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- Jun 27, 2007
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July 24, 1915 was supposed to be a joyous occassion for the employees of Western Electric in Cicero, Illinois. WE had chartered 5 boats to take its employees to a company outing in Michigan City IN, just across the lake. The Eastland was loaded with 2500 passengers, its absolute limit, and cast off. This ship was notoriously unstable, it began lurching back and forth and finally capsized within 25 feet of shore. Most of the people could not swim, and women were also affected by their clothing. When it was over 884 people were dead, including 22 entire families. This event was not a moment of pride for the city, a fireboat a block away was delayed in response because of the indecision of the captain and a possible boiler explosion, police did nothing to rescue those in the water, and a janiator charged gawkers a dime a head to view the bodies that were laid out in the street. This happened on a Saturday, on Monday people began showing up at the Hawthorne Works to fill the jobs of those who were not yet buried. The American Red Cross states that only 46 % can tread water for a minute, or swim 25 yards.