Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-16


When near One Hundred and Twenty
fifth street, persons on the shore saw
smoke and flames spring from the up
per part of the crowded steamer. A
panic ensued on the boat and almost
instantly crowds on the forward deck
began to spring overheard or to crowd
to the after part of the boat.
Rescue Was Impossible.
The screams of the terrified pas
sengers could be heard on the shore.
Hundreds of small boats Immediately
put off to the rescue but owing to the
rocks on either side of the channel at
this point, it was impossible to beach
the vessel
Captain True to His Trust.
The captain stuck to his post at the
wheel and headed the vessel straight
up the river for North Brother is.
land, where she was put aground in
shallow water. Several hundred feet
of open water still lay between the
burning steamer and the shore and
many persons perished, either in the
water or on the burning vessel, after
she had been beached.
Largest Boat on River.
It is estimated the steamer carried
more than 1000 persons. She was
the largest excursion steamer in these
waters and could carry 1000 pas
sengers.
There are forty bodies on North
, Brother island, eighteen on the fire
boat Sopher Mills, and eleven or
IRlkers' island. The board of health
has sent 100 doctors and 500 policemen
are on the scene.
When the Slocum left the dock she
is said to have had 1000 women anG
children aboard. Nearly all belonged
to ST. Marks German Lutheran
Sunday school.
Panic Spreads Through Boat.
Frightful scenes of panic followe,
the breaking out of the fire. The flame
had complete control before any NOV
could be made to check them. 1t wa
impossible to run the steamer ashor
because of the He'll Gate rock on eth
er side.
Burns to Waters Edge.
The captain headed her for Nortl
Brother of the island where she wa
beached and burned to the water
edge. Nothing could be done in tn
way of launching boats and as fas
as possible the passengers bega
jumping overheard by hundreds.
Five Hundred Perish.
The latest report is that at leas
500 have been burned. Many wer
rescued by tugs and others perishec
!, Several hundred bodies have bee
washed ashore or picked up by boats
Mothers Call for Children.
Almost every other woman who wa
rescued was calling for her child. Th
disaster was witnessed by thousand
of people on both shores of the rive
and as rapidly as possible hundreds {
small boats ard launches set off to rel
der assistance.
Officers Stick to Posts.
With the boat burning under thej
feet the captain and engineer rename
at their posts until the boat wa
heachedi
Death List VIII Grow.
Many of those who have been picl
ed up in the river will die in the hos
pital Most Of them are frightfull
] burned. having delayed leaping fror
4 the boat until their clothing was O
fire. Some died in the improvised an
balances.
Heroes Lose Their Lives.
Every man on board who coul
swim went overheard loaded dow
with children. Many of these heroe
lost their lives, because, burdened a
they were, they could make no heac
way against the overpowering swirl {
the tide.
Upper Deck Collapsed.
An eye witness to the accident sal
the greatest loss of life was due t
the collapsing of the heavy uppe
deck, which fell soon after the fiji
started, crushing hundreds of pc
sons on the lower deck 1t was the
that the greatest panic ensued, livin