Ship ablaze : the tragedy of the steamboat General Slocum / Edward T. O'Donnell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

O'Donnell, Edward T., 1963-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

General Slocum (Steamboat).

Fires--New York (State)--New York--History--20th century.

Fires.

Ships--Fires and fire prevention--New York (State)--New York--History--20th century.

Ships.

Ships--Fires and fire prevention.

History.

New York (N.Y.)--History--1898-1951.

New York (N.Y.).

National Book Committee.

New York (State)--New York.

Physical Description:

332 pages : illustrations, map ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Broadway Books, 2003.

Summary:

There were few experienced swimmers among over 1,300 Lower East Side residents who boarded the "General Slocum" on June 15, 1904. It shouldn't have mattered, since the steamship was chartered only for alanguid excursion from Manhattan to Long Island Sound. But a fire erupted minutes into the trip, forcing hundreds of terrified passengers into the water. By the time the captain found a safe shore for landing, 1,021 had perished. "Ship Ablaze" draws on firsthand accounts to examine why the death toll was so high and how the city responded. Masterfully capturing both the horror of the event and the heroism of men, women, and children who faced crumbling life jackets and inaccessible lifeboats as the inferno quickly spread, historian Edward T. O'Donnell brings to life a bygone community while honoring the victims of that forgotten day.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [327]-332).

ISBN:

0767909054

OCLC:

51297299