VICTIM OF THE S.S. MORRO CASTLE FIRE.
Passenger booked in cabin on A deck
13 year old Roberto Gonzales occupied a deluxe cabin aft an A Deck.
Roberto should not have been aboard the Morro Castle. His father, Isidore Gonzales, was the general manager of United Fruit, Havana. Roberto's parents wanted him educated in the United States, and so during the school term he lived with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jova, in Newburgh, NY. The Jovas' were socially prominent, and Roberto became popular among the younger set at the tennis court and pool of the Powellton Club. Roberto and his cousin, Henri Jova, spent the summer of 1934 in Cuba. Isidore Gonzales arranged for his son and nephew to return to New York aboard a United Fruit vessel, the Quirigua, sailing for New York on September 5th. When they arrived at the pier, they were told that a booking error had been made and only one of the boys could be accommodated. So, Roberto was switched over to the Morro Castle while Henri kept the original reservation.
Roberto had little time to escape. Within ten minutes of the fire's entrance into the lounge, the aft corridors on A Deck were impassable. But, Roberto had an advantage the other passengers on A Deck did not. For some reason, his cabin opened on to the boat deck and not in to the hallway, the only cabin aboard the ship so equipped. He was only steps away from Boat #10, and so his chances of survival seemed good.
But, Roberto Gonzales did not make it into Boat #10. He died of shock and exposure in the water. His body was returned to Cienfuegos, Cuba, after a memorial Mass in Newburgh, New York.
[By Jim Kalafus]
Passenger booked in cabin on A deck
13 year old Roberto Gonzales occupied a deluxe cabin aft an A Deck.
Roberto should not have been aboard the Morro Castle. His father, Isidore Gonzales, was the general manager of United Fruit, Havana. Roberto's parents wanted him educated in the United States, and so during the school term he lived with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jova, in Newburgh, NY. The Jovas' were socially prominent, and Roberto became popular among the younger set at the tennis court and pool of the Powellton Club. Roberto and his cousin, Henri Jova, spent the summer of 1934 in Cuba. Isidore Gonzales arranged for his son and nephew to return to New York aboard a United Fruit vessel, the Quirigua, sailing for New York on September 5th. When they arrived at the pier, they were told that a booking error had been made and only one of the boys could be accommodated. So, Roberto was switched over to the Morro Castle while Henri kept the original reservation.
Roberto had little time to escape. Within ten minutes of the fire's entrance into the lounge, the aft corridors on A Deck were impassable. But, Roberto had an advantage the other passengers on A Deck did not. For some reason, his cabin opened on to the boat deck and not in to the hallway, the only cabin aboard the ship so equipped. He was only steps away from Boat #10, and so his chances of survival seemed good.
But, Roberto Gonzales did not make it into Boat #10. He died of shock and exposure in the water. His body was returned to Cienfuegos, Cuba, after a memorial Mass in Newburgh, New York.
[By Jim Kalafus]
VICTIM OF THE S.S. MORRO CASTLE FIRE.
Passenger booked in cabin on A deck
13 year old Roberto Gonzales occupied a deluxe cabin aft an A Deck.
Roberto should not have been aboard the Morro Castle. His father, Isidore Gonzales, was the general manager of United Fruit, Havana. Roberto's parents wanted him educated in the United States, and so during the school term he lived with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jova, in Newburgh, NY. The Jovas' were socially prominent, and Roberto became popular among the younger set at the tennis court and pool of the Powellton Club. Roberto and his cousin, Henri Jova, spent the summer of 1934 in Cuba. Isidore Gonzales arranged for his son and nephew to return to New York aboard a United Fruit vessel, the Quirigua, sailing for New York on September 5th. When they arrived at the pier, they were told that a booking error had been made and only one of the boys could be accommodated. So, Roberto was switched over to the Morro Castle while Henri kept the original reservation.
Roberto had little time to escape. Within ten minutes of the fire's entrance into the lounge, the aft corridors on A Deck were impassable. But, Roberto had an advantage the other passengers on A Deck did not. For some reason, his cabin opened on to the boat deck and not in to the hallway, the only cabin aboard the ship so equipped. He was only steps away from Boat #10, and so his chances of survival seemed good.
But, Roberto Gonzales did not make it into Boat #10. He died of shock and exposure in the water. His body was returned to Cienfuegos, Cuba, after a memorial Mass in Newburgh, New York.
[By Jim Kalafus]
Passenger booked in cabin on A deck
13 year old Roberto Gonzales occupied a deluxe cabin aft an A Deck.
Roberto should not have been aboard the Morro Castle. His father, Isidore Gonzales, was the general manager of United Fruit, Havana. Roberto's parents wanted him educated in the United States, and so during the school term he lived with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jova, in Newburgh, NY. The Jovas' were socially prominent, and Roberto became popular among the younger set at the tennis court and pool of the Powellton Club. Roberto and his cousin, Henri Jova, spent the summer of 1934 in Cuba. Isidore Gonzales arranged for his son and nephew to return to New York aboard a United Fruit vessel, the Quirigua, sailing for New York on September 5th. When they arrived at the pier, they were told that a booking error had been made and only one of the boys could be accommodated. So, Roberto was switched over to the Morro Castle while Henri kept the original reservation.
Roberto had little time to escape. Within ten minutes of the fire's entrance into the lounge, the aft corridors on A Deck were impassable. But, Roberto had an advantage the other passengers on A Deck did not. For some reason, his cabin opened on to the boat deck and not in to the hallway, the only cabin aboard the ship so equipped. He was only steps away from Boat #10, and so his chances of survival seemed good.
But, Roberto Gonzales did not make it into Boat #10. He died of shock and exposure in the water. His body was returned to Cienfuegos, Cuba, after a memorial Mass in Newburgh, New York.
[By Jim Kalafus]
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