The Diver and the Janitor: Heroes, Loss, and the Price of Tragedy

Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

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*Content warning: This episode contains a brief mention of suicide*
In this episode of Season 3, I explore two powerful stories from the 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago that showcase both heroism and devastating loss.

Meet Captain Dan Donovan: Chicago's Hero Diver

I take you into the world of early 20th century Chicago with Captain Dan Donovan, the city's chief diver whose extraordinary career spanned decades. From battling ice-choked waters to maintain Chicago's crucial water infrastructure to his heroic work during the Eastland disaster, Donovan's story is one of incredible bravery and dedication.

Some highlights from Captain Donovan's remarkable life:

- Recovered 148 bodies from the Eastland disaster

- Served as Chicago's chief diver from 1898

- Known for taking on the most dangerous underwater missions

- Performed an eight-hour continuous dive at 40 feet deep in 1898

- Remained active until his death at age 68 aboard a tugboat

A Love Story Cut Short: John and Fanny Salak

I also share the heartbreaking tale of John and Fanny Salak, a young couple whose story exemplifies a profound truth about the disaster: some people "didn't die on the Eastland, but they died of the Eastland." Married in 1913, their lives were forever changed when the Eastland capsized. Fanny perished in the disaster, and John, unable to bear the loss, followed just days later.

My Research Approach

- Newspaper archives

- Genealogical records

- Family histories

- Municipal records

- Personal stories

The episode emphasizes the importance of thorough documentation and proper citations in historical research, drawing inspiration from Elizabeth Schoen Mills' approach: "An ancestor is not a name and a set of dates on a chart. An ancestor was a living, breathing human being with a heart and soul."
Links:

• Elizabeth Shown Mills reveals her secret to success in genealogy
• Historic Pathways Elizabeth Shown Mills
• Evidence Explained

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• LinkTree: @zettnatalie | Linktree
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Fejezetek

1. The Diver and the Janitor: Heroes, Loss, and the Price of Tragedy (00:00:00)

2. The Eastland Disaster and Genealogy (00:00:07)

3. Diving Risks in Chicago Water Maintenance (00:09:01)

4. Heroic Life of Captain Dan Donovan (00:21:32)

5. Remembering the Eastland Disaster (00:38:22)