1. The Sinking of the Eastland
Author: Jay Bonansinga
By: Carlie Brown
2. The Eastland
• Launched on May 6, 1903
• Overall length – 275’ 0”
• Beam (width) – 38’ 0”
• Water compartments filled carry 800 tons of ballast
• Twin screws, driven by 2 powerful triple expansion
engines, supplied with steam from four Scotch boilers
3. The Eastland
• St. Joseph-Chicago
Steamship Company was
the ship owner in 1915
• Purchased vessel simply
to generate profit
• Issues of safety and
seaworthiness played
minor role in company
decisions
4. Eastland Dangers
• Top heavy due to the
increased amount of
life preservers, rafts,
and boats the ship
carried
• Ship burned 5 tons of
coal per hour
• Renovations of the
forward dining room –
addition of concrete
• No keel
6. Western Electric Company
• Western Electric Company invited all of its employees
and their families to the annual picnic on July 24, 1915
• Implied that it was highly encouraged to attend
• Large amount of women employees during this time
period
7. Sinking of the Eastland
• July 24, 1915
• 2500 passengers
• 70 crew members
• Death count: 844
8. Local Response
• Divers sent in to • Increased law
rescue bodies dead enforcement to secure
and alive site and reduce thieves
• Facility established at • American Red Cross
a local company to and other health officials
house fatalities assisted
9. William Moorhouse
• Chicago’s Commissioner
of Public Works
• Stand in Mayor at time
the Eastland sank
• Immediately released
relief funds and closed
city
• Arranged a command
post
• Took charge in
emergency relief for
Eastland disaster
10. Indictments
• Recovery – blame • Jury returned verdict
needed to be placed placing blame on 6 men
• Investigation was ordered • William Hull
• Federal Grand Jury • Captain Harry Pederson
Indictments – 10 different • J.M. Erickson
individuals • Robert Reed
• Charges – “conspiracy to • J.C. Eckliff
defraud the federal
government by • W.K. Greenbaum
preventing the execution
of marine laws, and for
criminal carelessness”
11. Shaping Future
Emergency Management Planning
• The Eastland, Titanic, and Luistania were the basis for maritime
laws and regulations
• Importance of supplies and readiness plans
• The Eastland was purchased and was used for future testing for
ship safety
• The importance of integrated emergency management instead of
different levels of government working against each other
12. References
• Bell System Memorial. (n.d.). Eastland Disaster.
www.beatriceco.com/bti/porticus/bell/eastland.html
• Bonansinga, Jay. (2004). The Sinking of the Eastland: America’s Forgotten Tragedy. New
York, NY: Kensington Publishing Corps.
• Chicago Tribune. (2012, June 10). The Eastland Disaster. Retrieved from
galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-0720-eastland-disaster-pictures-pg/
• Eastland Memorial Society. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2013 from www.eastlandmemorial.org
• Hilton, George W. (1995). Eastland: Legacy of the Titanic. Stanford, California: Stanford
University Press).