9.6K views · 146 reactions | SS General Slocum: A Forgotten NYC Maritime Disaster! #maritime #shipwreck #ocean #disaster | Most Amazing ELITE | Facebook

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On June 15, 1904, the steamship General Slocum caught fire while traveling through New York’s East River. Within minutes, flames tore across the wooden decks, trapping hundreds of families onboard. Many passengers jumped into the water — only to drown because they couldn’t swim. The ship burned to its frame and sank shortly after. Of the 1,342 people on board, 1,021 died, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in American history. The charred remains of the Slocum haunted the river lo

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