The General Slocum Disaster

Geneal Slocum Vessel

The 20th century’s deadliest maritime disaster until eclipsed by the Titanic’s sinking in 1912, and the worst loss of life in New York City until the 9/11 terrorist attack occurred in 1904 when the General Slocum met its gristly end. The ultimate cause was human folly. 

The General Slocum, named for a famed Civil War general and United States congressman, was a 1280 ton wooden steamer used a an excursion vessel. On June 15th, 1904, she was hired by the St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church of Little Germany Manhattan to take German immigrants for what was planned as a delightful summer’s cruise and picnic. It being a Wednesday workday, most of the 1358 passengers were women and children. The route was up the East River through the Hell Gate to the Long Island Sound with a landing at Easton Neck Long Island where they would picnic. 

All went well until nearing the Hell Gate, a fire of unknown origin broke out. Captain Von Schaick, instead of grounding the boat, foolishly kept her afloat, thus steering her into the wind that served to fan the flames. She beached on North Brother Island and then broke free, drifting to Hunts Point Bronx where she sank. 1021 passengers and two crewmen died by fire or drowning. There were 431 survivors. 

The disaster was mostly preventable. Fire hoses were in a state of disrepair. The crew had not practiced a fire drill in over a year. The lifeboats were tied up in such a way as to be inaccessible. Life savers filled with poor quality cork, exposed to the elements for 13 years without being inspected, lost their buoyancy. Finally, like most people of that era, few knew how to swim.

Captain Von Schaik found guilty of criminal negligence was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. He served 3 1/2 years in Sing Sing when President William Howard Taft pardoned him in 1912. 

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