What Might Have Been...

Eva Krivanec and her family might have been on board the Eastland when it capsized had Eva not become ill that morning. Read Eva's complete story in a new section of our web site dedicated to those people who had plans to attend the company picnic (and therefore might have been on board the Eastland) until some event delayed their arrival. Go here.

CONTEST EXTENDED!

Our newsletter needs a name! Submit your most creative ideas in naming our quarterly newsletter and win! Entries must be submitted to info@eastlanddisaster.org. Entries must be received by midnight, September 15, 1999. Multiple entries per person are allowed so be sure to submit ALL of your good ideas. Judging will be done by the Board of Directors of the Eastland Disaster Historical Society. The winner will be announced in the 3rd quarter issue of our newsletter.

Editor's Note

After spending up to eleven hours in the water, my wife's grandmother was pulled to safety through a porthole. Over these past few months we have heard from several families whose ancestors had assisted in the rescue efforts by pulling people out through the portholes of the ship. It makes me wonder if one of the families with whom I have spoken was the one whose ancestor helped pull our grandmother to safety over 84 years ago.

Y2K And The Eastland???

 Most of us consider Y2K to be a computer/technology issue. So what might Y2K have to do with the Eastland Disaster? You will want to check the next edition of our newsletter to find out. Oh, and make sure you keep the weekend of July 24, 2000 open on your calendars.

LKF (Little Known Facts)

 It cost $306,000 to build the Eastland in 1903, while it cost $7.5 million to build the Titanic in 1910. (Note: See how the Eastland compared to the Titanic in a number of other ways by visiting the new, "A Titanic Comparison" section of our web site found here.)

History Fair update!

 R.R., a 6thgrader from Melrose Park, IL, and Melissa Belle, a senior from Palatine, IL, both advanced with blue ribbons to the history fair state finals with their respective Eastland Disaster projects. R.R. later advanced to the national finals (but was not allowed to compete as the judges determined that her project did not fall under "science and technology," the theme for this year's history fair). Congratulations to both of these young women for their exceptional efforts in education. (Note: Both projects, as well as a project completed in 1978, are available at our web site under the "Educational Projects" section.)

Take A "Visit" Today...

 ...to the Chicago River between Clark and LaSalle streets. This is the location where the Eastland was docked the morning of July 24, 1915. Go here.

The Eastland Corner

 An employee at Western Electric, Agnes Latowski (Summitt) was aboard the Eastland along with her older brother, Walter, and her older sister, Nellie. The three Latowskis were in the lounge area below deck, and Agnes had gone into the women's lounge area with a purse handed to her by her sister Nellie. When the Eastland capsized, Agnes managed to get to a porthole on the starboard side. After scrambling out of the porthole, she then slid off the side of the ship into the water. Here she grabbed hold of a life preserver that someone had thrown to her. Whereas Agnes was able to make it to safety and to survive the Eastland Disaster, her sister Nellie and her brother Walter, did not. Walter appeared to have been bruised or crushed, possibly by a piano that was in the lounge area.

Details passed along through the family indicate that Agnes may have helped to save one of her friends, Anna Frydrych (Frederick). Anna also lost a sibling in the tragedy, her sister Alice.

Our guests say

"...this is a cool site!" J.S., Georgia

"Very nice site, extremely informative." P.O., Loveland, CO

"A truly wonderful and well put together site. Anyone who studies the Great Lakes shipping history has to appreciate your work." N.B., Ontario

"Thank you for being there!" P.W., Illinois

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