Category: Ship Disasters
Postcards & Penny Presses: How One New Jersey City Profited from the Morro Castle Disaster
The SS Morro Castle, flagship of the Ward Line, caught fire on September 8, 1934. The Coast Guard attempted to tow the stricken liner but was unsuccessful. The Morro Castle broke free. Onlookers ashore reportedly cheered when the tow line snapped, and the smoldering ship started drifting. She ultimately came to rest on the Jersey…
Tragedy, Mystery, and Exploitation: The Morro Castle Disaster at 90
A disaster was unfolding along the New Jersey coast in the early morning hours of September 8, 1934. The SS Morro Castle, flagship of the Ward Line, was burning out of control in the middle of a fierce storm. Spectators on land could see the orange glow clear as day. Only one SOS call had…
Ship of Secrets: The Titanic’s LGBTQ+ History
The Titanic is arguably the most famous ship in history. It seems that just about everyone knows the tragic story of the ship and her ill-fated maiden voyage. Books like Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember and the blockbuster film Titanic (1997) have certainly helped with this. But as Bill Paxton’s Brock Lovett said in…
The Four Chaplains and the Sinking of USAT Dorchester
During World War II, scores of ocean liners were converted into troop transports for the Allied war effort. Mighty ships like Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Aquitania were pressed into service along with more humble liners like Evangeline, Yarmouth, and Borinquen. These ships collectively transported millions of Allied servicemen and women to all theaters of…
Vanished Without a Trace: The Disappearance of the Antonia Graza
Perhaps for as long as people have sailed the seas, ships have disappeared without a trace. No distress calls. No wreckage. No survivors. The USS Cyclops is arguably one of the most famous of these, having vanished in the Bermuda Triangle in March 1918. The MS Antonia Graza is probably a close second. She –…
Strange Things Happen at Sea: Five Coincidences You Might Not Believe
Hello everyone! Apologies for the lack of posts lately. There’s been a lot going on lately, including me transitioning into a new job at work. Then there’s that dreaded writer’s block too. So unfortunately, I’ve not been able to keep up with this blog as much as I would like. But recent events have inspired…
Book Review: The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria by Greg King and Penny Wilson
About the Book A glamorously splendid ship sails to New York with thousands of people aboard. She is one of the most modern ocean liners ever built, and her safety features are touted as being state-of-the-art. The ship is the pride of its home country. On the bridge is a master mariner with decades of…