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Grief knows no borders. When Chicago's SS Eastland capsized in 1915, the tragedy didn't just devastate local families—it sent shockwaves all the way to Denmark, where anxious relatives waited for news that would forever change their lives.

This episode unveils the forgotten Danish dimension of the Eastland disaster through contemporary Danish newspaper accounts that captured both the personal heartbreak and systemic failures behind the tragedy. We meet Anna Clausen and her eight-year-old daughter Ella, Danish immigrants who perished when the ship rolled over, leaving behind a husband/father and young son. Through Danish journalists' eyes, we witness how their community mourned—with Valkyrie Society members as pallbearers and little girls in white standing beside Ella's casket.

The Danish perspective brings surprising depth to our understanding of the disaster. While Chicago officials worked to contain the narrative, Danish reporters asked pointed questions about safety, oversight, and accountability. "The American is certainly strong in a crisis," wrote one Danish journalist, "but he does not know how to prevent great disasters." This prescient observation feels as relevant today as it did over a century ago.

Beyond the tragedy itself, we explore how Danish immigrants built vibrant communities in Chicago, creating cultural organizations, churches, and networks that connected them both to their new home and to the country they left behind. Their story reminds us that immigrant histories are transnational histories, flowing back and forth across oceans rather than existing in isolation.

How about you? Have you discovered unexpected international connections in your family history research? 

Resources:

• Newspaper articles accessed via Mediestream, Royal Danish Library.
• Danish newspaper articles were translated using a combination of AI tools (ChatGPT, Google Translate) and historical handwriting recognition software (Transkribus), with final review and edits by the author.
• Encyclopedia of Chicago, “Danes” entry, Chicago History Museum.

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Peter Alter—Chief Historian and Director of the Studs Terkel Center for Oral History at the Chicago History Museum—joins me for this episode, and what a conversation it turned out to be.

We nearly had to cancel. A massive Zoom outage hit just before we were set to record. But like all good historians and podcasters, we adapted. Zoom came back to life minutes before our scheduled time, and we hit record.

What followed was a rich, wide-ranging conversation about Chicago’s history, its immigrant communities, and the people who work behind the scenes to keep those stories alive. 

Here are some highlights from our talk:

🧦 The Red Socks Connection

Peter wears red socks to work every day in honor of Studs Terkel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and broadcaster. He shared a great story about helping Studs with a FedEx package back in 1999—and getting a signed note in return.

🏛️ Museum History

Founded in 1856, the Chicago History Museum (still officially the Chicago Historical Society) is one of the city’s oldest cultural institutions—so old, Abraham Lincoln was one of its honorary members.

🖥️ Explore From Anywhere

Peter highlighted several ways to explore Chicago’s past without leaving home:

🌐 Chicago History Museum

📚 Encyclopedia of Chicago 

🌍 Immigrant Communities & Shared Heritage

Peter’s knowledge of Serbian immigrant history in Chicago added real depth to the conversation. It reminded me of how rich and varied the city’s immigrant stories are—like those I’ve uncovered while researching the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America and other Polish fraternal organizations.

We also discovered a shared connection to Carpatho-Rusyn heritage. I’m part Carpatho-Rusyn, and I didn’t expect Peter to know so much about that background. I mean, there are only about 1.5 million of us in the world! We ended up swapping family stories—including one about my aunt’s husband’s father, who worked as Al Capone’s upholsterer. And yes… there were blindfolds and mysterious car rides.

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When history speaks, it rarely does so in just one language.

In this episode of Flower in the River, I take you on a journey I never expected—deep into international newspaper archives that covered the 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago. What started with the discovery of Polish-language coverage has now expanded to include a stunning find: a Norwegian-Danish newspaper called Skandinaven, published right in Chicago for the Scandinavian immigrant community.

Just four days after the disaster, Skandinaven published a nearly 7,000-word article—beating many of the major English-language papers with its depth and detail. Thanks to a mix of old-school research and new AI translation tools, I was able to dig through both language barriers and ornate Fraktur script to uncover scenes that had been buried for over a century.

