7 Illinois Tragedies That Made National News And We'll Never Forget
By Amanda Glandon
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Published March 06, 2017
Unfortunately, Illinois has experienced its fair share of tragedies. From natural disasters to horrible accidents, we have truly seen it all. Our fair state has made the news for many occurrences over the years, but these are some of the worst incidents that we just can’t get out of our minds:
1. Cherry Mine Disaster, 1909
One of the worst mining accidents in US history happened in this Illinois mine when some hay caught on fire. In all, 259 men and boys died.
Read more about this tragedy here.
2. Oak Lawn Tornado, 1967
This group of tornadoes came seemingly out of nowhere, and ultimately killed 58 people. Vehicles were thrown across highways and 152 homes were distroyed; it was a devastating sight.
Read more about this tragedy here.
3. Western Electric Tragedy, 1915
A ship meant to take employees and their families to a picnic in Michigan City, Indiana from Chicago quickly began to tip over. Once it was all over, 844 people passed away.
Read more about this tragedy here.
4. Southern Illinois Tornado, 1925
Illinois experienced the worst tornado in American history, flattening towns all across the southern part of the state. 695 people were reported dead, and thousands were injured.
Read more about this tragedy here.
5. Chicago Blizzard, 1967
A huge blizzard hit the Chicagoland area, halting traffic and shutting the city down. 26 people died, and over 50,000 cars were left stranded during the storm.
Read more about this tragedy here.
6. Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, 1929
This horrible occurrence was said to be led by Al Capone himself. Seven men were murdered by members of the Mob disguised as police officers.
Read more about this tragedy here.
7. Camp Douglas, 1863-65
This was one of the largest Confederate prisoner of war camps during the Civil War. Conditions were horrible, and though an exact death toll is unknown, it is estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 people died there.
Read more about this tragedy here.
Need some cheering up? Here are 13 Reasons Why Illinois is the Best State .
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