On this date in 1904 more than 1,000 people on a Sunday School outing died in New York City's East River, one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history.
A riverboat-style steamer called the General Slocum was carrying a group of 1,360 children and teachers from St. Mark's German Lutheran Church for their annual Sunday School picnic.
When fire broke out, the captain and crew made a series of poor decisions that resulted in the deaths of 1,031 by drowning, fire, or being trampled to death.
The tragedy led to reforms that would prevent such tragedies recurring.