Some of the most moving accounts come from the hospitals and the river’s edge: a trembling seven-year-old girl whispering, “My mother has drowned. She said goodbye to me.” Or Elmer Nelson, a steelworker (and grandfather of Eastland historian Dave Nelson), who defied orders, cut through the hull, and saved lives trapped below deck.

These aren’t just side notes—they’re core parts of the Eastland story that were lost in translation or never translated at all.

History, as I’ve come to learn, isn’t fixed. It’s living, vibrant, and often louder than we realize—especially when we’re willing to listen across languages and borders. I’ll be continuing this exploration in future episodes, diving into coverage from Hungary, Germany, and Swedish-American newspapers. Because if we’re going to tell the truth about history, we need to hear from everyone—especially the ones who’ve been left out.

Resource

Skandinaven – July 28, 1915 (National Library of Norway)

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A breakthrough discovery reveals how news of the 1915 Eastland disaster reached across the Atlantic to Poland, unearthing voices unheard for over a century. While exploring the Silesian Digital Library—an extraordinary archive of Polish publications spanning from 1892 to 2011—I discovered several newspapers from Silesia that covered Chicago's tragic shipwreck with remarkable detail and emotional connection.

The Gazeta Opolska from September 1915 painted a vivid picture of the disaster, accurately describing how Western Electric pressured workers to attend the company picnic, how safety regulations were ignored, and how the ship capsized "before people realized what was happening." Most striking was their focus on the Polish immigrant experience, noting how "over the Polish, Russian and Czech communities in Chicago, especially in the Hawthorne area, a dark cloud of death hung." Their reporting directly blamed corporate negligence, observing how "company officials enthusiastically rubbed their hands seeing such a large crowd of guests and a great profit" shortly before tragedy struck.

These Polish-language newspapers demonstrate how deeply connected immigrant communities remained to their homelands despite ocean distances. What we witness through these century-old pages is something more profound than mere reporting—it's the revelation of heart connections that transcend borders, where communities separated by thousands of miles still mourned together. The Kuryer Śląski reported "more than 120 Poles also drowned," while the Posel Ewangelicki described funeral scenes where "towers of Polish churches' bells tolled mournfully" and "cries wrenching themselves from thousands of chests shook the air."

This discovery challenges us to reconsider how immigrant communities maintained their identities and connections across vast distances in an era before instant communication. These newspapers, untouched for generations, open new windows into understanding the global impact of what has often been considered a localized Chicago tragedy. 

Resource

SILEISIAN DIGITAL LIBRARY

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The untold stories of Chicago's deadliest disaster continue to emerge from dusty archives and forgotten legal documents. In episode 107, "The 'I Don't Know' Man: From Eastland Disaster to Salvage Czar," we dive deeper into the coroner's inquest that followed the 1915 Eastland tragedy, focusing on the testimony of Daniel W. Gee—a Western Electric employee who helped organize the ill-fated company picnic but whose story has been largely overlooked by historians.

Daniel's testimony reveals the confusion surrounding ticket sales and passenger counts that fateful day. His hesitant responses—filled with "I don't know" and deflections of responsibility—stand in sharp contrast to the confident accounts of certain survivors. Yet beyond this seemingly evasive testimony lies a remarkable life story: this same man later became a key figure in America's WWII salvage efforts, coordinating critical material reclamation across 19 Midwestern states.

Why are so many Eastland stories missing from our collective memory? From legal proceedings that stretched into the 1930s to Treasury Department documents suggesting the vessel was dangerously overloaded, the historical record remains frustratingly incomplete. Still, this drives my ongoing mission to uncover these forgotten voices.

The most gratifying moments come when family members reach out after hearing their relative's story told, often for the first time. These connections remind us that history isn't just about events—it's about people whose lives deserve remembrance and recognition. Join me as we piece together the fragmented history of the Eastland disaster, one overlooked story at a time.

Resources:

• National Archives at Chicago: Steamship Eastland Disaster
• Transcript of Testimony: Coroner Peter Hoffman (1915)

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A long-overlooked document adds a vital missing piece to the Eastland Disaster story.

For over a century, the full account of what happened when the SS Eastland capsized in downtown Chicago has remained incomplete—not because we didn’t know what happened--but because the stories of so many of the people involved were lost, overlooked, or never told.

