Tragedy at sea
March 14, 2015 7:32 PM Subscribe
September 8, 1934, the SS Morro Castle suffered a catastrophic fire, killing 135 people. Was a crewmember responsible?
Holy crap.
A group of male passengers misguided by the best of intentions began to take matters into their own hands. Charles O'Connor, a police officer on vacation, would later report that, "we had to heave a number of passengers overboard because they were too scared to jump." These heavers of reluctant ladies, well-meaning as they may have been, had little regard for the women's protests, resulting in numerous drownings. Passenger William Clark would later explain, "We brought our life preservers but did not know how to adjust them. Someone threw my wife off of the upper deck before I could intervene. If I could only have stayed with her she would have been saved. A rescue boat picked me up almost as soon as I got in the water."posted by ChuraChura at 9:10 PM on March 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeaaaaaaah, those guys were not such good eggs...
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:12 PM on March 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:12 PM on March 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
That reminds me of that FPP from a few weeks ago criticizing people who freeze up in emergencies. Sometimes it's a good move.
posted by bleep at 10:15 PM on March 14, 2015
posted by bleep at 10:15 PM on March 14, 2015
Warms knew there were several rooms in that area of the ship lacking fire sensors
What was a fire sensor back then? Googling shows things from the 1970's.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 2:21 AM on March 15, 2015
What was a fire sensor back then? Googling shows things from the 1970's.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 2:21 AM on March 15, 2015
This is a great story on many levels. Not sure about the article's snarky tone, but no matter how you paint it the Morro Castle is amazing. It'd make an interesting film--the climax of which would be a CGI recreation of the smoldering hulk washing ashore.
Brian Hicks' When the Dancing Stopped, mentioned in the article, is a pretty thorough treatment. Media whores are nothing new and Rogers is a plum, a real classic creep.
posted by kinnakeet at 4:56 AM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Brian Hicks' When the Dancing Stopped, mentioned in the article, is a pretty thorough treatment. Media whores are nothing new and Rogers is a plum, a real classic creep.
posted by kinnakeet at 4:56 AM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Fascinating. Thank you for posting this, Chrysostom.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:29 AM on March 15, 2015
posted by sciencegeek at 7:29 AM on March 15, 2015
A bit awkwardly written at points, but totally fascinating.
Having taken some transatlantic passenger and cruise ships in my life (my mother was afraid to fly), I can attest that the safety drill to point you to life vests and life preservers and to your lifeboat station now takes place almost as soon as you untie from the dock and finish waving goodbye to the folks on shore, partly as a consequence of the Morro Castle disaster.
posted by gudrun at 10:21 AM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Having taken some transatlantic passenger and cruise ships in my life (my mother was afraid to fly), I can attest that the safety drill to point you to life vests and life preservers and to your lifeboat station now takes place almost as soon as you untie from the dock and finish waving goodbye to the folks on shore, partly as a consequence of the Morro Castle disaster.
posted by gudrun at 10:21 AM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wow, that is a hell of a story.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:55 AM on March 15, 2015
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:55 AM on March 15, 2015
If you haven't listened to the Damn Interesting podcast, you are seriously missing out, by the way. I mean, they do a great job here with the text version, but the audio version...unbelievable.
posted by Katemonkey at 11:38 AM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Katemonkey at 11:38 AM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Author of the article here. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I was catching up on my Mefi reading and found this link alongside so many complimentary remarks.
A bit awkwardly written at points, but totally fascinating.
gudrun, can you elaborate regarding which parts you found awkward? I promise not to take criticism as insult, I genuinely endeavor to improve.
If you haven't listened to the Damn Interesting podcast, you are seriously missing out
Thanks Katemonkey! The audio episodes are a ton of work, and I'm still trying to master the craft, but it's rewarding (psychologically, not monetarily). It's given me the chance to learn some digital music-making, audio production, a bit of foley, and other sound skills. I've even managed to narrate a few episodes myself. It's difficult to acquire listeners, especially owing to our rejection of advertising and our infrequent episodes, but we press on.
Thanks all! This will put a twinkle in my step and a spring in my eye all day today.
posted by Hot Pastrami! at 3:02 PM on March 15, 2015 [9 favorites]
A bit awkwardly written at points, but totally fascinating.
gudrun, can you elaborate regarding which parts you found awkward? I promise not to take criticism as insult, I genuinely endeavor to improve.
If you haven't listened to the Damn Interesting podcast, you are seriously missing out
Thanks Katemonkey! The audio episodes are a ton of work, and I'm still trying to master the craft, but it's rewarding (psychologically, not monetarily). It's given me the chance to learn some digital music-making, audio production, a bit of foley, and other sound skills. I've even managed to narrate a few episodes myself. It's difficult to acquire listeners, especially owing to our rejection of advertising and our infrequent episodes, but we press on.
Thanks all! This will put a twinkle in my step and a spring in my eye all day today.
posted by Hot Pastrami! at 3:02 PM on March 15, 2015 [9 favorites]
Not sure about the article's snarky tone
That was not my intention, kinnakeet--I merely have a habit of inserting a few bits of humor into even the darkest of stories. Apologies if it came off as snarky.
posted by Hot Pastrami! at 3:18 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
That was not my intention, kinnakeet--I merely have a habit of inserting a few bits of humor into even the darkest of stories. Apologies if it came off as snarky.
posted by Hot Pastrami! at 3:18 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
What was a fire sensor back then?
There seem to be several mechanical fire detection means dating to the 19th century; most resemble a thermostat in some way, e.g. bimetallic, differing expansion rates. Buildings had "automatic" fire doors by the 1910s, and sprinklers even before that, so by the 1930s this was fairly standard technology.
posted by dhartung at 3:22 PM on March 15, 2015
There seem to be several mechanical fire detection means dating to the 19th century; most resemble a thermostat in some way, e.g. bimetallic, differing expansion rates. Buildings had "automatic" fire doors by the 1910s, and sprinklers even before that, so by the 1930s this was fairly standard technology.
posted by dhartung at 3:22 PM on March 15, 2015
Hot Pastrami!, I enjoyed the article, and nothing stood out as awkward or snarky. I've heard of the Morro Castle all my life but wasn't familiar with the story. Thanks so much, and to Chrysostom for the FPP.
posted by lhauser at 6:13 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by lhauser at 6:13 PM on March 15, 2015
Didn't mean to sound like a grouch, HP. I enjoyed the article--I collect shipwreck books and know quite a bit about the Morro Castle. Yours was a fun article about something most folks know little about, and from which we can all learn something. You also included some wonderful photos I hadn't seen before, so thanks!
posted by kinnakeet at 3:55 AM on March 16, 2015
posted by kinnakeet at 3:55 AM on March 16, 2015
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posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:23 PM on March 14, 2015 [2 favorites]