1898: The French liner Bourgogne collided with the ship Cromartyshire south of Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Confusion, panic and murder let to the deaths of 571. Only 20 people survived.

1924: The side-wheel steamer Three Rivers burned on Chesapeake Bay. The fire killed five adults and five children. The five boys, all of whom worked for the Baltimore Sun as delivery boys, also played in a band that promoted the paper. The band was quite famous at the time even having been conducted once by John Philip Sousa. An original composition called "Battering Babe" was once played by the boys while being conducted by George Herman "Babe" Ruth himself. The fire was blamed on a cigarette.

2002: The Queen Mary 2 was laid down at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in St. Nazaire.

Queen Mary 2 under construction.