On a sunny June morning in 1904, the steamboat General Slocum, filled with members of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, embarked on a leisurely excursion intended for celebration. The passengers, largely German immigrants from Manhattan's Little Germany neighborhood, were looking forward to a day of picnicking at Locust Grove on Long Island Sound. Tragically, the outing turned deadly when a fire ignited onboard. Panic ensued as the flames swiftly engulfed the wooden vessel. Safety measures

#DidYouKnow 💭 That one of New York City’s deadliest maritime tragedies unfolded on a sunny Sunday in 1904 when the excursion steamboat General Slocum erupted in flames and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand people in less than 30 minutes? The ship was packed with members of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, mostly women and children headed to a church picnic. Onboard safety gear was useless, fire hoses were rotten and lifeboats could not be freed, turning what should have bee

28K views · 146 reactions | On June 15, 1904, the steamship General...