Short Stories-Creative Writing Class

The Short Journey of the Eastland

     Hey Everyone! So this is a true story that happened in the Chicago river. It happened only two years after the Titanic and it tipped over because of the uneven weight that made the ship very unstable. I personally think this has to be one of my best stories I wrote in the class because I love writing about a true historical events! So I hope you enjoy this tragic story of the Eastland.

                “Alright everyone, please take your seats. Mr. Watson would like to share something” The Principle informed the small middle school class. I sat in a wooden chair looking out over the audience feeling the remorse and regret bubbling up inside of me. I felt my memory rewind back to Saturday, July 24, 1915.

                I closed my eyes seeing the ship reveal it’s self to me. Its big walls towering over me like the other buildings surrounding it. The Chicago River held a crystal blue tint to it and I couldn’t help but stare.  I held on to my mom’s hand as she pointed out the entrance to the metal ship. My dad was already on the ship talking to his co-workers and already unpacked our entire luggage.

                The ship sat in the river perfectly, although it rocked a bit, no one was worried. I could see people boarding the ship with smiles spread across their faces, hardly noticing the rocking. I felt excitement build up inside of my 10-year-old body, hardly believing the adventure this ship could bring.

                As we made our way onto the ship, we walked through the lobby and dining area which held lights, red velvet chairs, officers in blue jackets, and a ball room with music. We climbed the stairs to the top deck and looked over the edge. We saw building all around and we could feel the heads looking down at us from the towering buildings. My mom went over by the band that was playing on the other side of the deck as I went down into the cabin to grab my teddy bear so we could both watch the ship depart.

                The halls were like a maze but I eventually found the room. As I walked in and got my teddy, I felt my legs buckle under me. I got up but looked out the little round glass window in the corner of the room and saw the river slowly ease its way up to the window. ‘It must just me the ship leaving the dock’ I thought to myself. I took teddy and walked out of the room and was on my way back up to the top deck when I heard screaming. I looked around the deserted hallway and heard someone screaming behind a door.

                “Hello?” I called out, trying to yell over the sound.

                “Please! Please! Someone help!” a women called out. I tried reaching for the handle to the door but felt myself fall instead by the tilting of the room. I finally got my hands around the handle and forced the door open. Water rushed out at me with a woman holding a baby. She screamed and hugged me fast.

                “We need to get you out of here!” She yelled over the other screams that shortly erupted.

                “But-“I tried to say but was shortly interrupted by the pulling and yanking of her arms around me as she ran down the hall.

                “No!” She screamed looking back behind her. The floors were soaking wet and I held teddy to me tighter.

                “Please little boy, take my baby, I forgot-“She cut herself off as she ran down the hallway back to her room. I held the baby close to me and felt my legs buckle again. I picked myself up but was greeted by a wave of water running at me from the other end of the hall. I turned and ran up the stairs to the lobby and saw the big chandeliers shaking and rocking back and forth. People were screaming, running, and shoving, trying to save themselves. I immediately knew something was wrong and dashed to the stairs.

                I wiggled and squeezed myself through the bodies of people with the women’s baby still in my arms. When I got up on top deck people began jumping off the side of the ship, running off the exit plank . . . until it broke.

                People fell down three flights onto the hard pavement. I ran to the other side of the ship that was on its side. Everything happened in such a rush that I barely remember what actually happened. I held the now crying baby and my teddy in one arm to use my other arm to hold myself to the rising side of the ships ledge. People slid down the deck, the band and their instruments fell too.

                The Eastland finally fell directly on its left side and rested on the river floor. I stood up on the right side of the ship and looked through the groups of people for my mother or father.

                “Mom?! Dad?!” I yelled over the people.

                No answer.

                I began to cry and felt a pair of hands reach around me. I looked around and saw an officer pick me up and bring me to the dock. I struggled for freedom, to possibly find my mother or father, but knew it was hopeless.

                I will never find them.

                I sat at one of the ambulances looking out over the people at the slipped boat.

                “Timmy!” I recognized the voice as my mothers and ran out to her. We hugged and I could feel her warm tears run onto my neck. I gave the baby to the paramedics and they gave it to its father. Me and my mother gazed over the sunken ship and knew that dad was somewhere in there, never to return. My cheeks were moist from all the tears I shredded that day.

                As days went on, scuba divers went into to take out the bodies. Although they worked all night and day, I bet bodies from the disaster still linger at the bottom of the river.

                I quickly got pulled out of my trance when I heard my name being called. Heads of eager kids looked up at me to hear my life story. I blew out a breath of air and started, “It was Saturday, July 24, 1915. . .”.