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The Eastland was a ship that disaster struck back in July of 1915. It was set to sail up the Chicago River to Michigan City. The Western Electric Co. was taking their employees and family on a day cruise and picnic. The Eastland was one of four ships set to sail that day. Unfortunately, the Eastland hardly made it past the port. No sooner than they were to cast off, the ship began to lurch. Within seconds, it was on its side with water gushing into the vessel.
People were being pushed thru portholes where men were trying to help pull them out to safety. Although, many were saved, many lost their lives. People were jumping into the river trying to pull them to shore. Mothers screaming for their children. There were just too many people to save them all. Women with their long dresses were being pulled underwater due to the weight of their drenched clothing. Many were just trapped inside of the cabin with no way out.
Hundreds of voices screaming for help, trying to stay afloat in the river. One woman who did survive recalled how she was forced under water by all the layers of bodies that were also fighting for thier lives. She was forced down to the river's bottom and was horror stricken to see the baby carriages littering the Chicago River's floor. Thankfully, she was able to fight her way back up to the top for air and did survive.
All in all, 835 people lost their lives that day. As the recovered bodies lay in the street, thieves tried to take advantage of the situation and rob them of their belongings. Picking the pockets of the dead. The crowd that was gathering beat up the robbers and volunteered their vehicles to take the bodies away to the make shift morgue that was set up down the street at the 2nd Regiment Armory on West Washington Blvd.
That address is NOW part of Harpo Studios. This is where Oprah Winfrey tapes her daily talk show. To say that this would make for good haunting grounds would be an understatement! A security guard that worked for Harpo for 3 years told a reporter: "I can say for sure that there are spirits walking the halls."
The guard received a call from a woman that was working there late one night stating that "There are people outside my door, I can hear them laughing". She was extremely shaken. Once the guard arrived, the woman admitted to opening the door to see no one and yet the laughter and talking continued.
Other reports have included hearing mournful sobbing, whispering, the sound of old time music and marching footsteps of a large crowd. Doors slam shut without anyone being around them. There is a specter that has been seen by several people who has been nicknamed the Gray Lady. She has even made an appearence on the security camera. She is dressed in a floor length dress and is wearing an old fashioned hat. Just like the women were wearing back in July 1915.
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