Notes for John Lambert Larson

John L. Larson went with his friend Morris Robel, an employee of the Western Electric Company on a planned excursion on the S.S. Eastland to Michigan City, Indiana on July 24, 1915. Both were drowned when the steamer capsized in the Chicago River on that Saturday morning. The incidence was described on a website devoted to the disaster:

“…..On the morning of July 24, 1915, the lake passenger steamer Eastland cast off from the Chicago River dock at the Clark Street Bridge with 2,572 people aboard. Immediately the ship listed away from the dock, righted herself, listed again and slowly rolled over on her side and settled on the mud of the river bottom. Some of those on board, all Western Electric Company employees and their families, were able to jump into the water and swim ashore, but 844 excursionists lost their lives before rescuers reached them, making the Eastland disaster by far the worst in the city's history in terms of loss of life……..” The passenger list of the Eastland listed John as being 23 years of age and single.

Reported in the Chicago Sunday Tribune July 25, 1915 on page 1:
Steamer Eastland Disaster: List of identified Dead: John Larson, 24 years old, residence 846 Aldine Avenue, Chicago, Identified by father Sigfred Larson, Morris Robell 853 King Place, Chicago,

Chicago Sunday Tribune: July 31, 1915
Funeral Notice: John Larson 23 years old, 846 Aldine Avenue, Chicago was a teacher of a Sunday School class in the Wellington Avenue Congregational Church. While not employed by the Western Electric company, he went on an excursion with his friend Morris Robel who was also drowned. Mr. Larson was a Mason. Funeral was held Wednesday July 28, 1915 from the Wellington Avenue Congregational Church in Graceland.

"Lane Tech boys pay Tribute to their Dead. Here's a unique tribute to the memory of the Eastland dead. Within two days after the tragedy students at the summer school conducted in the he lane Technical High School had prepared a special edition of their school weekly containing memorials of the five Lane boys who perished in the disaster.
Morrie Robel, Capt. of the baseball team in 1915
Henry Berquist, a member of the Moody Church Sunday School
Adolph Redlich, who had a "vacation job" with the Westen Electric Co.
John Larson and Henry Ehrhardt.”

This edition was printed in the school print shop and sold among the students and friends of the school. Yesterday, the proceeds of 102. 61 were brought to the Tribune office of addition to its relief fund. Lane Technical High School is located at the intersection of Addison Street and Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois."

Reported in Chicago Tribune Sunday July 6, 1930 in part one on page 5:
Photo of U.S.S. Wilmette-Naval Reserve sails for two weeks' training cruise. The U.S.S. Wilmette as it sailed yesterday with more than 300 members of the naval reserve for two weeks' training cruise. The Wilmette is the old Eastland steamer, overturned in the Chicago river with loss of hundreds of lives. It was rebuilt after the disaster.

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