Ship Ablaze

The true story of one of the greatest tragedies in New York history On June 15, 1904, the steamship General Slocum was heading from Manhattan to Long Island Sound when a fire erupted in one of the storage rooms. Faced with an untrained crew, crumbling life jackets, and inaccessible lifeboats, hundreds of terrified passengers--few of which were experienced swimmers--fled into the water. By the time the captain found a safe shore for landing, more than 1000 people had perished. It was New York’s deadliest tragedy prior to September 11, 2001. The only book available on this compelling chapter in the city’s history, Ship Ablaze draws on firsthand accounts to examine why the death toll was so high, how the city responded, and why this event failed to achieve the infamy of the Titanic’s 1912 demise or the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Masterfully capturing both the horror of the event and heroism of men, women, and children aboard the ship as the inferno spread, historian Edward T. O’Donnell brings to life a bygone community while honoring the victims of that forgotten day.

There were few experienced swimmers among over 1,300 Lower East Side residents who boarded the "General Slocum" on June 15, 1904. It shouldn't have mattered, since the steamship was chartered only for a languid excursion from Manhattan to Long Island Sound. But a fire erupted minutes into the trip, forcing hundreds of terrified passengers into the water. By the time the captain found a safe shore for landing, 1,021 had perished. "Ship Ablaze" draws on firsthand accounts to examine why the death toll was so high and how the city responded. Masterfully capturing both the horror of the event and the heroism of men, women, and children who faced crumbling life jackets and inaccessible lifeboats as the inferno quickly spread, historian Edward T. O'Donnell brings to life a bygone community while honoring the victims of that forgotten day.

Commander Edward John Smith's career had been a remarkable example of how a man from a humble background could get far in the world. Born to a working-class family in the landlocked Staffordshire Potteries, he went to sea at the age of 17 and rose rapidly through the ranks of the merchant navy, serving first in sailing vessels and later in the new steamships of the White Star Line. By 1912, he as White Star's senior commander and regarded by many in the shipping world as the 'millionaire's captain'. In 1912, Smith was given command of the new RMS Titanic for her maiden voyage, but what should have been among the crowning moments of his long career at sea turned rapidly into a nightmare following Titanic's collision with an iceberg. In a matter of hours the supposedly unsinkable ship sank, taking over 1,500 people with her, including Captain Smith.

Sir James the Good, one of the finest soldiers Scotland ever produced, is sometimes better known by the name given to him by the English - the 'Black Douglas'. He terrified the northern shires of England throughout the reign of King Robert the Bruce and the Wars of Independence. When Robert the Bruce died Sir James, as his champion, was entrusted with his heart which he carried on the Crusades. David R Ross brings history alive as he tells the story of Sir James' life. Ross' research found him retracing Sir James' journey to the Holy Land and rediscovering battle grounds, providing a personal view of history. With a refreshing look at the subject, and featuring all new information and research, interesting maps, battleplans and photographs, this book will make Scottish history accessible and understandable for the casual reader, while delighting history buffs.

During the Second World War the British Merchant Navy's main task was to bring food, fuel and materials to Britain and it's allies, and to ferry troops wherever they were needed. The ship's crews came from all parts of the then Empire and beyond. One in six of them lost their lives. They did much more, taking part in the evacuations and landings throughout the war. They played a key role in several of these operations, particularly the little known evacuations from France after Dunkirk and the evacuation of Singapore. They manned almost a thousand ships for the D-Day Landings, including more than half of the infantry Landing ships and all of the Hospital Carriers that ferried the wounded back to Britain.

This fascinating book looks at some of the most horrifying and noteworthy disasters to have occurred around the world. More than 200 disasters involving aircraft, ships and trains as well as fires are analysed in detail, accompanied by 500 photographs. The entries, which are arranged chronologically, explain the background to each incident, the eve