From the Iroquois to the Eastland: One Firefighter, Two Catastrophes

About this episode

The episode explores the life of firefighter Charles C. Morgan and the connection between the Iroquois Theatre Fire and the Eastland Disaster.

Send us Fan Mail A single obituary opened a door to two of Chicago’s most haunting tragedies: the Iroquois Theatre Fire (1903) and the Eastland Disaster (1915). We trace the life of Charles C. Morgan, a Chicago Fire Department truckman who assisted with both tragedies. Along the way, we connect the Iroquois Theater fire and the Eastland disaster, explore what firefighters faced on the line, and surface the reforms that reshaped public safety — outward-opening doors, marked exits, stronger fir...

People in this episode

Host: Natalie Zett

Topics covered

• firefighting
• historical tragedies
• public safety reforms
• Chicago history
• Iroquois Theatre Fire
• Eastland Disaster

Keywords

• firefighter
• Chicago
• tragedy
• safety reforms
• Iroquois Theatre
• Eastland Disaster
• public safety

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chicago Fire Department

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