The SS Eastland Disaster - She Sank Before Leaving The Dock

How do over eight hundred people drown in a cruise ship that hasn't even left the quayside..? The SS Eastland disaster - a day trip to tragedy....
Pathe footage here - • SS Eastland Disaster -...
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[@theravenseye9443]

REUPLOAD - a golden oldie this one, but one which had very limited views. I have re-upped it in the hope that more people get to see it this time round. Apologies for those few who have already seen it !! 😉

[@justyx846]

Feel free to do more of this. Great idea for quality content that many may have missed.

[@tantryl]

I came to the comments to ask if this was a reup or do I just consume too much disaster media.

[@donaldlyons537]

Think I had seen this but it was worth seeing again ! You do Great work. I certainly appreciate it as others do. Carry on and Be Well.....

[@dantheman5745]

You should reupload any of your videos that have lower viewership. Your productions are second-to-none. Give them another opportunity to be seen by those who haven't found your channel yet. I doubt any of us who have watched all of your videos would mind one bit. I recognized this one immediately, but watched again. I expect you'll hit 100K subs soon. That number should steadily climb.

[@OasisTypeZaku]

I've seen just about all the disaster videos you have. I figured there was a reason for the re-upload.

[@alexquade9608]

Great video! Last year when my wife's grandma passed, she was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago. There is a monument to the disaster near her grave since a lot of the dead were immigrants from the Czech Republic.

[@slimshadow49]

The engineers deserve a huge applause for keeping the boilers from exploding.

[@garrysekelli6776]

The captain was a true champion.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

​@@garrysekelli6776 Your friggin joking, right🤨⁉️

[@gregatkinson7276]

They may not hear our applause....just saying.

[@slimshadow49]

@@gregatkinson7276 unfortunately... they can look down upon us though.

[@playstationgroup3413]

Don't apologize! We(whom subscribe to your channel) appreciate all that you do and never bore us in time consuming videos! I had no problem watching it again as I am sure for those whom love your narrating and have a passion for history didn't have a problem with it either ! 🤔🤔

[@ducatisti]

I happened upon this plaque last summer while wandering downtown Chicago and when I read the death toll I was flabbergasted. I spent the next 20 minutes on my phone researching the disaster, it's absolutely criminal how little care was shown for the victims, and how this piece of tragic history has been forgotten.

[@keliciaigbinazaka4538]

Thank you for covering this tragedy Raven, even though I had seen your original video on this event it was still so shocking (though unfortunately not surprising) to hear that not only did this tragedy pretty much fade into obscurity, but also that the Captain and the ship company faced 0 consequences, with barely any compensation going to the families of the victims. Massive respect to all those who helped rescue people.

[@savannahcatchat]

Don’t mind listening to your version of this tragedy. You give the rescuers names, making them heroes all over again.

[@rilmar2137]

The cruel irony: the safety regulations that were passed in the wake of the skinging of Titanic (along with the operator wanting to fit as many people as possible on board, thus demanding even more lifeboats, plus some previous refits that made the vessel more top-heavy and unstable, but still) contributed to this disaster.

[@ArchTeryx00]

Being a Chicago native I was taught about the Eastland tragedy, but it was barely a footnote compared to the Titanic. In my opinion, it was far more emblematic of the Gilded Age than the Titanic was. In a very real sense, one of the few disasters with a certain sense of justice; robber barons died along with poor immigrants when the boat went down. Their deaths, of course, got all the press, but they were still dead. The Eastland was all working class (and many immigrant) families, and thus got little press outside of the immediate disaster. It was a footnote even in Chicago history books. But it was emblematic of the GIlded Age because it was a product of pure corruption. The fact that the captain and boat owners got away with zero consequences, and the many. many victims received zero compensation, told you all you needed to know about the worth of those peoples' lives in the Gilded Age: Nothing. It was *other working class people* that lept straight into the disaster zone and committed countless unsung acts of heroism to save hundreds upon hundreds of people. Were it not for their efforts, the death toll would easily have exceeded that of the Titanic's. It also showed that a ship didn't need to sink into deep water to create an absolute charnel house of a disaster. It is a cruel irony that had the boat gone down in open water, there would probably have been few survivors, as it would have sank almost instantly - and would have made it the greatest maritime tragedy of all time, something that might have gotten it a far more prominent mention in the history books. Because it sank at the dock, many lives were saved, but the dead - and the heroic rescuers - never received their due.

