{"id":954089,"date":"2026-07-24T09:42:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T09:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/954089\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T09:42:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T09:42:18","slug":"today-in-chicago-history-844-people-die-aboard-the-eastland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/954089\/","title":{"rendered":"Today in Chicago History: 844 people die aboard the Eastland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on July 24, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Flashback: July 25, 2012<\/p>\n

\"WilliamWilliam Balfour, who was convicted in the deaths of three family members of singer Jennifer Hudson, was sentenced on July 24, 2012, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

William Balfour<\/a> was sentenced for killing three of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson\u2019s family members in 2008<\/a>. The motive, sources told the Tribune, was an ongoing domestic squabble<\/a> among Balfour; his estranged wife, Julia Hudson (Jennifer\u2019s sister); and Hudson\u2019s family members. Judge Charles Burns imposed consecutive life sentences in the deaths of Hudson\u2019s mother, brother and nephew.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour heart is an arctic night, and your soul is as barren as dark space,\u201d Burns told Balfour in a shaky voice.<\/p>\n

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n

High temperature: 105 degrees (1934)
\nLow temperature: 53 degrees (2000)
\nPrecipitation: 3.64 inches (2010)
\nSnowfall: Trace (1911)<\/p>\n

\"AA victim is carried up the SS Eastland as the steamship lies on its side in the Chicago River after slowly rolling over and drowning 844 people July 24, 1915. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)<\/p>\n

1915: The SS Eastland<\/a> \u2014 packed with Western Electric Co. employees and their families for a day trip to Michigan City, Indiana \u2014 rolled to its side in the Chicago River between LaSalle Drive and Clark Street.<\/p>\n

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Eastland disaster and its aftermath<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

More than 840 people of the 2,500 aboard died, many of them trapped inside the vessel as water poured in when the ship tipped over only a few feet from the riverbank.<\/p>\n

1934:\u00a0Chicago recorded its hottest temperature \u2014\u00a0105 degrees<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"SidSid Luckman, right, shakes the hand of Chicago Bears owner George Halas after signing a two-year contract with the Bears in July 1939. Luckman broke out into another smile a bit later when he was told he had been elected to a place on the Tribune’s All-Star squad. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)<\/p>\n

1939: Columbia University halfback and future Hall of Famer Sid Luckman<\/a> signed his first contract with the Chicago Bears after he was selected by the team with the second pick of the 1939 NFL draft.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot, 197-pound Brooklyn native was voted first-team All-Pro five times in the 1940s.<\/p>\n

The Bears have won nine championships in their 99-year history. Luckman was the quarterback for four of them, in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1946. In 1943 he won the Joe F. Carr Trophy as the NFL\u2019s most valuable player. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame<\/a>\u00a0in 1965.<\/p>\n

The dark secret behind the success of Sid Luckman, the greatest Bears quarterback ever<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n

Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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