SS Saale

Albumen Photograph 1895 - SS Saale W. Sander & Sohn Photographen Geestemunde
History
Name	Saale (1886–1901) J. L. Luckenbach (1901–22) Princess (1922–23) Madison (1923–24)
Owner	Norddeutscher Lloyd (1886–1901) Lukenbach Transportation & Wrecking Co (1901–19) Lukenbach Steamship Co Inc (1919–22) Archibale M. Ostrom (1922–24)
Port of registry	Bremen, Germany (1886–1901) New York, United States (1901–22)
Route	Germany – United States (1886–1900)
Builder	Fairfield Engineering and Shipbuilding Co Ltd
Launched	21 April 1886
Maiden voyage	18 August 1886
Out of service	1900–01
Fate	Scrapped 1924
General characteristics
Type	Ocean liner (1886–1900) Cargo ship (1901–24)
Tonnage	4,967 GRT
Length	439 feet 6 inches (133.96 m)
Beam	48 feet 1 inch (14.66 m)
Propulsion	Steam engine, single screw propeller
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h)
Capacity	150 1st class, 90 2nd class, 1,000 steerage class (1886–1900)

SS Saale was an ocean liner for North German Lloyd in the late 19th century, which was severely damaged in the 1900 Hoboken Docks Fire. On 30 June 1900, Saale was moored at the North German Lloyd piers in Hoboken, New Jersey, preparing to depart on a transatlantic crossing when some cotton on a nearby pier caught on fire and spread to the ship. Saale and several other ships were soon engulfed in flames; 99 passengers and crew on Saale were killed in the fire and subsequent sinking.

The ship was raised, sold, rebuilt, re-engined, and renamed SS J. L. Luckenbach in 1901–02. The ship served as a cargo ship for the Luckenbach Line. In October 1917, during World War I, the Luckenbach came under attack by German submarine U-62, which damaged the ship and set her cargo of cotton on fire. but the ship was able to eventually make port in France. The ship was renamed SS Princess in 1922 and SS Madison in 1923. She was broken up at Genoa in June 1924.