The Eastland: Early Years and Challenges (1903-1907) - Part 2

Aug 10

Before the SS Eastland became infamous for the 1915 disaster in Chicago, it had a complex and troubled history. This blog post explores the early life of the Eastland, from its construction to the years leading up to the tragedy.

ACCURACY: New findings may make some of this information obsolete and/or inaccurate.

NOTE: This account is adapted from information originally published by the Eastland Memorial Society, whose website is no longer active but can be accessed through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. They did a great job and deserve recognition for their early work.

The 1903 Season

The Eastland's inaugural season revealed both strengths and weaknesses. While showing no signs of instability, the ship fell short of its targeted speed, reaching only 19 miles per hour. The water ballast system underperformed, and the ship frequently damaged its propeller blades on the sandbar off South Haven and in the Black River.
Due to these performance issues, the Eastland returned to Port Huron on September 22nd for modifications. The Jenks Shipbuilding Company, now a shareholder in the Michigan Steamship Company, was responsible for meeting the performance incentives in the construction contract.

1904: Modifications and Challenges

To enhance performance, several modifications were made:

Addition of a McCreery ventilation (air-conditioning) system
Installation of an Ellis and Eaves induced draft system for increased speed
Rearrangement of machinery to improve draft

However, these changes had unintended consequences. The additional weight reduced the Eastland's metacentric height and inherent stability, though it did increase her speed.

The Race with the City of South Haven

Returning to service on May 9, 1904, the Eastland, now allowed a passenger capacity of 3,300, was advertised as the fastest ship to Chicago. This claim was contested by the owners of the City of South Haven, leading to a much-anticipated race. The Eastland won decisively, reaching speeds slightly over 22 miles per hour, earning the title "Speed Queen of the Lakes."

1904 Incident

On July 17, 1904, the Eastland experienced a severe listing incident with about 3,000 passengers aboard. The ship listed dangerously to both port and starboard, with water flooding the main deck. Quick action in relocating passengers and adjusting ballast prevented a potential disaster. This incident, visible from South Haven, alarmed the public and led to a request to lower her capacity to 2,800.

1905-1907: Ownership Changes and Further Modifications

Financial strain from continuous modifications led to the Michigan Steamship Company's restructuring. Key events include:

December 1905: Sold to Robert Blacker for $100,000
Company reorganized as Michigan Transportation Company
1906-1907: Co-partnership with Dunkley-Williams as the Chicago-South Haven Line

Before the 1907 season, the Eastland was sold again to a group of Cleveland investors for $150,000. They formed the Lake Shore Navigation Company and relocated the ship to Lake Erie.

Throughout these years, the Eastland underwent further modifications, including:

Removal of 49 aft cabins
Hull repairs due to sandbar damage
Addition of a fourth pair of lifeboats
Repainting of the hull from dark green to white

Despite periodic stability issues, the Eastland maintained a generally satisfactory safety record during this period, apart from the notable incidents mentioned.

natalie zett

I've been a writer, actor, photographer, and musician and have worked as a freelance journalist for magazines and papers since I was in my late teens.

My favorite writing job was working for an award-winning community newspaper in Saint Paul, the Park Bugle.

I’ve also taught others how to write for community newspapers at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, MN. And, during the last few years, I became a family historian.

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