Browsing: July 24

A Brief History On July 24, 1814, British forces under Phineas Riall marched to the Niagara River to halt an American force from invading Canada.  The War of 1812 is misunderstood by many Americans, with most Americans assuming the US won the war, when the truth is much more like a tie at best.  The British never intended to conquer the US, as they were busy with Napoleon and bigger issues than the US.  The war was more about a punitive expedition by the British.  The final battle, after the war was over, in New Orleans was an American victory…

A Brief History On July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland, a passenger ship only 265 feet long and 38 feet wide, rolled over while tied up at dock, killing 848 people, the greatest loss of life in any Great Lakes maritime disaster. Digging Deeper The Eastland had been in service since 1903, carrying passengers from Chicago to South Haven and back for 3 years, and then back and forth from Cleveland and Cedar Point for the next 8 years.  In 1914 she changed hands again and worked the Chicago to St. Joseph, Michigan route. After the Titanic disaster, maritime safety laws…