On June 15, 1904 (eight years before the Titanic) more than 1300 immigrants of the Lower East Side boarded a steamboat called the General Slocum. It will take them from the pier of East Third Street to Long Island Sound for a Sunday school picnic. But at 10:00 A.M. while passing through Hell's Gate, the General Slocum was on FIRE! By the time it was over only 321 survived while more than 1000 died mostly women and children. Making it the worst maritime disaster in New York History.
General Slocum Disaster