TITANIC,The Great Lakes Connections (book)

This book has become a perennial favorite in the inland seas!

In April, 1912, on the maiden voyage of Titanic, the world's newest, largest, and most luxurious passenger ship, 345 of the 1,343 passengers were ultimately bound for the Great Lakes region: 61 made Chicago their destinations, 24 aimed for Detroit, while hundreds more headed for smaller locations and rural settings in Ontario, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and western New York state.

Some were returning to their homes; others hoped to settle in a new land.

Some survived the world's most famous sinking; others never reached their goals.

This book tells their stories. Also included:

-- the similarities between Titanic and her 1912 Great Lakes counterpart, the City of Detroit III

-- tales of two artists on board Titanic who had strong Great Lakes connections, and stories of two Great Lakes artists who have strong Titanic connections!

-- a comparison of England's White Star Line and the Great Lakes' White Star Line

-- the story of Morgan Robertson, the Great-Lakes-born-and-raised writer who uncannily predicted Titanic's loss 14 years earlier

-- the story of the retired Great Lakes captain from Milwaukee who, with his family, was on board Titanic!

-- the effects that Titanic's sinking had upon wireless (radio) development in the Great Lakes

-- the role that Titanic's sinking played in the tragic capsizing of the steamer, Eastland, in Chicago three years later, with more than 800 lives tragically and needlessly lost!

This book explains links to hundreds of Great Lakes people -- both on boardTitanic, and on land; previously untold stories of survivors bound for the Great Lakes -- and why they survived when others didn't!; and MUCH MORE!

6" x 9" softcover, 319 pages,

100+ black-and-white photos,

plus drawings, maps, bibliography, and index.

ISBN 0-9679976-0-7.

Comments from Reviewers and Others:

"Reads like a fast-paced suspense novel."

-- The Herald News, Joliet, Illinois

"...your new Titanic book -- a great work!"

-- Chuck & Jeri Feltner, Great Lakes Maritime Historians

"A good read...filled with information on Titanic victims and survivors that may catch readers by surprise."

-- The South Bend (Indiana) Tribune

"I really do like your book...unusual scope and depth."

-- Jim Clary, Great Lakes Maritime Artist

"...Woodcuts, portraits, clips from old newspapers, historic photos, maps and drawings give readers a glimpse of how the events were presented in their day, but it'sKohl's warm prose that brings tham alive. This book reflects the attention to detail of explorer Cris Kohl and his passion for documenting the history at the bottom of the world's largest freshwater lake system."

-- IMMERSED Magazine

"What a tremendous research resulting in a most compelling read. Congratulations!"

-- Blake Mann, Great Lakes Maritime Historian

"...fascinating.... It is the people stories that propel the book."

-- The Muskegon (Michigan) Chronicle

"Excellent book.... Nice treatment of Samual Ward Stanton and new (to me) information on Francis Millet. Good work!"

-- William Fox, Maritime Historian, Williamsburg, Virginia

"I find [TITANIC, The Great Lakes Connections] especially well written, and it contains information that I cannot imagine how you were able to find.... My sister...is most pleased with your book because you have gone into the personal lives of many of the victims.... I was a merchant seaman from January 1945, until into 1948, and was Radio Officer on the ships. The stories of the wireless operators are especially interesting to me...."

-- John Schroff, Royal Oak, Michigan, nephew to three of the Titanic victims bound for Pontiac, Michigan

"Haunting."

-- The Windsor (Ontario) Star

"...a whale of a lot of research! Glad it was you and not me. You did a really nice job on the book."

-- Ralph Roberts, Great Lakes Maritime Historian

It is a compelling, well-written book...[which] sets an excellent example of what tremendous and arduous research can yield....buy this book, but don't pass it on to anyone else until you have finished it...."

-- Wreck Checker (the newsletter of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago, reviewed by Elizabeth Jurkacek)

"...magnificently illustrated...a must for anyone interested in the Titanic.... This is a book I think you will enjoy."

-- The Mining Journal (Marquette, Michigan)

"The author gleaned fascinating tidbits.... Kohl compiled hundreds of photos, cartoon commentaries, and background facts to give the reader a you-were-there feeling."

-- The Akron (Ohio) Beacon-Journal

"Fascinating, well-written and packed with exhaustive research."

-- The Saginaw (Michigan) News