Eastland Disaster Claims 1500 Lives In Chicago River Calamity
A grand excursion on the steamship Eastland ends in tragedy as the boat capsizes at the Clark Street bridge. About 1500 people perish with hundreds more missing as rescue crews scour the river and morgues fill in Chicago. Authorities begin immediate investigations into overcrowding and listing causes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Eastland
Chicago River
Clark Street
Michigan City
Western Electric Company
Gayety
South Water Street
Lockport
Bear Trap
Emil G. Groscholl
George Mock
W. K. Greenebaum
Indiana Transportation Company
St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship Company
Hoyne
Eastland blamed for early faults and deck cutting
Naval architect W. J. Wood testifies the Eastland bore faults from its 1903 construction. He says owners and Captain Mansfield ordered cutting the top deck and filling ballast to reduce danger. Wood details non watertight gangways and alignment issues corrected before the vessel was sold.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Eastland
W. J. Wood
Wood
Ira Mansfield
Mansfield
Marine Disasters of History and Toll of Lives
A historical list previews major pre Eastland maritime catastrophes and the human toll they inflicted. It outlines notable shipwrecks, battles at sea, and disasters that shaped nautical safety and policy across eras.
Engineer faults blamed for Eastland disaster
A leading marine engineer says the Eastland capsizing resulted from carelessness in the engine room not overload or design. He urges laws for excursion vessels, stricter ballast rules, and proper water ballast management to prevent future accidents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Hastland
Eastland
President Wilson Leads Broad Eastland Inquiry
Chicago reports Secretary Redfield arrives to head a sweeping inquiry into the Eastland disaster with Wilson alternating in oversight. Thurman Chamberlain and others join as testimony is sought. A grand jury probes hull lines while inspectors face questioning amid promises of a thorough, independent investigation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hoyne
Eastland
Robert H. McCreary
Marine Bureau
Chicago
William C. Redfield
Department of Commerce
Wilson
Albert L. Thurman
Department
Eugene T. Chamberlain
Navigation
Commerce Department
Thurman
George J. Schmitt
South Haven
Gregory
Cc. F. Clyne
Dickerson N. Hoover
Washington
Mr. Clyne
Federal Building
Ira B. Mansfield
William Nicholas
Mansfield
George A. Hughes
Grand Jury
Mr. Hughes
Steamboat Inspection Department
Department of Justice
Iso
Nicholas
Commerce and Labor
Edwin F. Sweet
Hoover
May Call Extra Session of Congress on National Defense
Washington reports President Wilson is weighing a special session to act on national defense. Close aides say Congress could be summoned for October unless urgent circumstances call earlier meeting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Wilson
Congress
Allies bombard Turkish positions in the straits
Reports from Mitylene say the allies have continuously bombarded Turkish interior positions and are attacking the Asiatic coast over several days, signaling intensified operations around the Dardanelles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Athens
Mitylene
Straits
Fire destroys factory district in Poughkeepsie
A major blaze in Poughkeepsie New York July 28 threatened the manufacturing district for a time. Fire was brought under control after causing extensive damage estimated at 750000 dollars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Poughkeepsie
N. Y
Con‘i
Rescue Scenes Hold Short Lived Hopes Amid Mass Tragedy
In Chicago on July 26 a disaster left hundreds dead as the Kenosha tows toward a sunken liner. rescuers haul bodies from the wreck as crowds gather and a priest reads absolution over the victims. morgue work continues through the day with officials guarding remains and identifying loved ones.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
America
General Slocum
Hell Gate
New York Harbor
Clark Street Bridge
Reid-Murdoch
Schuettler
Second Infantry
Coliseum
Joseph Ross
Clark Street
Woman recounts disaster on steamer near Chicago
Mrs William Peterson describes the wreck of a steamer near Chicago. She, her husband a Western Electric foreman, their eight-year-old daughter Ruth, and sister-in-law Emily Chell survived after the vessel listed and she fell into the water. She recalls sinking and seeing two hands reach for her.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
William Peterson
Peterson
Western : Electric: ‘Company
Ruth
Also Mentioned on This Page
Theodore Roosevelt
Springer
Roosevelt
Harry Pederson
Schuettier
Dell Fisher
Graeme Stewart
Cleveland Harbor
LaSalle Street
William Flannigan
Reid, Murdoch & Co
Crank
Scilly Islands
Prince George
Gibraltar
Royal George
Ese Ug
Spithead
Queen Charlotte
St. George
Jutland Coast
eJutland Coast
Berkenhead
Coast of Africa
Lady Nugent
City of Glasgow
Austria
Boden
Anglesea
Lady Elgin
Lake Michigan
Thames
Japan
Eeeenewsesaes
Reina Regenta
Burgoyne Weseenatenan Uly
Eeasa Wenger
Slocum
Satanth
East River
Ccccees
Norge
Wnsesseey
Oeraes Tc Boa
Aics Reeeses
Ccccereneseees
Titanic Seacees
Aveee
Lawrence River
Cceuses Dienbaanee
Eeace Torpedo
Redfield
Office of Church
Henry Bauer
Lawrence Avenue
Diversey Beach
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!