"Slocum Music
To date, research shows that there were four musical pieces composed specifically for the Slocum as a result of the tragedy:
1- "The General Slocum" by Charles Ives in 1904 finished about 1930 from notes he left.
2- "The Slocum Waltz" by Eric Blau about 1996
3- "The General Slocum" by Patricia Spaeth in 1903-04, premiered at 1904 Anniversary
4- "The Ballad of the General Slocum" by William Bates in 2005, premiered at 101 Anniversary.
In 1904 George M. Cohan was a prolific composer. One of this period was a song, "They Were My Friends." It has been wondered whether the song may have been inspired by the Slocum tragedy though no evidence has been seen to support that conjecture."

from

www.general-slocum.com/0newsletter.htm