Titanic and the Cherry Mine Disaster -- Stark Similarities
Several Cherry Mine Disaster authors gathered in Cherry, Illinois, on November 11, 2023, for the town's annual weekend commemoration. Via the magic of Zoom, I was fortunate to join the Authors' Forum and audience of disaster descendants and history buffs to discuss a new aspect of this historic, precedent-setting, little-known tragedy.
Genealogical research on my paternal grandfather, John Tintori, who died before I was born, brought me various puzzle pieces about the 1909 disaster he survived. While sitting in a movie theater watching Titanic, I told myself, "You're sitting on Titanic in a coal mine. Write the book." With a trip to Cherry and Princeton, Illinois, The Cherry Library and Museum, access to the 700-page coroner's report, newspapers from the time, and other primary materials, the puzzle pieces finally fit and I dove deep to write TRAPPED: THE 1909 CHERRY MINE DISASTER.
The two disasters occurred within sixteen months -- the first in a mine declared fireproof, the second on a ship declared unsinkable. The analogies do not stop there. One after another, I discovered uncanny similarities between Titanic and Cherry, prior to, during, and in the aftermaths.
Watching my recorded Zoom presentation, I hope you find these parallels as fascinating as I do.
IA Literati Day Chicago 2022 -- Remembering The Cherry Mine Disaster
Thanks to Dominic Candeloro, Curator of the Casa Italia Library in Chicago, for the invitation to share the story of the Cherry Mine disaster at the 2022 IA Literati Day. Special thanks to fellow writer and descendant of Italian immigrant coal miners, Terry Quilico, for the best introduction I have ever received.
The United States' worst coal mine fire for loss of life took place less than 90 miles from Chicago, yet remains a little known but important piece of U.S.A., mining, and labor history. My book, Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster, is an extensive account of that tragedy and its aftermath.
I am proud to share Terry's introduction and my presentation.
Talking Books and All Things Italian with Frankie D
Frankie D and I had a great conversation about the two narrative nonfiction books I've written based on my family stories.
Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster was born from learning as a tiny girl that the grandfather who died before I was born, John Tintori, survived the historical mine disaster. Most of the 259 victims, like my grandfather, were Italian immigrants who came from Apennine towns in the province of Modena, Italy.
Unto the Daughters: The Legacy of an Honor Killing in a Sicilian American Family comes from an eighty-year family secret kept by my maternal grandmother's side of the family, immigrants from Sicily.
Frankie D is a great interviewer and I look forward to meeting him in person at Casa Italia's Literati Day. I hope you enjoy listening to us as much as I enjoyed speaking with him on Italian American Life Podcast.
Join Me for Casa Italia's Literati Day, May 21, 2022
I am excited to join Christina Marrocco and fellow Italian American authors for Casa Italia's 2022 Literati Day on Saturday, May 21, 2022. This yearly celebration of Italian American authors will be in person this year and will also be taped and made available later on YouTube. I will be discussing Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster, a tragedy of historical significance that took place less than 90 miles from Chicago, and also Unto the Daughters: The Legacy of an Honor Killing in a Sicilian American Family, and talking about publishing today.
Christina will be reading from her debut novel, Addio, Love Monster, which will be published by Ovunque Press on June 1, 2022, a beautiful book I highly recommend.
To register, contact Casa Italia Library.
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