In this episode, I share how I stumbled on a forgotten 156-page coroner’s inquest from 1915—led by Cook County Coroner Peter Hoffman—that’s been missing from most Eastland history sites and books. It’s packed with survivor testimonies, real-time emotion, and names you’ve probably never heard… because they’ve been left out.

I first came across a two-page summary tucked inside a set of insurance claim files for Eastland victims—people who had been insured through the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, or PRCUA. I found them on FamilySearch, and that tiny breadcrumb led me to something big: the full 156-page coroner’s inquest, hiding in the University of Minnesota’s digital archives… practically in my own backyard. And now? I’m bringing it to light.

Resources:

Transcript of Testimony Before the Coroner's Jury, July 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, on the body of Kate Austin and all others lost by the overturning of the Excursion Steamer Eastland while tied to the dock at Clark and S. Water Streets in the City of Chicago, July 24,1915

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In this episode, I explore a seldom documented incident involving the Eastland steamship from August 1905—ten years before the infamous Eastland Disaster of 1915. This forgotten event reveals important patterns in the ship's troubled history and adds crucial context to understanding the later tragedy.

Episode Highlights:

• Rosemary Pietrzak's Passing: I begin with a tribute to Rosemary Pietrzyk, who passed away at 94. Rosemary was the first person I met who also lost family in the Eastland Disaster, and her insight that "They didn't die on the Eastland, but they died of the Eastland" continues to guide my research.
• The Forgotten 1905 Incident: I share two newspaper articles from August 13, 1905, documenting a serious accident involving the Eastland at South Haven, Michigan. The gasoline ferry launch "Phylidia" was destroyed when it came too close to the Eastland's propellers, causing an explosion that hurled over 20 passengers into the water.
• Burning Water: Several victims suffered burns when the gasoline ignited on the water's surface. Heroic rescuers, including Chicago resident Gordon Eckerson, pulled victims from the blazing water.
• The Major Sisters: I explore the lives of Ethel and Kate Major, two Chicago sisters who survived the 1905 incident. Kate, despite severe burns to her legs, went on to become an accomplished opera singer who performed with John Philip Sousa before her death in 1925.
• Captain Walter Donahue: The launch captain ignored warnings about getting too close to the Eastland's propellers. My research reveals he was a Spanish-American War veteran who later suffered from a devastating illness.
• Hidden Histories: This incident demonstrates how important historical events can be overlooked or forgotten. 

New Short Story by Natalie Zett

• The Eastland Hungers 

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Ever wonder what secrets lie buried in forgotten newspapers and dusty archives? For the victims and survivors of Chicago's deadliest disaster, their stories waited patiently for over a century to be rediscovered.

Genealogy isn't just about filling in branches on a family tree—it's about stories--connective tissue to the past. During this year's RootsTech conference, I've been reflecting on how the marriage of theory and practice has shaped my journey uncovering the forgotten narratives of the 1915 Eastland disaster. As Crista Cowan, the "Barefoot Genealogist," reminds us, meaningful research means going beyond dates and places to understand who our ancestors truly were as complete human beings.

The Eastland's victims—predominantly Eastern European and Southern Italian immigrants—left behind what I call "receipts": newspaper accounts, court testimonies, letters, and other documentary evidence of their existence. These receipts haven't vanished; they've simply been waiting for someone to find them. And now, a growing community of independent researchers is committed to ensuring these stories are finally told.

Take Anna Johnson, whose remarkable premonition aboard the Eastland saved not only her life but those of her sister and brother-in-law. Moving to the starboard side just before the ship capsized, they survived while 812 others perished. Anna's story, published in 1963 as her sister and brother-in-law celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, had been essentially forgotten until recovered through dedicated research.

This podcast has traveled to Europe, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, and beyond—proof that these century-old stories still resonate deeply across time and space. People connect with these narratives because they recognize universal human experiences: love, loss, intuition, resilience.

Ready to discover what receipts your own ancestors left behind? Join me on this journey of historical recovery and see how the past isn't as distant as it might seem. Subscribe to hear more untold stories from the Eastland disaster, and visit flowerintheriver.com to explore this history further.

