Sassiness Saved Her: A Jewish Girl's Narrow Escape from the Eastland
Composite image created by Natalie Zett of the lives of two Jewish families: Brooks-Colombik family and the Widran/Widranovch family. Celia Brooks Colombik (1890-1915) and Sam Widran (1902-1983) perished on the Eastland. They rest now in Waldheim Cemetery, Forest Park, IL.
May their Memory be for a Blessing - Part 2
In Episode 54, Sassiness Saved Her: A Jewish Girl's Narrow Escape from the Eastland. I continue exploring the Jewish legacy of the 1915 Eastland Disaster in Chicago.
Insights from Jewish genealogy experts, Ellen Kowitt and Rhonda R. McClure, on the unique challenges and strategies for tracing Jewish ancestry, including navigating name variations, language barriers, and historical events like pogroms and the Holocaust.
The story of Eastland victim Sam Widran , a 29-year-old Western Electric auditor, and the tragic losses endured by his Jewish immigrant family from Hungary.
Details about 24-year-old Celia Brooks (aka Rooks/Rook/Borak) Colombik, who died in the disaster, leaving behind her husband Frank, a Western Electric employee, her brothers and their families--Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire.
A moving 1915 newspaper account of Frank Colombik's grief upon identifying his wife Celia's body in the Second Regiment Armory morgue.
Selections from a 1974 memoir of Celia's niece Ruth Naiditch (shared in a 2000 article). Ruth shared how she narrowly avoided the Eastland disaster at age 11 because her "bratty" behavior led her uncle to exclude her from the trip.
I emphasize the importance of recording older relatives' stories for family history and express gratitude for the opportunity to share these stories from Chicago's Jewish community.
I hope listeners will watch the linked videos on Jewish genealogy for a deeper understanding of the complexities involved.
Published in the Arlington Heights Daily Herald Suburban Chicago, August 6, 2000.
Ruth Brooks Naiditch
Ruth Brooks Naiditch headstone
Palm Downtown Cemetery, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada.
The Richmond Palladium And Sun Telegram. July26, 1915
Podcast Link: Sassiness Saved Her: A Jewish Girl's Narrow Escape from the Eastland
YouTube Link: Sassiness Saved Her
More about Sam Widran
Jennifer of Posts in the Graveyard gives additional information about Sam Widran and his family. Please check it out.
In summary:
Samuel Widran was both a hero and a victim of the Eastland Disaster. When the ship overturned, he and his friend, Philip Ginsberg, were thrown into the water. Samuel, an expert swimmer, is estimated to have saved around 40 people before tragically losing his life after fracturing his skull while diving back in to help others. Both men perished, and their families held a joint funeral. The Red Cross noted Samuel was in charge of the swimming races at the picnic that day, and there were conflicting reports on his cause of death, either from exhaustion or drowning.
Samuel had been married for seven years to his wife, Rhoda “Rose” Spingold, who was pregnant at the time of his death. Sadly, she miscarried after the tragedy. Rose later remarried and lived out her life in Manhattan, where she had two more sons, one of whom went on to work in Hollywood.
Born in Austria-Hungary, Samuel was the oldest of ten siblings in the Widran (originally Widranowitz) family. His family immigrated to Chicago in the late 19th century. By 1910, Samuel had shortened his surname to Widran, though his parents continued to use the longer version until their deaths in the 1930s and 1940s. Samuel worked as an auditor at Western Electric, earning a significant salary of $26 per week. His widow received a death benefit from Western Electric and a payout from AT&T stock Samuel had invested in.
Samuel is buried alone at Waldheim Cemetery, in a scenic area near the Des Plaines River. His youngest sister, Leona, who was just nine years old at the time of his death, remembered him with love even decades later. Leona lived into her 90s, and the rest of Samuel’s siblings also lived long lives, most into their 70s and beyond.
The Sentinel (v.019 no. 05, 1915) posted an article about Sam Widran and other Jewish people who died on the Eastland.
**THE SENTINEL** v.019 no. 05, 1915
**Heavy Jewish Toll in Eastland Catastrophe**
The burdened hull of the Eastland, which last Saturday morning suddenly turned over and deposited its distracted crew in the Chicago river, carried down into the watery grave many Jewish victims. The list shows the following Jews to have met their loss of life in the wreck, and from whose funerals services were held last week:
- Samuel Widran
- Philip Morris
- Louis Greenberg
- Carl Friedman
- Eleanor Orlinsky
- Mrs. Celia Colander
**The Story of Two “Pals”**
Widran was a true hero of the disaster. He attempted to save his friend, when he himself was struck with a piece of steel that knocked him into the water. He at once struck out and helped to save a score of children.
Two shop mates of Widran, Louis Greenberg and Carl Friedman, both of the Western Electric Company, also gave their lives to save fellow shop mates and little children. Funeral services for the three men were held on Monday and Tuesday of last week. Louis Greenberg was a leader in many activities at the “shop.” He was an athlete and a winner in many of the Western Electric games. His wife saw him in the struggle for life, as they were separated on the boat. Widran was also an ardent ball player and singer in the mixed choir of the Samuel Orthodox Cemetery. A monument will be erected in their memory.
Greenberg and Friedman, though widowers, made bright the lives of their wives while in the “shop,” as they were partners for ten years. Widran, who attempted to save his friend, was a man of strong determination, who, three days before he recovered a button showing ten years of faithful service. Greenberg always asked for leave on Jewish holidays. This request was always honored, and on the previous Passover season, Widran was asked to direct a Passover play at the “shop,” in addition to his engagement with the Samuel Orland mixed choir, at funerals and elsewhere.
The Western Electric Company, which was itself hit by the loss of 350 at work, held memorial services at 5 o’clock last Wednesday morning. The Jewish Relief Society was one of the most active organizations at work in this cause.
Widran was just 20 years old and had only six months of married life. He and his bride had just returned to their home last week, 1359 N. Hermitage Ave. He was a member of the Birth Abraham Benevolent Association.
**Some Who Had Narrow Escapes**
Among the thousands of Jews who went down into the water were three families of girls and men of the Hebrews Order. One girl’s life was saved by an expert diver who swam under the capsized boat and lifted her from a submerged part of the boat. Many were unconscious from the effect of this ordeal when rescued.
**Policeman Jacobson Sounds First Alarm**
Policeman Jacobson of Central station, assigned to the bride detail, was one of the first to realize the situation as the Eastland began careening.
“He saw the boat rock over” and ran to grab a fire alarm box official police stations and fire boat officials, and within 10 minutes the rescue work was in full blast. He tried to rescue a dozen people but was hindered by those who were floating in the water. “If you cannot save them yourself, do not attempt to get their names.”
