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In 1930 the Morro Castle was launched in Newport News, Virginia. She was to be the newest addition to the Ward Line’s fleet. She operated on the New York - Havanna line and was used mostly by wealthy tourists which were fleeing the moral limitations, the prohibition, and the great depression in the USA. The interiors were lavish and life on board more than relaxed (she quickly gained the nickname “swimming brothel”). On September 1st 1934 the Morro Castle left Cuba for a regular crossing to New York. In the early hours of September 8th the crew noticed a fire had broken out in the 1st class library. It quickly spread throughout the entire ship. Many passengers were sleeping by that time and the crew showed themselves to be very unprofessional in the situation. Many passengers only learned of the fire when it was already too late and only six of the twelve life boats on board were launched (with most of the occupants being crew members). Help arrived slowly although the ship was quite visible from the nearby shore and the last survivors were only evacuated on the afternoon of September 8th. Many passengers remained hours in the water before they were saved whilest others managed to swim to the shore. The burning wreck eventually ran aground on the beaches of Asbury Park, New Jersey. It remained there for half a year until it was scrapped in March 1935, becoming a spectacular tourist attraction. The prominence of many of the 134 victims (of which the vast majority were passengers) and the spectacular photos made of the fire and the wreckage made the catastrophe famous. In its aftermath the ships owners and crew were harshly critisized and many new regulations regarding fire safety on ships were sanctioned. Until today it isn´t exactly clear what caused the fire.

Sources: NYdailynews, oceanlinersmagazine