Morro Castle, Mohawk and the End of the Ward Line : Part One

Introduction

It has been almost 72 years since the Morro Castle, gutted, afire, and carrying the bodies of at least six luckless passengers and crew members was driven ashore, with visual impact worthy of a Hollywood production, just to the north of the new Convention Center at Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Regionally, the Morro Castle remains perhaps the best remembered shipping disaster of the twentieth century. Six, and likely more, survivors remain of the 418 who swam or drifted ashore, or were carried to safety by a fleet of fishing boats, freighters and a luxury cruise ship on the dismal and stormy September morning in 1934. Thanks to three successful books and a series of television documentaries, Morro Castle is known by a surprising number of people too young to have any first hand recall of the disaster: the snapshots and souvenirs of 1934 regularly fetch prices at auction by no means warranted by rarity, and the pre-fire brochures and promotional items once shipped by the truckload are among the costliest and most sought after in the collector’s market.

       

The Morro Castle legends, surrounding the death of Captain Wilmott hours before the fire began and the presence of a once and future arsonist, bomber, and murderer in the ship’s radio room have all but overwhelmed other equally compelling-and equally strange- stories from the vessel’s final year of service: a year in which angry mobs and visits by the bomb squad were features of Morro Castle arrivals and departures, and a year in which even the weather seemed to “have it in” for the luckless ship. Also slipping into obscurity is the memory of the Oriente, a fine liner whose service career was as quiet and uneventful as her sister ship Morro Castle’s was notorious. And completely forgotten, except by hundreds of enthusiastic SCUBA divers and a handful of liner buffs, is the Mohawk, a vessel chartered as a replacement for the lost Morro Castle and stranded Ward liner Havana, which was destroyed only six hours into its maiden voyage for the company, sinking at exactly the same spot in the Atlantic Ocean where the Morro Castle’s life-and-death struggles took place, and almost within sight of where her wreck came ashore.

Meeting the British Challenge

2. Meeting the British Challenge

WARD LINE BUILDS FOR RATE WAR American Firm Planning to meet Competition of British Line. As an answer to the entry of British tonnage on the New York-Havana run, the Ward Steamship Line, American owned, today announced it had let contacts to the Newport News Shipbuilding Company to build two new twenty knot turbo-electric liners. The two ships will represent and investment of almost $10,000,000.00. It is expected that they will be completed by November 1, 1930. Caronia The shipping board already had loaned the liner President Roosevelt to the Ward Line to compete with the Cunard liner Caronia, which is now on her first trip to Cuba. Cunard officials said they did so because they thought that there was a demand for such a ship on that run. The two new vessels, when completed are to replace the Siboney and Orizaba, which will then be placed in the New York-Mexico service. The new vessels will be twin screw, 15,000 gross tons each, with accommodations for 468 passengers. (January 2, 1929)

So began the story of the Ward Line’s greatest achievement, the 1930 introduction of the Morro Castle and Oriente.

An earlier Morro Castle

The Ward Line, more formally known as the New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Company was 49 years old in 1929, and for just short of half a century had been providing dependable service to Cuba and Mexico. The line’s previous “golden years” had been at the turn of the century when a fleet of nine progressively larger and more elaborate ships was constructed, beginning with the 360′ Havana in 1899, and culminating with the 430′ Saratoga in 1907. In that year, the line was taken over along with the Clyde, Porto Rico and Mallory lines by C.W. Morse who was attempting to create an I.M.M.-like corporation. The resulting company, Atlantic Gulf and West Indies Line (AGWI) survived the notorious collapse of Morse’s empire after less than a year, but it would be over a decade before another Ward liner was built.

Steamships “ORIZABA and SIBONEY”
14,000 Tons — Length 443 Feet — Beam 60 Feet — Depth 35 Feet.

The Siboney and Orizaba of 1918, twin funneled liners of 444′ with a capacity of 444 passengers in two classes were launched and completed just in time to be requisitioned for war duty. Both served with distinction through 1918 [Troopship Orizaba 1918] and 1919, and were returned to the Ward Line in time to enter service in 1920. Their respective first years were spent in service between New York City and Bilbao, Spain, but in September 1921 they were transferred to the New York – Havana – Vera Cruz run.

