Eastland before sinkingEastland before sinking. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.22
Capsized EastlandCapsized Eastland. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.26
Recovering bodiesRecovering bodies. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.24
Capsized EastlandCapsized Eastland. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.25
Recovering bodiesRecovering bodies. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.29
Recovering bodiesRecovering bodies. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.28
Recovering bodiesRecovering bodies. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.30
Makeshift morgueMakeshift morgue. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.31
Capsized EastlandCapsized Eastland. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.27
Raising the EastlandRaising the Eastland. Source: Special Collections, Chicago City-Wide Collection, Photograph 6.32
On July 24, 1915, employees of Western Electric and their families were preparing for a day of leisure with a company picnic across Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana. Before the boats could even set off from the Chicago River, however, disaster struck when the S.S. Eastland rolled over into the water.
Causes likely included possible neglected maintenance and the large number of people on board weighing down one side too much, making the boat begin to list. The disaster killed 844 people, many because they were trapped in stairwells below deck, or were hit in the head by falling objects. More people perished in the Eastland Disaster than in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the Iroquois Theater Fire of 1903.
For more information on the event, as well as on the 100th anniversary commemoration program, see the Eastland Disaster Historical Society. Keep an eye on the news, as well, for coverage of this historic anniversary. Of note are two recent discoveries of original film footage of the sinking; read more in these posts from the historical society: First Known Archived Film Footage of the Eastland Disaster Located and From the Executive Director: New Disaster Footage Has Been Uncovered.
CPL also has valuable information on the tragedy. You can view primary and secondary sources in Special Collections and the Municipal Reference Collection:
Eastland Disaster Relief, American Red Cross, 1915-1918
Investigation of Accident to the Steamer "Eastland"
We also have additional secondary sources:
Ashes Under Water: Author Michael McCarthy will discuss the disaster on Wednesday, July 22 at Harold Washington Library Center.
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