In 1934, a luxury cruise ship caught fire off New Jersey hours after its captain died; 137 people were killed

On September 8, 1934, tragedy struck the SS Morro Castle when a fire erupted shortly after the captain was discovered lifeless. The flames originated in the First Class Writing Room, rapidly fanned by strong winds and the ship's wooden structure. Crew members found themselves ill-equipped to handle the crisis, resulting in chaos among passengers trying to escape.