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Death on the River Trivia Quiz

The story of the SS Eastland is a maritime disaster that has to some extent been hidden in the annals of history. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of Chicago you will find the location of the disaster, but what do you know about it?

A multiple-choice quiz by mmaryj. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
mmaryj

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
385,777

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
111

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. On the morning of July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland was docked between the LaSalle St. and Clark St. bridges on the Chicago river. She was just one of several ships that were chartered to carry passengers to Michigan City, Indiana. This was a yearly family picnic for employees of which company? Hint

Chicago Power & Gas

General Electric

Western Electric - Hawthorn Works

Edison Electric

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Question 2 of 10

2. This outing was the social event of the year for employees and their families. Approximately how many people in total were scheduled for passage from Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana? Hint

5500

6200

4700

7000

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Question 3 of 10

3. The SS Eastland, being the largest vessel, was boarded first, and it is estimated that a count of 2500 were allowed to board. Within minutes the ship started listing. The crew made attempts to right her by adding water to the ballast to correct her list, but within minutes she was resting port side down in the Chicago river. How many lives were lost? Hint

690

None

460

844

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the Michigan City Park where the picnic was due to take place? Hint

Lincoln Park

Michigan City Beach

Michigan City Park

Washington Park

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Question 5 of 10

5. Many local buildings near the disaster were quickly turned into makeshift morgues. One in particular was the 2nd Regiment Armory on West Washington. True or false: was this armory later turned into Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios?

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who was the captain of the SS Eastland at the time of her sinking? Hint

Capt. William Davis

Capt. David Anderson

Capt. Adam Snider

Capt. Harry Pederson

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Question 7 of 10

7. Three months after the sinking, the SS Eastland was once again docked on the Chicago River. Her owners sold her to the Naval Reserve and she was refitted to be a Naval Reserve training gunship. With what name was she recommissioned by the Naval Reserve? Hint

USS Wilmetta

USS Drake

USS Masterson

USS Panama

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Question 8 of 10

8. From the time of her launching in 1903, the SS Eastland had been plagued by a series of disasters that questioned the safety of this ship. True or False?

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. In 1902 the Michigan Steamship Company commissioned construction of SS Eastland, intended to be the quickest passenger ship on the Great Lakes. She was commissioned to be built by a company from Port Huron, Michigan. What was the name of this company? Hint

James Great Lakes

Jacks Maritime Builders

Huron Ship Works

Jenks Shipbuilding Company

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Question 10 of 10

10. The last body to be claimed was that of an unknown child nicknamed "Little Fellow", also known as body #396. How was he eventually identified? Hint

By his sister

By his priest

By his teacher

By two friends

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Western Electric - Hawthorn Works

Company picnics were quite an event at this time in history. The normal working week consisted of 6 days, so a day of family pleasure was not to be missed. Michigan City, Indiana, was a popular location for such days out, with its beach, roller-coaster, carousel and other activities.

2. This outing was the social event of the year for employees and their families. Approximately how many people in total were scheduled for passage from Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana?

Answer: 7000

The majority of passengers were women and children, all dressed in their Sunday finest as would have been customary on such outings.

Answer: 844

Of the 844 lives lost, 472 were women, 290 were children, and 82 were men, plus a loss of 4 crew members. It is estimated that 22 complete families perished.

4. What was the name of the Michigan City Park where the picnic was due to take place?

Answer: Washington Park

Michigan City at the turn of the 1900s turned the desolate areas of sand dunes overlooking Lake Michigan into a bustling amusement park setting, that was intended to be easily accessible to the residents of Chicago by just a short cruise.

Answer: True

Oprah Winfrey located her production studio at this location, and rumors persisted through the years that the place was haunted. Voices of children were reported to be heard, along with screams and crying. There have also been reports of ghosts haunting the studios.

6. Who was the captain of the SS Eastland at the time of her sinking?

Answer: Capt. Harry Pederson

Captain Pederson, the ship's engineer, and four of its owners were charged with being responsible for the capsizing. All stood trial but were found not guilty. Interesting tidbit; all six were represented by Clarence Darrow.

Answer: USS Wilmetta

The USS Wilmetta remained a Naval Reserve training vessel until she was decommissioned in 1945. Unable to be sold, she was scrapped two years later.

8. From the time of her launching in 1903, the SS Eastland had been plagued by a series of disasters that questioned the safety of this ship. True or False?

Answer: True

Soon after her launch she experienced her first incident of listing. It was initially blamed on overcrowding on the upper decks, although it was found that design flaws left her top heavy. She had been designed narrow for speed, not capacity. Again in 1906, another case of listing occurred.

This brought concern and her passage capacity was reduced several times, from 3300 in 1903 to 1125 by 1915. Just weeks prior to her disaster, inspectors had granted her a new certificate of capacity to allow for 2500 passengers.

It has been suggested that the additional weight of extra lifeboats could be factored into her listing.

Answer: Jenks Shipbuilding Company

The Jenks Shipbuilding Company was located on the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan, and started operations in 1889. In 1903 it changed its name to Port Huron Shipbuilding, but closed down a few years later.

10. The last body to be claimed was that of an unknown child nicknamed "Little Fellow", also known as body #396. How was he eventually identified?

Answer: By two friends

He was identified at his funeral by two friends as Willie Novotny, aged 7. Both his parents, James and Agnes Novotny, along with his sister Mamie (9 years) also perished in this horrible tragedy. He was finally claimed by his grandmother after his identity was confirmed.

Over 5000 people, many of them immigrants, attended the funeral of the unknown "Little Fellow". Many of those who perished were Polish, Czech and Hungarian immigrants who came to America to find a better life for their families. Such a disaster as this has slipped into the annals of forgotten history of Chicago and the United States.

Source: Author mmaryj

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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