 In September 1935 , El Occidente came to the aid of Morgan passenger liner Dixie , which had been driven onto French Reef by the Labor Day Hurricane . Dixie had been headed from New Orleans to New York when she grounded on the reef , located about 60 nautical miles ( 110 km ) south of Miami , Florida and 4 @.@ 5 nautical miles ( 8 @.@ 3 km ) off shore . El Occidente , one of 15 ships that responded to Dixie 's distress calls , carried two loads of passengers and baggage from Dixie to Miami . There was no loss of life during the grounding or the rescue of Dixie 's passengers . 
