Flower in the River
by Natalie Zett
Discover a gripping historical narrative through the book or audiobook narrated by the author, Natalie Zett. Immerse yourself in the tragic events of The Eastland Disaster that claimed 844 lives, including Natalie's great-aunt, Martha Pfeiffer.
Here Is The Evidence!" (Chicago Tribune Jul 26, 1915 reprint of a 1913 letter by engineer to government inspectors regarding The Eastland).
The blistering sun glared down on the Chicago River as my 19-year-old great-aunt, Martha Pfeiffer, boarded the SS Eastland. Despite not being an employee, she was excited to go to the Western Electric Company picnic. Her sister gave her the tickets so that she could attend the "social event of the year."
Martha mingled with the crowd, oblivious to the impending disaster. Minutes after everyone had boarded, the Eastland shifted abruptly and capsized at the dock.
The catastrophe claimed Martha's life, along with 843 others. For decades, the Eastland Disaster slipped from collective memory—but discovering Martha's fate illuminated a forgotten world. Her story epitomizes the struggle that many immigrant families experienced in those days.
In my book, Flower in the River, I hope to revive Martha's memory and instill an appreciation for our ancestors' hardships and resilience. Through their experiences, we learn about humanity's strength during difficult times and life's fragility. By remembering those lost, we can better understand who we are.
- Natalie Zett
AVAILABLE AT
WHAT IS THE EASTLAND DISASTER?
The Eastland was a passenger ship chartered to carry Western Electric’s employees and families to a company picnic on the other side of Lake Michigan. However, it began filling with water and capsized in the Chicago River.
In total, 844 passengers were killed, including Natalie Zett’s 19 year old great aunt. The Eastland Disaster remains the largest loss of life from a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes.
Flower in the River is a work of historical fiction based on the Eastland Disaster, telling the story of the death of Natalie Zett’s great aunt, Martha Pfeiffer.
It interweaves the past and present of four generations of an Eastern-European immigrant family, and shows how even an unknown trauma can affect a family for generations.
FLOWER IN THE RIVER
NATALIE ZETT
The ripples from the Eastland Disaster of 1915 have flowed through Natalie’s family for over 100 years.
The story began when a former Chicago reporter created a family history and passed it on to her unsuspecting niece, Natalie. Her one request was, “Do something with this!”
Natalie’s research combined with the family history of her great-aunt give her a unique perspective on the Eastland Disaster.
THE PODCAST
FLOWER IN THE RIVER
The Flower in the River podcast is a weekly podcast that talks about how a family story - along with an epic tragedy - were lost, found and brought to life.
