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HOT AIR
Chicago Stories: The Eastland Disaster

Elaine Richardson

How do 844 people die in the Chicago River--not the Lake, but the River?

The idea is almost mind-boggling, but on a misty July morning in 1915, the fully overloaded passenger steamer Eastland, sitting at the Clark Street dock, tipped over. And while the idea of an unmoving boat simply falling over is bad enough, the massive death comes in when hundreds of people are trapped below decks and unable to escape, while still others drown in a river filled to overcrowding with people.

It's the city's worst disaster and, unfortunately, probably the one we remember the least. This one event killed more people than the Chicago or Iroquois Theater fires, wiping out twenty-two entire families. And, as it was company picnic day for employees of the Western Electric plant, many of the victims were young women and children--in fact an appalling number of children.

Chicago Stories tackles this fascinating and gruesome historical event with typical aplomb, including interviews with one of the last remaining survivors, photos taken moments after the ship rolled over and other things that have to be seen to be believed.

"The Eastland Disaster" airs April 16 at 8pm and April 19 at 10pm on WTTW-TV Channel 11 (PBS).

(2002-04-11)

Also by Elaine Richardson

MR. BEAN
Doug Zell discusses coffee the way others discuss wine. "This is a coffee from New Guinea, so it should have sort of like a nice hoppy kind of nose," he says, taking a healthy drink.
(2002-04-04)

STREET TEAM
You've spent eight years making a film, and though it garnered awards at two different festivals, at the end of the day you've got a movie and no distributor. What now? If you're Gene Cajayon, you simply pick up the ball and run.
(2002-03-21)

FEEDING FRENZY
The profile of the Awards' telecast reached new highs, gaining wide recognition as the Second Biggest Show on Earth, after the Super Bowl, with an estimated worldwide audience of one billion. Unfortunately, over time it seems the Oscars have become their own worst enemy.
(2002-03-21)

POLL POSITION
Do you really care about the March 19 primary election? Of course not, but as tends to happen in our state, if you don't vote now, you may find your choices severely reduced come November. In that spirit, we've given you some of the sober, as well as the fun, facts about ten candidates in two key races.
(2002-03-14)

AD BUSTERS
(2002-03-14)

BAD NEWS
(2002-02-28)

HOT AIR
(2002-02-28)

HAIL TO THE CHIEF
(2002-02-14)

DOMESTIC BLITZ
(2002-02-14)

SLAV TO ART
(2002-01-31)

PUT UP OR SHUT UP
(2002-01-31)

SEEING IS BELIEVING
(2002-01-31)



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