A Voyage on the Siboney or Orizaba

Taste, of course, is entirely subjective and viewed though present-day eyes the interiors of Orizaba and Siboney seem refreshingly light and spacious in comparison to those of most of their contemporaries.

Mexico Cruise Brochure

Orizaba Passenger List, Ward Line Publicity, Souvenir Lighter

The two deck Lounge and Music Room on each ship prefigured Art Deco by half a decade and, were it not for the fluted Doric columns which defined the perimeter of the central well, the room could have fit comfortably on a vessel of the late 1930s. Similarly, there were Doric columns in their dining rooms, but the overall impression was made by the geometric precision of the room rather than by its sparing use of applied ornament. The interiors were predominantly white painted, there was an emphasis on natural light, and a refreshing lack of clutter. However, one cannot escape the impression that, by 1921 standards, what now appears to be smart minimalism probably looked plain, cheap and ‘incomplete’ compared to the richly decorated late Edwardian interiors of most other liners. However, the food was excellent, the service described as informal but competent, and the ships dependable.

  

A 1926 letter written aboard the Orizaba and mailed from Durban, South Africa, reads:

My Very Dear:

I seem to be really awake for the first time since leaving New York- we had a grand first night on board and yesterday slept most of the 24 hours. Today is grand- the crowd is a bit conglomerate! Mostly females, but enough of the opposite sex to spur you to activities- deck sports, horse racing & you know what are offered at various times during the day with some dancing at night.

Our stateroom is A. no. 1 – cool & spacious with a private bath so this is ‘no kick’ cruising.

We discovered one of my pals from Vassar, which was pleasant.

We are due in Havana tomorrow for half a day and we hope to make Sloppy Joe’s at least. We should be in Mexico City by the 3^rd if we don’t get marooned at Sloppy Joe’s.

The boat is comfortable & food good. It is not de luxe, but very satisfactory. The officers are ‘passing fair’ but you should see the cruise director! My word!

Corinne and I are getting along well. My deck- or the desk at which I am writing is in a very jittery spot. It seems the Orizaba has one peculiar screw which does odd things as it turns-but they say it is okay!

I was glad to get your letter after we left- for I do miss you! I’ll send you further missives from other ports and in the mean time all my love-

Charlotte.

The line ‘not de luxe but very satisfactory’ sums up the problem the Ward Line faced when Cunard announced that they were entering the Cuba service. Only two units of the Ward fleet dated from after 1910, and although the Caronia was as old as most of the Ward Line vessels she offered a perceived level of elegance and maintained an aura of ‘class’ that even the best of the American-based line could not hope to match.

Touring the Morro Castle and Oriente

3. Touring the Morro Castle and Oriente

The new ships, to be named Morro Castle and Oriente were designed to equal the Caronia with their public rooms, and surpass her with their cabins and suites. At 508 feet long by 78 feet wide, the new Ward Liners were smaller than their Cunard competitor, but with the elimination of third class, and the reduction of second class to fewer than 100 passengers carried in cabins that would be sold as minimum fare first class on most cruises, they offered passengers far more space than the Caronia could. The ships’ interior design was strictly pre-War and was, in short, everything a cruise passenger expected de luxe accommodation to be in 1930. The Morro Castle was launched first, in March 1930, and made her maiden voyage the following August. Her reception in New York was warm, with over 1000 official passes being distributed by AGWI to VIPS who wished to inspect the new American flagship.

AGWI Headquarters, Fifth Avenue

Her reception in Havana was enthusiastic, with President Machado and members of his staff attending a banquet on board, and to add to the festive mood, the ship had beat the previous in-house record for passage to Cuba, making the journey in less than 59 hours. The swiftest overall time to Havana was held, however, by the Mauretania -which had made the trip in fewer than fifty hours-so the best that Ward Line could claim was that the Morro Castle was the fastest regularly scheduled liner sailing between New York City and Cuba. The Oriente, which followed her into service that December, also did well but – in a pattern that would last for the next three and a half years – did not generate the same level or quality of publicity that the Morro Castle had.

Oriente Menu

Morro Castle Publicity

A walk through the completed Morro Castle and Oriente would show a reviewer how successfully the Ward Line had been in creating vessels that managed to feel both pre-war and modern. It was as if, somehow the Caronia or Mauretania had been gutted of the two lower classes and nearly everything of first class other than the public rooms, and rebuilt to the standards of comfort prevailing in 1930. There were literally dozens of cabins in first class with private facilities, and all but seven of the first class cabins were outside.

