Eastland Disaster Rackets Probed After Ship Capsize
Federal and county grand juries were ordered as a coroner’s jury sat, and all Eastland crew were arrested. W C Steele, secretary of the Eastland’s owner, was jailed. More than 790 bodies were recovered from the hull and river as divers pried open the wreck. Investigators weighed faulty design ballast and handling as causes. Thousands attended a holiday boat parade along Clark Street to Michigan City.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eastland
W.C. Steele
St Joseph-Chicago Steamship Company
Lake Erie
Toy Heavy
Indiana Transportation Company
BER
Fastland
Clark Street
Michigan City
A. S
Landis
Hoyne
Hoffman
Isaetland
Hastland
Eastland Disaster of River Steamer Capsizing
On the Chicago river the Eastland listing and capsizing led to hundreds dead or missing. Divers, firefighters, and volunteers battled water, debris and alarms as the ship sank. Rescuers found bodies, a live baby, and heroes amid chaos while officials launched grand jury inquiries and river cleanups.
Eastland Called Crank of the Lakes in 1903 Nautical Review
Chicago reports naval architect W J Wood testified that the Eastland’s hull design and top heavy structure caused its 1903 faults. He noted prior orders to remove the top deck and fill water ballast, saying passengers crowding one side contributed to the disaster and that the hull lacked proper strength despite past repairs and fixes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
W. J. Wood
Wood
Ira Mansfeld
Eastland
Poet Huron Shipbuilding Company
85 BODIES 10 THE ROW IN CHICAGO ARMORY
The Second regiment armory in Chicago displayed long rows of blanketed bodies as crowds entered seeking relatives. Physicians and undertakers worked at improvised tables to embalm victims while coroner and police managed identifications and comforted mourners. The crowd grew tense as hours passed and extra morgue space was prepared.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Second Regiment
Chen
Joke Paper Found On Survivors Of Hastland Disaster
Chicago July 24 The July Jubilator, official Western Electric employees newspaper, planned Michigan City Indiana picnic with parade and contests. Front page cartoon mocks tragedy with captions about a whale and submarines. Copies found on many victims aboard the Hastland, the disaster prevented the event.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Western Electric Company
Michigan City
Ind
Jonah
Chicago River Disaster Hero Saves Children And Adults
Charles Williams, a New York representative, stripped to his underclothes and swam through a capsized steamer disaster in Chicago. He rescued a choking man, a girl from the river, a boy and a three year old, while hundreds were pulled from the water. Survivors recall a chaotic scene as life boats and tugs aided victims and a nurse saved by being pulled through a port hole. Mrs. Vantak and other families mourned drowned loved ones, and recovery efforts continued as authorities and merchants aided rescues.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Heata
Theodors Roosevelt
Hastland
Ro Drainage Canal
Lockport
Chicago
Charles Williams
New York
Willams
Williams
Paulina Vantak
Henry Vantak
Henry Lesher
Sai “Lo
South Water Street
Chang
H. A. Thoyer
Harry
Helen
William Thoyer
Emma O'Donnell
Berwen
Also Mentioned on This Page
Fistresa
Morguea
Woolely
Clark’ Street
Bedten
William Hale Thompson
San Francisco
C. Healey
Moorhouse
Guy Tibhong
Waid Thetas
Ead
Daniel Bros
Copéscireese
Hart Schaffner & Mark
Nettleton and Howard & Foster
Earl & Wilson
Madras
Penang
Daniel Bros. CO
Georgia
Gentral Ave
Alabama St
Atlanta
M. J. Bradley
Kaachive
Crank OF
Girl
George Haber
Jose Brozak
Brozak
WW. J. Plamondon
Charles A. Plamondon
Asitania
American Telephone and Telestach Company
Yelena
Third National Bank
Marietta and
Broad Streets
Frank Hawkins
John W. Grant
J. N. Godgard
Thos. C. Erwin
A. M. Bergstrom
R. W. Byers
W. 5. Summers
A. J. Hangell
Eiseman Brothers
Eiseman Bros
Grand Rapids Showcase Co
Faleghann Deak
Garpenter Tool
Poat
Leo Fresh
Sansom
Duntley
Whitehall Street
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!