Online shopping from a great selection at books store. They came to the chicago river on a rainy summer morning to get on a boat named the ss eastland and sail across the. 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 air was filled with anticipation and excitement. Does not look like theyve started a category for the ss eastland. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster. More people died in the 1915 ss eastland boatsinking disaster on lake michigan than on the titanic, and most were women and children. 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.
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. You may also sort individual columns by clicking on the column headers. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster is the fifth book written on the eastland disaster and is the first one written for a younger audiencegrade school and up. Where would i find a list of passengers of the ss eastland. Its a historical event that deserves more attention. Published on jul 16, 2015 over 800 people died when the s. 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. The eastland disaster, illinois images of america series by ted. The ss eastland, while still tied to the wharf, rolled into the chicago river with more than 2,500 passengers on board.
The forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster is a book that takes place in the busy city of chicago right on the river. 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. The sinking of the eastland took more lives than the chicago fire and happened in the same city. Meet the author as the horrific event marks its 103rd anniversary. Eastland disaster historical society, arlington heights, il. Second saturday series the edmund fitzgerald investigations w ric mixter jan 2018 duration. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the eastland like never before, in no time at all. You may search by name, portion of a name, or other keyword. Happy picnicgoers headed for an employee outing across lake michigan suddenly found themselves in a struggle for their lives. Sandburg also wrote a poem, the eastland, that contrasts the disaster with the mistreatment and poor health of the lower classes at the time. 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 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. The eastland disaster early on the morning of july 24, 1915, the lake steamer eastland cast off from its morning along the chicago river. The forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster written by patricia sutton is a historical fiction book.
Ultimately, several individuals were charged with crimes in connection with the eastland disaster, but none would be found guilty. 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. Almost a century on, footage has surfaced of a freak boating disaster that killed 844 people traveling to a company picnic in chicago. Published on 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. However, charles river editors need to hire a more effective editor as there were spelling mistakes throughout the small book. The forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster book. The ensuing struggle for survival, and the resulting death, heroism, cowardice, greed, and scandal gripped the city of chicago.
Through meticulous research and vivid prose, sutton brings to life the littleknown story of the eastland ship disaster. Youngadult book about lake michigan 1915 ss eastland. Perhaps its because the ss eastland capsized in just 20 feet of water while the ship was still docked on the chicago river. The history of the deadliest shipwreck on the great lakes charles river editors on. Hilton argued in a 1995 book that the international reaction to the sinking of the titanic three years earlier ultimately doomed. Many more photographs of the events surrounding the ship, the sinking and the aftermath.
The disaster took more passenger lives than thetitanic and stands today as the greatest loss of life on the great lakes. 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. On july 24, 1915, 844 people died in the worst maritime disaster in chicago history, when the ss eastland capsized in the chicago river. The eastland capsized in the chicago river on july 24, 1915 killing 844 people. His sister, marie,who is now 98,recalls that he traveled home from the scene by streetcar and came into the house with his clothes soaking wet. The forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster is a book that takes place in the busy city of chicago right. The ss eastland, while still tied to the wharf, rolled into the chicago. Legacy of the titanic is much more technically oriented including the naval architecture concepts concerning the ship itself. The book sometimes left me craving more detail about a. The event happened one day before my fathers 19th birthday.
Instead, the days scheduled event turned into a tragedy unlike any other. Americas forgotten tragedy 2005 reads more like a novel but is wellresearched and accurate, perhaps because bonanzinga had been primarily a fiction writer. Now middle grade readers can get the minute by minute account through patricia suttons new book, capsized. Happy picnicgoers headed for an employee outing across lake. New film remembers the ss eastland and the day 844 died in. I thought this was an informative book and i learned about the ss eastland disaster in a relatively short period of time. It captures what occurred before, during and after the disaster. Americas forgotten tragedy or erik larsons book to movie, the devil in the white city. More people died on the eastland than did on the titantic, says patricia sutton, author of capsized. 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. My fatherharry bolt was a survivor of the eastland disaster. I see a dozen eastlands every morning on my way to workand a dozen more going home at night. 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.
Patrick oneill riley explore what caused the ss eastlands capsizing, resulting in one of americas worst maritime catastrophes an overview of the eastland. The disaster took more passenger lives than the titanic and. After first listing the quick, murderous horrors of the disaster, then surveying the slow, murderous horrors of extreme poverty, sandburg concludes by comparing the two. Nearly 850 people lost their lives, including 22 entire families. Passengers wait for help after the eastland capsized in the chicago. Early on the morning of saturday, july 24, 1915, a light rain fell. The jay bonansinga book the sinking of the eastland. Eastland capsized in the chicago river on july 24, 1915. Eastland disaster historical society home facebook. Many of the photos are graphic, but they give one the sense of the magnitude of the loss and the feeling of hopelessness of those onboard, as well, as those along the dock. Capsized the forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster kindle. Eastland disaster the american passenger liner ss eastland capsized on july 24, 1915.
The forgotten story of the ss eastland disaster, answer questions, and sign copies at barbaras bookstore. Its the story of a tragedy that i had never heard of before. The history of the deadliest shipwreck on the great lakes chronicles the story of the disaster and its aftermath. The table below contains key information about the passengers who were aboard the s. The eastland disaster historical society edhs was founded to keep alive the memory of the disaster, victims, survivors, heroes. 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.
A new book for young adults chronicles the event and the. Firstknown footage found of 1915 chicago ss eastland. Ashes under water is a stunning piece of narrative nonfiction that equals the likes of jay bonansingas bestseller, the sinking of the eastland. The policeman who was witnessing this said the boat just turned over, like an egg in the water and people were thrown into the river. 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 tragedy of the eastland in downtown chicago cost more lives than the sinking of the titanic, yet is so less known. The eastland disaster killed more passengers than the titanic and the lusitania.
594 111 1434 582 477 6 205 1219 1026 481 1431 801 44 398 872 991 731 968 1350 988 508 1261 942 1165 928 1216 1489 28 102 1255 1381 64 767 506 475 675