Starting from the furthest point forward on the Boat Deck, Deck A, there were eight suites deluxe, each with two beds, sitting area and full tub bathrooms arranged in their own deckhouse. Aft of them were the forward grand staircase lobby and six two bed cabins with private facilities, arranged three two a side along the corridors that passed the funnel casing. The corridors terminated at the First Class Lounge mezzanine, where overstuffed couches and chairs were arranged along the port and starboard side of the lounge well. The well was surrounded by an elaborate iron railing that would be used again in that of the Dining Saloon. Beyond the mezzanine, a starboard corridor led past four two bed cabins, two with bathrooms and two without, the childrens’ playroom and the aft grand staircase lobby before ending by the gymnasium. The port corridor held two passenger cabins, with bathrooms, just aft of the lounge, and a block of rooms not identified on deck plans, that were presumably for crew use. Beyond the gymnasium there was a large open sports deck.

First Class Stateroom

Promenade Deck, Deck B, began as A Deck did, with another eight suites deluxe. Six of these were of comparable size to those on A Deck and two were considerably smaller to allow for an expanded grand staircase lobby. All eight of these cabins looked out onto the enclosed Promenade Deck, as did the Writing Room and Library, which were, respectively, on the port and starboard sides of the funnel casing. Each of these rooms opened, from their aft ends, into the two-deck First Class lounge.

The lounge was, perhaps, the most Cunard-like room aboard the ships. The walls were paneled in medium-toned wood, with details picked out by gilt. Both levels of the lounge well were defined by gilt-topped Corinthian columns, and all four corners of the well curved outward into the room, suggesting pavilions. The panels along the walls were defined by Corinthian- capitaled pilasters, and those on the forward bulkhead contained inlay work- perhaps of mother of pearl. On the B Deck level, there was a piano forward, an elaborate fireplace with overmantle aft, and an abundance of chairs, tables, couches and potted snake plants in the stylistic mélange usually described with the cover-all term “Edwardian.” The effect was suitably grand, and completely pre-War.

Smoking Room

Aft of the lounge, and beyond the second casing, was the First Class smoking room. Again, the paneling was a medium-toned wood with gilt detailing. Along the forward bulkhead was a fireplace as elaborate as that in the lounge, and overhead the ceiling was vaulted, with leaded, colored class insets and American Colonial nautical- themed murals set within the vaults. B Deck’s public rooms ended with the Verandah Tea Room, which stood in its own deckhouse within the aft enclosed promenade deck. With its white woodwork, delicate detailing, and rose colored upholstery, the Verandah Tea Room was considerably lighter than the rest of the Promenade Deck public rooms and had a pronounced pre-war French Line feel to it. The Deck Ballroom which ended the B Deck suite of rooms contained one of the few notes of whimsy aboard the new flagships- the orchestra platform was contained within the bow of a Viking ship replica centered along the aft wall of the space. The ballroom itself spanned the ship, linking the port and starboard enclosed Promenade Decks like an enclosed sun porch.

C Deck consisted of two blocks of first class cabins, one small and forward comprised of fourteen cabins, and one running the corresponding length of the Promenade Deck above made up of seventy-one cabins, and a deck house at the stern in which were six cabins that could be sold as second class, and a lounge and smoking room- never labeled on deck plans- that could serve for second class facilities on voyages where two classes were required. The ship’s office was located between the port and starboard corridors, in the small block of cabins forward of the Grand Foyer. The Grand Foyer had a floor of square marble-look linoleum tiles in light and dark shades, walls paneled in quarter-sawed wood, and columns and pilasters with fluted capitals defining the entry to the aft corridors. Close to amidships, between the forward and aft casings, was the dining room mezzanine, off which were located the four most expensive suites aboard the ship. Each of these suites was slightly smaller in size to those on A and B Decks, but could be expanded if needed to two rooms by the purchase of an adjoining outside cabin. These cabins cost a minimum of $170 on a six day cruise, but the addition of the second room would raise that an additional $125. The barber shop was located just aft of the second grand staircase, and the Doctor’s Office and cabin were located at the far aft end of the starboard side corridor and opened both into the corridor and onto the enclosed promenade deck outside of the second class lounge and smoke room. The only two “inside” cabins on C Deck were across from the Doctor’s office and actually looked out onto the promenade deck.

