Chicago, Illinois

Eastland Disaster

July 1915

Mrs. Theodore A. Soderstrom and her infant son, Stanley, of 7609 Morgan St., were victims of the Eastland disaster. Mrs. Soderstrom was only thirty-three years of age and the baby less than a year. Services were held Wednesday at the Swedish church and the remains were buried at Oakwoods.

Miss Helen Bush, 344 76th St., is suffering no ill effects from her recent plunge in the Chicago river, when the Eastland capsized.

Percy Kerrigan, twenty-one years old of 5324 Loomis St., and Edward Finn, nineteen years old, of 5330 May St., have been awarded each a medal by the Ragen Colts Athletic club of 52nd and Halsted Sts. for conspicuous bravery in rescuing victims of the "Eastland." The two young men are said to have jointly saved about fifty lives.

Suburbanite Economist, Chicago, IL 30 Jul 1915

Mrs. Anna Stepanek of 6715 Halsted St was called upon to mourn a large number of friends, victims of the Eastland disaster. Mr. George S Sindelar, who with his entire family of eight were lost, was her cousin, and her close friend. Miss Olive Bouse of 1026 22nd St., was the only one saved of the 32 in her department at the electric works. Miss Bouse has many Englewood friends.

Suburbanite Economist, Chicago, IL 6 Aug 1915

DECATUR PEOPLE IN BIG DISASTER

William Weaver, Miss Alma Stern and Mr. And Mrs. E.V. Chapman Still Unaccounted For.

That William E. Weaver, a West Main street car conductor residing at 1266 West Wood street, was on the ill fated steamer Eastland when it capsized in the Chicago river, Saturday morning, was the belief of his friends in this city Saturday night.

WITH MISS STERN?

It was understood that Mr. Weaver was in company with Miss Alma Stern, daughter of Charles M. Stern of 1733 North Morgan street. Miss Stern has been working in Chicago for the past year and had written her parents a few days ago to the effect that she and Mr. Weaver were planning to make the trip across the lake Saturday with the picnic crowd on the Eastland.

According to a brother of Miss Stern, Mr. Weaver left Decatur Friday for Chicago by way of Danville. At Chicago he was to have joined Miss Stern for an all day outing. Decatur friends and relatives of the couple tried to get into connection with them at Chicago by telegraph and long distance telephone, Saturday night, but without success.

It is the hope of the Stern family and also of Mr. Weaver's relatives that the couple were among the last to reach the dock and thus did not board the steamer. They were greatly worried Saturday night however because of the fact that no word of any sort had come from them.

HAD MANY FRIENDS.

Before leaving for Chicago a year ago, Miss Stern was employed at the Osgood-Heiner Manufacturing company. She had many friends. Since going to Chicago she has also been doing factory work and made her residence at the Working Girls' Home at 501 South Ashland boulevard.

Mrs. Francis Stratman, 1278 West Green street, received a letter last week from Miss Stern saying that she and Mr. Weaver were going on the Eastland trip.

William Weaver has been a conductor on the Decatur street car lines for several years. He is well known and liked. It is understood that he and Miss Stern were to have been married soon.

FOUND SISTER'S NAME.

In looking over the Saturday evening Review Saturday night, Mrs. E. J. Striewing of the Crystal theater, noticed the name of her sister, Mrs. Hattie Goodwin, and son, of Berwyn, Ill. in the list of the missing from the Eastland boat. Her brother, Andy Schimenuaur, works for the Western Electric company and it was for his name that she scanned the list. She presumes that he started with his family and Mrs. Goodwin and boy on the excursion to the picnic but she has heard no more from them.

Another sister, Mrs. W. H. Stouffer, 315 West North street, and a brother, J. J. Kraiger, 1000 block Cottage Hill avenue, live in this city.

CHAPMANN MISSING.

The greatest anxiety is felt in Decatur over the safety of Mr. and Mrs. Eroll V. Chapman, both formerly of this city, who it is feared were among those on the Eastland when the lake steamer made her tragic plunge, Saturday morning.

Mr. Chapman, a former J. M. U. student and well known in university circles through his work as university engineer, went from Decatur a year ago to take a position as stationary engineer in the big Western Electric plant. Urgent inquiries sent to Chicago by Mrs. W. O. Parmenter, mother of Mrs. Chapman, Saturday afternoon, brought no response up to midnight, and the family is more than worried over the possibilities of disaster.

WIFE DECATUR GIRL.

Mr. Chapman and Miss Ethel Parmenter were married during the period that the farmer was employed as engineer at the university. Both had many friends here and they made more during their married life. Mr. Chapman is highly spoken of by university authorities and his friends in J. M. U. circles. He was a popular student and later a competent employe. [sic] After her course in the public schools Mrs. Chapman before her marriage was employed by the Bennett & Shade Insurance firm. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Parmenter [illegible] East Prairie street.

The Daily Review, Decatur, IL 27 Jul 1915

ONE HERO OF THE CHICAGO DISASTER

Reginald Bowles, an amateur diver, who, working in an ordinary bathing suit, did heroic work in bringing up the bodies of the victims of the overturned Eastland. He entered into state rooms and between the decks where the divers were unable to go because of their equipment. Single handed he brought more than fifty bodies to the surface on Sunday.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 29 Jul 1915

FORMER RESIDENT

Of Fort Wayne Has Son in Eastland Disaster--Escapes

Miss Clara Rissing, 1704 St. Joe boulevard, received word yesterday from her cousin, Arthur A. Catlin, the son of Mrs. Frank L. Catlin, who will be remembered as Miss Phenie Knecht, a former resident of this city, saying that he had a narrow escape from death, when the Eastland turned over. Young Mr. Catlin holds a responsible position with the Western Electric company, of Chicago, and is booked for promotion soon. His message to relatives in this city was brief, and merely told that he had escaped death by a narrow margin. His wife was in Colorado visiting with his mother, and for this reason may have escaped an untimely death in the big disaster.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 27 Jul 1915

Several Mourned As Dead, Alive

Chicago, July 27.--A few gleams of brightness flashed through the gloom of the Eastland tragedy today, when several persons listed among the dead and missing, proved to be alive and well.

Miss Mary Mazurawski telephoned Coroner Hoffman of her escape. She started on the excursion Saturday, but after noticing how crowded the Eastland was, decided to go aboard the steamer Theodore Roosevelt.

James Kocka, at first listed among the missing, gave notice that he was alive.

Eddie Gunardson, reported among the identified dead, also reported himself safe.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Davis, whose names were included among the missing, informed police that they had not been aboard the Eastland, but had gone on the steamer Roosevelt.

Mrs. Mary E. Gunderlock, reported among the identified dead, proved to be alive. She did not start on the excursion.

The Daily Review, Decatur, IL 27 Jul 1915

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Articles transcribed by Patty.  Thank you, Patty!

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