[@scarpfish]

I've always found it a bit weird with all the historical attention given to the _Titanic_ , how river maritime disasters like the _Eastland_ , _General Slocum_ and _Sultana_ which killed equally horrifying amounts of people almost become forgotten history.

[@JosieJOK]

No rich people to romanticize. 🤨

[@chatteyj]

To be fair the story is no where near as dramatic with or without 'rich people'. Also the eastland is kinda awkward to discuss as bascially apart from being horrific and crappy its a direct result of legislation of teh Titanic disaster. So the legislation brought in to prevent another titanic type accident caused the eastland tradegy.

[@rustyrazor1853]

I'm so glad I found this channel again. I was subscribed but YT unsubbed me. This is one of a few channels that that has happened to me....

[@rhedosaurus2251]

I went to Chicago in 2000, mainly to see Sue the T. rex, and for all I learned about the city, I never heard about this debacle until now.

[@PharadayCage]

It’s a hidden horror of our city. But the people who put themselves at risk to save the victims… they deserve a memorial.

[@jt1992ok]

Another brilliant video Raven. May I suggest the Air Florida 90 crash? It involves incompetence and heroism with dramatic rescue footage. Keep up the good work.

[@talpark8796]

the best doc that i've seen (& highly recommend) on this tragedy was made by PBS-Chicago ,as an anniversary 'tribute'. thx muchy for another upload 🇨🇦 😁

[@daniellapan232]

Man, I always look forward to your content. Such a great storyteller.

[@dinascharnhorst6590]

I recall reading somewhere that part of the Eastland's top deck was also made of cement...making her even more top heavy and unstable. Unbelievable.

[@sadrevolution]

This is a great overview of this topic. Ask A Mortician made an excellent deep dive into this disaster maybe a year or so ago, worth supplementing this video with a watch.

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

Saw this first time around, it's so good, I'll happily watch it again!! Thanks.

[@joycedudzinski9415]

Never heard of this one. Thanks for reload.

[@soly-dp-colo6388]

This is at least the third documentary I've watched about this disaster. People must know about it now.

[@siechamontillado]

It's always a good thing to fresh a new light on an underrepresented tragedy that resonates today. If the people were not from immigrant communities or rich, there's a chance that more would've been done to aid the justice process.

[@alisondavies8499]

Would you be doing a video of the aberfan disaster. I look forward to watching your videos thank you

[@billlonee9470]

This was an era where a lot fewer people knew how to swim, and clothes were made of wool. I'm sure that added to the tragedy, along with everything else.

[@ducatisti]

Wool wasn't the biggest problem, cotton was worse, and for women, lots of restrictive layers.

[@spencersholden]

The captain’s health deteriorated quickly in the years to come. Photos from before and after don’t even look like the same man.

[@fourstringbuck]

Another great video! Thanks for all your hard work. I love this channel !

[@akeman21]

Great video and research as always! 👍

[@Captain_hadley_49]

Just watched the vid you mentioned and here is what I would say distressing and heartbreaking.

[@dogned]

I got so excited thinking you’d uploaded a new video on this subject as I’d only seen one other video before, the previous video was yours 😂

[@HandyMan657]

Thanks, Raven.

[@DamianMaisano]

As always, I think your narration great even in topics which there’s a number of other videos on.

[@Lazy_Jay_Racing]

Great video.. thank you 😀👍

[@mupty]

I wonder why KZbin hates you talking about this particular disaster? This is like the third time you had to upload this video.

[@theravenseye9443]

Third time lucky...?

[@MakerInMotion]

Advertiser logic: If our ad is on a video that isn't wholesome and family friendly, it will create a negative association with our brand. However, if our ad pushes down a paragraph you're in the middle of reading or pops up and blocks your view, that will not.

[@LMB222]

800 people 😮!