Forward on D Deck was a block of cabins corresponding in size to that on C Deck. In the place of the ship’s office, however, was a block of four inside cabins. Aft of the lobby were two blocks of six cabins, port and starboard, that lined the corridors leading back to the First Class Dining Saloon.

 

Morro Castle Dining Room

The First Class Dining Saloon was similar in layout and design to those aboard the Siboney and Orizaba, but while those rooms were austere almost to the point of being minimalist, those of the new ships were elaborate. The dominant color was still white, but with gilt liberally applied. The composite-capital pilasters spanning both decks at the central well were gilded their entire height. The reeded moulding which defined the area between decks spanning the columns was gilded as well. A trio of arched top mirrors in gilt frames brightened the central aft bulkhead of the room, where they were set between panels of white painted woodwork with gilded highlights, and over an elaborate sideboard. The corresponding bulkhead forward featured what appears, from photos, to have been a framed seascape. There was a scattering of tables for two, and a cluster of tables set for six, eight and ten in the center of the room, but most passengers aboard the new liners would be seated at tables for four.

The aft section of D Deck was less logically laid out than any other part of the ships. The starboard corridor was lined with first class cabins, fourteen outside and two inside, and was linked to the port corridor by a transverse passageway that could be closed off. The port corridor led from a grouping of eight second class cabins opening on an enclosed deck at the stern, forward to the second class dining saloon, a small entirely inside room with thirteen tables. Lining the port corridor but not opening on to it, were three first class cabins in their own self-contained unit that could only be reached by a staircase from C Deck. On “one class” cruises (which the majority of Morro Castle and Oriente voyages were) the transverse corridor would be left open for free access to the entire deck.

E Deck consisted of sixteen second class cabins, eight outside and eight inside, at the very stern of the ship. These were the minimum fare accommodations and could be had for as little as $65 for 6 days.

The Floating Whorehouses

4. The Floating Whorehouses

The Morro Castle and Oriente settled into their working lives with ease. They were, by far, the fastest and most elegant liners regularly scheduled on the Havana run. Peak season passenger lists from the two most grim years of the depression- 1932 and 1933- show that their totals were good: low price, grand interiors, and an appealing itinerary proved to be a winning combination even during the lean years.

However, there was a dark undercurrent beneath the glamorous and placid surface presented by Ward Line publicists: rumors abounded regarding drug and alcohol smuggling; illegal alien importation; gun running and gambling. The “Havana Ferryboats” were referred to, not affectionately, by longshoremen and NYC waterfront police as “The Floating Whorehouses” because of the alleged presence of not-on-the-passenger-list call girls who worked the liners during peak convention and charter season. Particularly during her final year, enough of the Morro Castle’s misadventures appeared in the press to make the other rumors seem plausible. Presented here, in their original form, are reports about some of the more interesting events to have plagued the Ward Line publicists during the line’s turbulent final twenty five years.

We begin with an event strikingly similar to the problems that plagued the Morro Castle in 1933. In this case, the Morro Castle being discussed is the Ward Line’s original vessel of 1900.

