About this episode
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I share the compelling story of the Wagaman brothers from Pennsylvania, not far from Gettysburg. In 1915, both were aboard the Eastland when it capsized in the Chicago River—one as the ship’s chief cook, the other as a last-minute passenger who couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong that morning. And he was right.What followed was a dramatic survival story involving floating wreckage, a heroic rescue, and a loss that still haunts. But their story didn’t end there: Bernard went on to become the very first mayor of Bradenton Beach, Florida. Louis stayed closer to home, deeply involved in his Pennsylvania community.And yet, despite their extraordinary survival—and civic contributions—these brothers’ names don’t appear in Eastland history books…until now.We also touch on:An Eastland Disaster family reaching out with powerful stories (and a pronunciation correction!)Why “findability” matters in family history A forgotten Eastland hero who deserves to be rememberedResources:From Factory Floor to Fighting Ring: Another Eastland StoryBonded in Tragedy: The Role of Fraternal Orders in the Eastland DisasterNewspaper Sources for This EpisodeGettysburg Times, July 28, 1915The Gazette (York, PA), August 28, 1915The Bradenton Herald, February 29, 1952New Oxford Item (New Oxford, PA), September 2, 1915Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist
