On September 8, 1934, a fire broke out in the passengers'
library of the
cruise ship "
Morro Castle", the
Ward Line's "pride of the
Havana Run." The ship's
captain, 55-year-old
Robert Wilmott, had died of
acute indigestion that night. By 3am the fire was
out of control, passengers were
milling about on the deck, but the acting captain plowed on, a high wind whipping the flames. Finally, lifeboats were launched and an
SOS message was sent -- but not before 134 people died.
(this is one of the New Jersey disasters)