U.S. SHIP IS HELD Mexican Gunboat Has Guns Trained on Her Bow. Mrs. John Lind is Aboard Morro Castle of the Ward Line, is Detained in Vera Cruz Harbor. The steamship Morro Castle of the Ward Line is holed up in Vera Cruz harbor with the guns of a Mexican gunboat trained on her bow. On board are Mrs. John Lind, wife of President Wilson’s envoy to Mexico, many other American passengers, and mail for the United States.  Captain Huff, the vessels’ commander has been cited to appear tomorrow before a local judge to answer a criminal charge. What the charge is has not been told, and the Mexican authorities have not disclosed its nature. Mr. Lind, who saw his wife go on board the Morro Castle, has sent a vigorous cablegram of protest to Secretary of State Bryan, and to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mojano in Mexico City. The Morro Castle has been preparing to steam for two days. It was announced last night that Mrs. Lind would be among the passengers. All passengers were aboard this morning and the vessel was in shape to clear when word was sent out to the vessel that clearance papers had been returned by officers of the port. The pilot was warned not to go aboard. Captain Huff, with local representatives of the line, immediately took steps to learn the cause of the holding up of the vessel, and then Captain Huff was served with the citation. While these things were taking place ashore, the Mexican gunboat Zaragosa steamed from her anchorage in the shadow of the Island Fortress and took its position just off the bow of the Morro Castle. (October 23, 1913) US AND MEXICO SITUATION OMINOUS President Expected To Issue Ultimatum Warning Foreign Warship to Keep Away. Developments at a few hours today in the relations between the United Stares and Mexico emphasized a gravity of affairs more ominous than at any time since President Wilson’s administration began. Absolute silence was the order in official quarters. The release of the Ward Liner Morro Castle after peremptory demands by the United States terminated a delicate situation. Orders were in preparation to the commanders of American warships lying of Vera Cruz to (illegible) upon her release. (October 24, 1913)

The reason for the impounding of the Morro Castle and the arrest warrant issued for her captain was than on her previous voyage an ‘enemy of the state’ had escaped from Mexico to Cuba aboard her, with the – rumored – knowledge of the captain and the Ward Line.

PLAN SEIZURE OF $1,500,000.00 LINER Orizaba of Ward Line May Be Held By Government For Smuggling. Seizure of the Ward line steamship Orizaba, worth more than $1,500,000.00, by the government as a rumrunner was recommended by customs officials today. The recommendation followed seizure after a running gun battle in the East River of a laden speedboat engaged in transporting liquor from the Orizaba to some point along the shore. Numerous reports of liquor coming into this city from Havana have been received by the authorities and when the Orizaba arrived yesterday from Cuba customs men were cautioned to watch the ship. The special service squad of customs inspectors, observing a launch alongside the liner gave chase and fired were more than 46 shots. They declared that they were fired on in return. Two men leaped into the water as the launch approached the dock, and the others leaped to the dock. All made their escape. 100 demi-johns of rum were seized on the craft. Assistant Solicitor of Customs Barnes recommended to Federal Attorney Buckner that the Orizaba be seized. If proceedings are instituted against the ship it will be the first time the government has sought to libel so large a steamship for a prohibition law violation. William Imlay, general manager of the Ward Line, and Samuel McElroy, chief of police of the Ward Line denied official knowledge of the smuggling. (November 13, 1925)

As often happened during prohibition, when the headlines died down after a few days, the whole matter was dropped. The Orizaba remained in Ward Line service, and the Ward Line continued to deny that the persistent smuggling stories had any basis in fact.

REGIME SET UP IN REVOLT IS APPROVED. ..Machado supporter was found shot to death near the ousted president’s estate. Manuel Morales, a Machado vigilante committed suicide. Passengers aboard the Ward Liner Morro Castle, which arrived today, said that apparently the Cuban people want the world to know that General Machado is no longer their ruler. The ship was met at the docks by crowds of Cubans who shouted “Down with Machado!” and “Machado is gone!” The passengers said that similar cries went up from a gunboat which the liner passed entering the harbor. (August 15, 1933)

The Morro Castle became a regular one-line feature in articles about the turmoil in Cuba. Protesters crying out “Cuba Si! Machado no!” met the liner several times in New York and Havana after it was ‘rumored’ that members of the Machado regime and their wealthy supporters were leaving Cuba legally, and illegally, aboard the liner.

RETURNING EXILES MANY INFLUENCE CUBAN REGIME Cuba awaited today the return from exile of former president Mario G. Menocal and Colonel Carlos Mendeta, and wondered what part they would play in reconstruction plans of the new provisional government. Meanwhile, as exiles returned or prepared to come back to a fatherland that has seen may changes in the past few days, others, of an opposite faith prepared to leave. Remiro Guerra, Machado’s secretary, and two others departed for New York on the steamer Morro Castle… (August 17, 1933)

It was rumored in Havana and New York that Jose Gans, head of Machado’s feared secret police, had stowed away, or been smuggled aboard after paying off a Morro Castle crew member. Family members awaiting her arrival in NYC rubbed shoulders with protesters and members of the bomb squad, present because of the threat of retaliation against the liner.

LINER DOCKS WITH CUBAN REFUGEES. Under a heavy guard of federal agents and city police, the Ward Liner Morro Castle, with 18 Cuban refugees aboard, docked at the foot of Wall Street where a crowd of more than 500 gathered. The Morro Castle, in from Havana where some of its passengers ran the gauntlet of death in escaping the island republic, was systematically searched from stem to stern in fear that Jose Gans, former Chief of the despised Porra, secret police, was a stowaway. That N.Y. Members of the A.B.C. Revolutionary Party would have attempted the life of Gans, authorities did not doubt- just as they were certain that some members of the crowd were there for that same purpose. Federal agents, and police moved constantly through the crowd and refused admission to the pier to anyone who could not prove peaceful intentions of business. Among the refugees was Oscar P. Claras, Cuban ambassador- now without portfolio- to Washington who resolutely declined protection offered by Lt. William Fay and 16 members of the bomb and strong arm squads, who hastened aboard the Morro Castle as soon as the gangplank hit the pier. (August 21, 1933) PLOTTED TO ASSASINATE Cuban Admits Plan Against Machado’s “Butcher.” A young Cuban rebel, chosen by lottery to come to America and assassinate Ludao, known as “Machado’s Butcher” was prevented from landing here by immigration officers when he arrived, a stowaway aboard the Morro Castle. The handsome member of the A.B.C., Cuban secret society, was Alfonso Cassas, 20, a student whose resemblance to the late Rudolph Valentino had brought about his rescue from the ship’s brig by romantic young women passengers who pleaded with the ship’s captain for his release. Freed from the brig, Cassas appeared on deck in borrowed flannels and showed his gratitude to his fair rescuers by dancing the rumba with them and forgetting revolutions and secret missions for the moment. He told his story. “It was all settled one night outside Havana. There was a meeting. We drew lots from a paper bag. It fell to me, this magnificent thing to do- kill Ludao. It was the happiest moment of my life. I got on the Morro Castle– never mind how. I had reason to believe that Ludao was a passenger under an assumed name. Asked if he would have killed Ludao, Cassas drew himself up and with a gleam in his black eyes said simply “I would have wrung his neck.” (September 9, 1933)

The following story is a prelude to one of the worst voyages of the Morro Castle’s brief life.

CUBANS ANGRY AT ISLAND MANAGER OF UNITED FRUIT CO. Soldiers Guard Mr. Molamphy on Ship as He Sails for America. Ambassador Welles prevented an incident that at the moment might have caused intervention when a group of students, port workers, and members of the A.B.C. radical society sought to prevent the sailing on the steamship Morro Castle of Mathew T. Molamphy, American general manager of the United Fruit Company, whom they accused of instigating the assassination of Margarita Iglesias, a worker whose body was found under the stables of Morales Fortress. Welles warned them of the seriousness of seeking to detain an American and obtained their word of honor that they would not permit interference with his departure. The government rushed a company of soldiers to the Ward Line docks, while Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Gimperling, American Military Attache, went aboard the Morro Castle to see to Molamphy’s safety. Angry dockworkers sought to board the ship in search of Molamphy, but the soldiers kept them back. The ship sailed with him aboard. (September 13, 1933) LINER BATTERED BY SEVERE STORM Tossed and battered by the worst storm in the history of its veteran master, the Ward Liner Morro Castle docked in New York today,two days behind schedule. Of the 149 passengers and 200 crew, more than 70 had suffered cuts and bruises during the raging storm that swept away the liner’s radio mast. Captain Robert R. Wilmott, who stayed on the bridge for 75 hours without relief said he had never experienced anything its equal during many years of at sea. Although many of the passengers were frightened, Captain Wilmott was high in his praise of most of them- particularly Miss Gwendolyn Taylor, pretty young business secretary from Philadelphia, who went into the lounge where many of the passengers had gathered and very calmly began to play the piano. The Morro Castle put out from Havana on Wednesday night. Friday afternoon a gigantic wave struck the liner broadside. The radio was disabled, and the Morro Castle took a sickening list to port. “We thought she was gone then, for sure” one member of the crew said today. (September 18, 1933) .the 140 passengers huddled in the lounge because their cabins were ankle deep in water. (September 19, 1933) YOUNG WOMAN SINGS JAZZ AS STORM RAGES Passenger Aboard Buffeted Liner Does Best To Keep Up Spirits of Those On Board as Disaster Threatens. Caught in a howling storm at sea with no means of communicating with the rest of the world, passengers aboard the steamship Morro Castle passed a fearful night singing and praying, trying not to think of disaster. The passengers debarking here on Monday told how Gwendolyn Taylor, 22, a blonde business girl of Philadelphia, thumped away at a piano all Friday night to keep up spirits when the ship was beating sharply against the crashing waves. The ship’s orchestra was too sick to play. “I thought I ought to do something” said Miss Taylor, “as I was one of the few women who weren’t sick. The only thing I could do was play, so I played and sang. Only cheerful things. I think some of the people wanted to hear hymns, but I thought they needed jazz more. Some of them joined in the singing and others continued to pray. (September 20, 1933) SMUGGLING OF GOLD TO MEXICO SUSPECTED Widespread smuggling of gold into Mexico from neighboring countries, including the United States, was suspected by authorities today. Five tons of gold bars and coins worth nearly $4,000,000.00 have been shipped from Vera Cruz and shipments worth as much were made in recent preceding weeks, it was learned. Authorities have intimated that they believed large sums were being brought into Mexico by airplane in order that their owners might evade embargoes and take advantage of the lack of duty on gold in Mexico. Cuba was believed to be the principal source of coins which have come into the country in great quantities. Coins are bought in Havana at a 12% premium, smuggled into Mexico and sold at 100% profit. Three tons of gold bar and coins were shipped from Vera Cruz Thursday night aboard the Orizaba. The Morro Castle left the same port earlier in the week with two tons of coins and bars. Reports of earlier shipments were frequent. (October 25, 1933) MORRO CASTLE RUNS BLOCKADE IN CUBA With bullet marks on her bulkheads, the liner Morro Castle docked today after running through the gunfire of rebel troops in Havana harbor. A machine gun bullet from the ABC rebel troops, barricaded in the Atarea Fort tore off a portion of the ship’s bridge, while other bullets whistled through the aft rigging. The liner steamed from Havana harbor just as the fort opened fire on two Cuban gunboats in the harbor. The liner, an American ship, was in between, put on full steam and hurriedly cleared the harbor. Captain Jones, master of the ship, ordered all decks cleared, but some passengers came on deck to snap pictures of the battle. Jones said the gunboats maneuvered to use the liner as a shield to get in a more advantageous position to fire upon the fort. In the words of one passenger, Gertrude Conlon of Newark, New Jersey, “It was simply terrible. I loved every moment of it.” The liner brought to safety two Cuban Army officers, part of those who rebelled against the Grau government and commandeered the National Hotel a few weeks ago. Both of them escaped from Cubana Prison, where the officers were quartered after surrendering. They jumped aboard the ship just as the gangway was being lowered and their baggage was hauled aboard by lines. (November 12,1933)

Ambassador Sumner Welles had boarded the Morro Castle earlier that day and advised that Captain Jones depart prematurely. The liner sailed 45 minutes ahead of schedule, making the timing of the arrival of the escapees seem a bit odd. Other accounts mentioned that the passengers were herded into the lounge and the orchestra played “Happy Days Are Here Again” to drown out the gunfire and shouting from outside as the liner picked up speed and drew away from the gunboats Cuba and Patria. The two boats had been “hovering” in Havana harbor according to witnesses, and as the Morro Castle cleared her dock, “darted” to the leeside of the liner before opening fire on Atarea Fortress. None of the forty-odd passengers aboard the ship at the time were injured, although the liner arrived in New York looking “scarred” and missing a section of her aft docking bridge that had been torn away by machine gun fire.

During this turbulent period, the Oriente continued her Wednesday to Wednesday New York/Havana/New York round trips without incident. She seldom made the newspapers, except in the context of “Mrs John Stevenson and her daughter Elizabeth of Park Hill Road will be sailing for Havana this Wednesday aboard the Oriente” notices on the society pages of small towns and mid-sized cities, and the disparity between her service career and that of the Morro Castle is compelling. One wonders: were the captain and crew of the Oriente more honorable than their cohorts on the Morro Castle or simply better at concealing what they were doing?