eastland turned on its side, killing 844 people. This is footage taken of the rescue effort of the ss eastland disaster which happened on 24th july 1915 on the chicago river. Tragedy struck as the ship rolled over into the river at the wharfs edge. Disaster on the eastland great lakes ships, chicago city.

Eastland disaster historical society, arlington heights, il. Eastland disaster marks 100year anniversary abc7 chicago. The eastland, docked at the clark street bridge, never left the chicago river. The author never claims to be a technical authority and instead makes reference several times to another book eastland. Sinking of the eastland by jay bonansinga goodreads. This particular saturday was going to be anything but a routine summer day. What you will find is a massive source of information about the ship s construction, a detached account of the disaster, and an account of the legal proceedings and investigations following the disaster. More people died on the eastland than did on the titantic, says patricia sutton, author of capsized. Mccarthy spent a dozen years researching the eastland and concludes in his book that the ship s owners knew they needed to alter the eastlands ballast system, but took a pass. The tugboat kenosha served as a floating bridge to let survivors reach safety after the eastland steamship disaster. Chicagos ss eastland disaster of 1915 killed 844 people and likely wouldnt have happened if not for the sinking of the titanic three years earlier, yet its largely been forgotten today. As the ship was being cast loose from its moorings on the south bank of the. Eastland capsized in the chicago river on july 24, 1915.

Bettmanncorbis an estimated 500,000 people arrived to view the disaster scene, crowding onto. New footage sheds light on eastland disaster cbs news. Mccarthy spent a dozen years researching the eastland and concludes in his book that the ships owners knew they needed to alter the eastlands ballast system, but took a pass. 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. Based on firsthand accounts of passengers, ship workers and bystanders, readers can experience the people and events that led to the sinking of the fastest steamship on the great lakes and its tragic aftermath. Americas forgotten tragedy or erik larsons book to movie, the devil in the white city.

Hundreds drown in eastland disaster 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. But with the death of this quiet woman the last known survivor of the eastland ship disaster in 1915 in chicago, which killed more passengers than the wreck of. Many more photographs of the events surrounding the ship, the sinking and the aftermath. Its the story of a tragedy that i had never heard of before. The eastland disaster killed more passengers than the titanic. Its a historical event that deserves more attention.

The eastland disaster, july 23, 1915, chicago river, chicago. Not just an accident but one of the great injustices of the 20th century. Jul 01, 2018 the eastland disaster took more passenger lives than the titanic and stands today as the greatest loss of life on the great lakes. The book sometimes left me craving more detail about a certain character or event. More than 2,500 passengers and crew members were on board that day and 844 people lost their lives, including 22 entire families. The photo shows the illfated ship after it had turned turtle. The eastland disasterrescuers stand on top of the ss eastland as the steamship lies on its side in the chicago river after slowly rolling over and drowning 844 people july a collection of glass plate negatives found in the chicago tribune archives shows the rescue and anguish of victims in the 1915 eastland ship disaster. Jay bonansingas wonderful book, the sinking of the eastland was a logical starting point for organizing and sketching the illustrations. Despite a loss of life more than twice that of the great chicago fire, this tragedy is not well known today. Jul 01, 2018 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. Gazing at the huge, sturdy looking, freshly painted vessel, most took it on faith that. The eastland disaster killed more passengers than the titanic and. Oct 27, 2014 victims of the eastland ship disaster in chicago.

The firstknown footage of the eastland disaster was found by jeff nichols. In the episode, teenaged paranormal enthusiast fiona phillips actress cara delizia encounters the ghost of a young boy who drowned during the capsizing while exploring a nightclub near the chicago river, and attempts to learn why he has contacted her. The eastland ship being righted after the eastland disaster on the chicago river, 1915. At once riveting and poignant, the sinking of the eastland.

The eastland disaster is primarily a collection of relevant photographs which augment the other two books. The eastland disaster paperback chicago public library. A new musical this curious, frequently moving show focuses on the people who were killed in the famed 1915 ship 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 amount of researched facts in this book is unmatched and this amount of information about the eastland cannot be found in any other source. At once riveting and poignant, the sinking of the eastland brings to life a bygone era that yielded one of the most significant american disasters of the last century. 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.