Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== TWELVE WORST MARITIME DISASTERS IN GREAT LAKE HISTORY (based on number of casualties) ------------------------------- 1. Eastland: Capsized while docked in Chicago, IL Date: July 24, 1915 Casualties: 844 killed Type: Steamship Owner: Michigan Steamship Company Builder: Jenks Ship Building Company Tonnage: 1,961 Gross Displacement: 2,600 (estimate) Length: 265 feet Beam: 38 ft - 2 in. Draft: 19 ft - 6 in. Chartered, along with the Theordore Roosevelt and the Petoskey, by Western Electric Company, to transport employees from their Hawthorne Works plant in Cicero, IL., to a picnic in Michigan City, IN. The Eastland was known to have design flaws, which made it top heavy, resulting is special restrictions regarding how many passengers could be carried. On the morning of the capsizing the Eastland was carrying it's full capacity of 2,572 passengers. The weather was excellent and the water calm. With many of the passengers standing on the upper decks the Eastland began to list slightly to the port side. The crew attempted to correct the list by putting more water into the ballast tanks with little effect. Shortly afterwards passengers rushed to the port side and Eastland first lurched to port and then rolled completely onto its side trapping many below decks in their cabins. Others who were top side were crushed by heavy furniture or injured from the fall when the ship rolled over. The Eastland was raised on August 14, 1915 and sold to the Illinois Naval Reserve where it was renamed USS Wilmette. ---------------------------------------------- ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1916 Page 6 Steamer Eastland. - The capsizing of the steamer Eastland in the Chicago River, in the early morning of July 24, 1915, resulted in the loss of 823 lives. About 2,500 persons had been taken on board, preparatory to an excursion trip to Michigan City, Ind. With every- thing in readiness to cast off, the after mooring lines were let go, and the vessel, which it appears already had a heavy list to port, Page 7 rolled over and sank. As she rested on the bottom, less than 20 feet from her dock, considerable of her starboard side remained above water. Had the water been deeper the toll of life would un- doubtedly have been much greater. Most of those who were drowned were trapped on the lower deck, which was inclosed, while many were caught between the railing of the upper deck and the river bed, as the steamer lay on her side. Several steamers and motor boats in the immediate vicinity proceeded to pick up those who were so fortunate as to find themselves in the water and free of the nearly submerged craft. In this work they were aided by police boats and fire boats that came later. Inside of 10 minutes after receiving news of the disaster the old Chicago Coast Guard crew arrived to assist in the work of rescue. The keeper and his men at once boarded the vessel and let them- selves down through the air vents into the water between decks. Practically all of those whom they found still alive they were able to pass up through the narrow ports. Several of the imprisoned ones were too stout to be taken out through the only exits then available, and the rescue of these had to be deferred until tools could be ob- tained with which to cut holes through the deck. The rescue of the living concluded, the station crew turned their attention to recover- ing the bodies of those who had succumbed. They remained at this duty for 10 hours on the day of the disaster and 11 hours the day after, and the results of their efforts were 84 lives saved and 585 bodies recovered. Fifteen additional bodies were recovered by the crew of the Jackson Park Coast Guard station, which arrived on the night of the 24th, too late to assist the living. ======================================================================= Sources: "Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes" , Dana Thomas Bowen, 1952 Wikipedia "SS Eastland" Eastland Disaster Historical Society