Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Carus Collection |
Accession # |
P82-37-4-65A |
Description |
Black and white postcard of passenger steamer EASTLAND shortly after capsizing on the Chicago River. View looking east of numerous people standing on starboard side of hull with several tugs and other vessels alongside to aid in rescue. Clark Street bridge visible in background. July 24, 1915. |
Object Name |
Postcard |
Date |
07/24/1915 |
Place |
Chicago, IL |
Vessel Info |
Vessel name: EASTLAND Official number: 200031 Other names: WILMETTE (IX-29) (1917-1948) U.S. Navy Build date: 1903 Builder: Jenks Ship Building Company Place of build: Port Huron, MI Dimensions: 265.00 x 38.16 x 19.42 Gross Tonnage: 1961.00 Vessel Rig: Propeller Rebuild info: Salvaged and rebuilt in 1917 as WILMETTE at Chicago Shipbuilding Company for U.S. Navy as training gunboat (265 x 38.16 x 15.5). Ownership changes: Michigan Steamship Co. (1903-1907) Lake Shore Navigation Co. (1907-1909) Eastland Navigation Co. (1909-1915) St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship Co. (1915-1916) U.S. Navy (1916-1948) Other history: Rolled over at dock with Western Electric Co. excursion aboard in Chicago River, 7/24/1915 with loss of 812 lives. Used by Illinois Naval Reserve, out of Chicago, 1917-1946. Disposition: Scrapped at Chicago, IL in 1948. |
Other number |
Volume B |
Size of original |
3.5" x 5.5" |
Search Terms |
EASTLAND Steamer Passenger Vessel Shipwreck Tug Chicago River Chicago, IL river |
Credit line |
Carus Collection Donated by Henry N. Barkhausen |
Provenance |
Materials in this collection were collected and compiled by Great Lakes ship captain Edward Carus of Manitowoc over a period of more than 50 years. Captain Carus began his career on the Great Lakes sailing on schooners and spent many years as a captain for the Goodrich Line before retiring. During his career, he researched and recorded the maritime heritage of the areas where he sailed, particularly the western shore of Lake Michigan. Captain Carus worked for ten years with Edwin Schuette, also from Manitowoc, and Mr. Schuette also contributed to the collection. In 1937, Captain Carus had fallen on hard times, his wife was bedridden and they were in need of money. Although Captain Carus desired his extensive collection to stay in Manitowoc, neither the City of Manitowoc nor Mr. Schuette was willing to purchase it at the time. Instead, Henry N. Barkhausen purchased it and kept it in his personal collection for more than 40 years before donating it to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in 1981, returning it to Manitowoc. Edwin Schuette passed his portion of the collection to his son, Henry Schuette, who then donated his portion to the museum in 1981 as well. |