THE EASTLAND

109 years ago today, on July 24th, 1915, The Eastland sat docked on the Chicago River as hundreds of employees of the Western Electric Company crammed on board what was to be a day excursion to Michigan. As the ship filled up with passengers, it tipped to the waterside and quickly rolled over, throwing 2,500 people into the murky river water. In less than 8 minutes, 844 men, women, and children drowned making it the worst maritime disaster in Chicago history. Decades later, my radio team at Harpo was recording a show about the Eastland, and we had an unexpected encounter with EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) that is at once both unbelievable and incredible.