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theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 09:14 AM Jun 2014

The day trip that devastated New York's Little Germany

20 June 2014
The day trip that devastated New York's Little Germany
By Stephen Evans
BBC News

On a fine summer's day 110 years ago, more than 1,000 people died in a disaster in New York. It was a massive blow to the city's German community, which never fully recovered...

...More than 1,000 members of the German community in what was then called Kleindeutschland (Little Germany) died when a pleasure trip turned to tragedy.

For its 17th annual picnic, St Mark's Lutheran Church on the Lower East Side had chartered a paddle ship, the General Slocum, to cruise up the East River to Long Island where the trippers would relax and have fun.

But as the three-decked wooden vessel sailed past 81st Street, a fire started below deck in a lamp room full of oily rags....

MORE at http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27930055

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The day trip that devastated New York's Little Germany (Original Post) theHandpuppet Jun 2014 OP
Was just about to post this myself ... interesting, forgotten history. nt eppur_se_muova Jun 2014 #1
I had read something about this a long time ago but had forgotten the details theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #2
Just stumbled upon this. thucythucy Mar 2018 #3

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
2. I had read something about this a long time ago but had forgotten the details
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 11:14 PM
Jun 2014

Was glad to find that article... it's sad how so many chapters of history seem to get lost over time.

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