[@joeblogs-vx4ep]

It's incredibly horrific 😢

[@lyedavide]

It is unthinkable that the survivors of this tragedy received no compensation, compounding the magnitude of the disaster.

[@MoonLitChild]

The seventeen year old was incredible-- diving in with *no equipment* and navigating a cramped, flooded ship...goddamn man. "The Human Frog" is definitely an apt name. Ask a Mortician did a great video on the Eastland but I don't think she mentioned him by name

[@ericswain4177]

Thanks for the story that needs to be told. Wow, Even though found to be very unstable the US Navy still had her refitted and used as a training ship. Being from a maritime background I am sad to say that there are lots of accidents etc... that the greater public never hears about due to the ship industry's media blackouts and sealed records, lengthy legal battles settled out of cort etc... And like this one eventually swept under the proverbial carpet and almost forgotten over time.

[@Harpeia]

Boy risks own life to rescue complete strangers. Earns nickname frog.

[@elmin82]

Good video

[@archstanton6102]

Could you cover the Concorde Air France crash please?

[@NoahSpurrier]

When being dubbed the Human Frog means you’re a hero.

[@Youcanttouchmyhandle]

RIP❤💕

[@nucass8051]

Can you do the peshtigo fire of 1871 please

[@lifesahobby]

A very sad day

[@AngelWest58]

🙏

[@colinlove5062]

Even among Great Lakes shipping disasters the Eastland isn’t well known despite being the worst single and cumulative tragedy of all times. There’s a lot of reckoning with the way the shipping industry was handled in the Great Lakes in the early 20th century. The Eastland sticks out for the heroism of ordinary Chicagoans and the cowardice & incompetence of the captain & company. In the 20th century about 475 lives were lost on the lakes making the Eastland floundering at harbor all the more egregious. I think the most poignant statement was that a valuable cargo wasn’t lost just working class immigrants who were likely to be easily replaced. There was no multimillion dollar loss of Iron, Copper, Coal or Grain to make the companies take notice. During this period from the early 20th to mid 20th century the waterways of the Great Lakes were the busiest in the world. The real money maker was getting the ore to the foundries in the big industrial cities & the freezing of the Sault Locks closed shipping from late November to early April. I appreciate this video as a testament to not only all the families that died but to shine a light on a nasty practice forgotten by time. The one conviction of a dead man while the captain was demanding welders to stop cutting his ship to save lives speaks for it all. Most of the focus of shipwrecks on this time now is centered on the many freighters lost in storms. Shipping companies would push a captain to get a last run in before the change of the seasons created mid-latitude cyclones over the Great Lakes. The locks connecting Lake Superior with its rich mineral deposits & the rest of the lakes would freeze solid. Ships were designed to be “economical” often with only one boiler. The storms of late fall come on fast and sometimes telegraph communications would be destroyed providing no warning in the big city ports on the southern ends of the lakes. I suppose it doesn’t have the drama of the White Hurricane of 1913 or one of the many powerful storms that have taken an estimated 10,000 lives since European exploration and settlement. The white hurricane of 1913 tricked even the most seasoned sailors as the usual late fall storms last for 3 days. On the 3rd day a third warm system moved up from the southern plains when it met the other two combined systems winds were recorded at 100mph waves 35ft or higher. There were happy tales including 18 year old pilot Edward Knobby who refused his captain’s orders to make for the harbor. The waves were coming in from the north and turning the ship would have risked capsizing. He beached the 700ft freighter on the sandy beach of The Lake Huron Hotel in the twin cities of Port Huron Michigan & Sarnia Ontario. His captain later credited Edward with saving all of their lives when the wreck of a ship was found floating upside down near to the mouth of the harbor. At least 273 souls were lost in the wrecks of a dozen ships. Or perhaps during this period when safety was second to profit & shipwrecks were a common occurrence.

[@MakerInMotion]

So many lives have been lost because people saw warning signs and thought "It'll be ok".

[@grapeshot]

Yep it didn't help that the river was heavily polluted which meant many of the survivors that was in the water became very ill from waterborne pathogens as well as the clothes that women wore back then made them sink to the bottom very quickly.