Resource:

• RootsTech 2025
• Crista Cowan -  The Barefoot Genealogist

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Death came knocking three times—but Bertha Behrend Healy wasn't home.

In this episode, I uncover the jaw-dropping story of a woman who narrowly escaped not one, not two, but THREE of America's deadliest disasters:

• The Johnstown Flood (1889) - A catastrophic dam collapse that killed 2,200+ people while Bertha's family fled to higher ground just in time
• The Iroquois Theatre Fire (1903) - 602 victims perished when Chicago's "fireproof" theatre became a deathtrap, but 11-year-old Bertha's mother kept her home that frigid night
• The Eastland Disaster (1915) - Moments from boarding, Bertha and her husband watched in horror as the steamship capsized in the Chicago River, drowning over 800 people—including six members of the family next door

FAMILY HISTORIES INTERTWINED

In this personal episode, I share the remarkable parallels between my own family history and Bertha's:

• Both our families survived the devastating Johnstown Flood of 1889
• Both fled Pennsylvania for Chicago seeking safety from disaster
• Both families were touched by the Eastland tragedy (my great-aunt perished while Bertha narrowly escaped)
• The shared grief that travels through generations—disaster memories that become part of our family identities

WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER

• Bertha's haunting firsthand account: "Bert! Bert! Please help me!" -- The desperate cries that followed her for decades
• How a traffic delay saved Bertha and her husband from being on the doomed Eastland
• Parallel journeys: How my family and Bertha's family both survived the Johnstown Flood, relocated to Chicago seeking safety, only for both families to be touched by the Eastland disaster
• Why Bertha developed a lifelong fear of water so powerful she once abandoned a trip rather than board a ship
• The remarkable resilience of a woman who maintained her sense of humor despite witnessing so much tragedy

SHARED TRAUMA ACROSS GENERATIONS

The episode explores how disasters create ripples through time, becoming part of our identity even generations later—a shared emotional inheritance that connects my story with Bertha's in ways neither of us could have imagined.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Johnstown Flood documentary (1989) directed by Charles Guggenheim, narrated by David McCullough - Available free on Archive.org
• Iroquois Theatre website
• "Always in the Water, Always in the Heart." Copyright 2025
  Concept by Natalie Zett, Generated via SUNO

"When that sense of humor is gone, everything's gone." - Bertha Behrend H

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In this episode, we explore newly discovered insurance records of Eastland disaster victims through the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA). These records provide unprecedented insight into the aftermath of the tragedy and its impact on Chicago's Polish community.

Key Discoveries

• Previously unsearchable records found through FamilySearch.org's experimental Labs feature
• Approximately 22 Eastland victims identified who held PRCUA life insurance policies
• Documents include detailed death records, beneficiary certificates, coroner's reports, and correspondence

The Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA)

• Founded in 1873
• Oldest and largest Polish American fraternal benefits society in the US
• Introduced life insurance in 1886
• Granted women full membership in 1897 (23 years before US women's suffrage)
• Continues today with over 42,000 members

Why Insurance Mattered to Immigrants

• Working conditions in factories, mines, and mills often dangerous
• Few workplace protections or social safety nets
• No Social Security (didn't exist until later)
• Without insurance, families sometimes faced destitution if breadwinners died

Featured Eastland Victims and Their Records 

*Emma Joschko

• Age: 16
• Joined PRCUA: July 10, 1914
• Death benefit: $250
• Beneficiaries: Parents Jacob and Matilda Joschko
• Member of Polish Society St. Agatha #611

 *Maria Dudek

• Insurance amount: $500
• Joined: July 26, 1910
• Complex case involving:
  • Multiple beneficiaries  
  • International correspondence
  •  American Red Cross inquiry
  •  German birth certificate from Poland

Historical Significance

• Documents written in multiple languages 
• Provides insight into immigrant experience
• Shows community response to mass casualty event
• Reveals complexity of insurance claims process
• Demonstrates importance of fraternal organizations

Pete Hoffman's Role

• Cook County Coroner during Eastland disaster
• Established centralized morgue at Second Regiment Armory
• Convened coroner's jury
• Provided detailed documentation for insurance claims

Resources

• FamilySearch.org/Labs - Experimental search features
• Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA)

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• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
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