9. The General Slocum disaster occurred during a church picnic excursion
General Slocum was a paddle-wheel steamer which operated out of New York, primarily as a chartered excursion boat by 1904, at which time the vessel was 13 years old. During those 13 years the vessel suffered a series of mishaps and accidents, often running aground, but few injuries to passengers or crew. In June 1904 the vessel was chartered by the St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church to convey members to a picnic ground on Long Island, an annual event then in its 17th year. About 1,400 men, women, and children boarded the vessel, which got underway at 9.30 in the morning to cruise up the East River and then across Long Island Sound to the picnic grounds near Eatons Neck. Sometime around ten, a fire was reported to the captain.
Probably started by a carelessly discarded cigar or cigarette, the fire spread quickly. The captain remained on the course rather than trying to steer for the shore or landings along the New York waterfront. Fire hoses had not been maintained and were rotten, as were the lifejackets. Some passengers threw themselves into the East River, where they drowned, dragged down by their sodden clothing. General Slocum finally sank near the Bronx. Over 1,000 men, women, and children died from the result of the fires or drowned in the river. Only five of the 40 man crew died. The captain survived. He later was sentenced to ten years in prison for failing to maintain his vessel, he served just over three. It was the largest loss of life in a single incident in New York City until September 11, 2001.