[@zenithcoinsandhobbies]

The Eastland was owned by a company based in my hometown. Quite a terrible story to be associated with.

[@curbyourshi1056]

3:37 "drownding". Regional accents in the UK are absolutely mental. It's a proper word, but the text doesn't have a "D" in it. Very old fashioned term apparently.

[@charliekezza]

Ill give it a comment for the algorithm ❤❤❤

[@RagingMoon1987]

Harpo Studios is located where this ship foundered. Legend has it that the people who work there see or hear strange things now and then. Just thought I'd throw that out there. As usual, this video is a good one.

[@austinlawler3739]

That is not true. Harpo Studios was at 110 Carpenter Street in the West Loop, also land locked. The Eastland sank over a mile away, fairly close to Marina City. Where Harpo Studios was is now partially McDonald's global HQ

[@Z28KR]

For whatever reason, this tragedy has been appearing a lot recently as new videos by various creators.

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

The Czech Titanic.....as it was called.

[@anthonyrausch5708]

9:23 - 844??? That’s just makes my skin crawl; and not in a good way……

[@BamBamBigelow..]

Eastland sits so high out of water, I’m not even a maritime guy

[@rogerrendzak8055]

You quoted: "The resulting tragedy ranks, as the 2nd. deadliest, maritime accident in US history". And with that statement sir, you are wrong. The Eastland disaster, is 3rd!!! 1st.; 'Sultana'. 2nd.; 'General Slocum'. 3rd.; 'Eastland'; in that order. You neglected to say, something about the concrete boat deck, that replaced the wooden one, that attributed vast amount of weight, to the vessels top heaviness.

[@eddjordan2399]

history written by the winners!

[@robertscott6048]

Did not help that deck repairs and replacement was done with Concrete

[@grapeshot]

Yep in part more lifeboats led to disaster.

[@GiordanDiodato]

bad design doesn't make regulations not useful

[@hereticpariah6_66]

😔 I don't understand. Why didn't they get off when it First started listing!? Why the Hell didn't the captain stop boarding passengers?! This was at least somewhat preventable 🥺

[@Thephillips-dj1po]

*because money* Any time you ever ask this, that’s the answer. Money.

[@kristinarain9098]

oOoOO 🎉

[@Youcanttouchmyhandle]

11:52 All cruise liners should supply floatation devices to children whilst swimming. Crew need to have lifesaving expertise so multiple life guards are on hand for all passenger stops for customer safety whilst swimming abroad #disasterpreparedness Customers need to let the company they cruise with of their swimming abilities . Crew are advised to safety check the equipment brought on board for children’s floatation devises. Sea safety is everyones responsibility. Companies providing ocean cruising including military need to ensure their crew and passengers have the safest time of their lives. Complying with International blue corridors for Environmental protections. Thank you Good Morning from Australia 11:24 am EADT Sunday 4 February 2024 #earthmarinehealth

[@EarnestWilliamsGeofferic]

'drownding' lol

[@trishblakely3476]

Ask a Mortician also made a very good video about this tragedy.

[@Youcanttouchmyhandle]

#corruption #victimscompensation And of course (ship joke there) NO #justice

[@Thephillips-dj1po]

Virgin Captain: nO yOu’Ll HuRt mY sHiP Chad Welders: *We are literally going to lynch you if you don’t let us do our damn job.*

[@asha4736]

Absolute legends

[@curbyourshi1056]

True Chad legends would have carried out their threat after the first utterance of it. Straight after Pederson's first hysterical exclamation about his precious ship being "damaged" after he'd allowed it to capsize and welders were trying to cut his surviving passengers out. What an absolute Dandy.

[@defective6811]

btw, I know this is a reupload but Michigan is pronounced "Mishigan" for reasons

[@gregatkinson7276]

Thanks for a good video but you will want to look into how to pronounce the word "drowning." Only ignorant people pronounce it "drownding" when no D exists in the word.

[@mikefoxxx8691]

First ya koontz

[@LiveFreeOrDie2A]

How much of the deaths came from idiots who didn’t know how to swim? All the people initially spazzing out pulling each other under