American pleasure cruise liner 'SS Morro Castle' on her her regular route, bound from Havana to New York, was destroyed by fire, during a party. On Board 557 persons, of which 237 passengers and 187 of crew survived. Among the first ships to arrive in response to an S.O.S call was the British liner 'Monarch of Bermuda', which rescued 71 survivors. The disaster highlighted the need for fire precautions, such as fire proof doors and sprinkler systems, to be included on all passenger ships.