SS Eastland: The Shipwreck That Should Have Been Impossible

On July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland rolled onto its side in the Chicago River while still tied to the dock. There was no storm, no collision, and no open water, yet 844 people died only feet from shore.In this episode of Lake Effect: Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes, we follow the Eastland’s disturbing history, the warning signs that came years before the disaster, the unbelievable scenes as the ship overturned during a company picnic, and the frantic rescue effort as workers cut through the hull to reach people trapped inside.How does a passenger ship sink in downtown Chicago before it even begins its voyage?The story of the SS Eastland is one of the strangest and most infuriating maritime disasters in American history.