The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-16

some half a mile away. where the boat
partially burned, was beached.
She sank near this place at 1925
o'clock this afternoon, two hours and
twenty minutes after the fire was first
discovered
In the meantime the passengers had
become panic-stricken and those who
were not caught by the flames rushed
to the rear of the vessel and hundreds
Jumped overheard into the swiftly run
ming waters.
1'reservers of no Service.
It is alleged that the life preservers
were too securely fastened TO their
holdings to be available and stories are
told of frantic efforts made by strong
men to cut them loose; but even II they
could have been loosened they were too
high up for the children to reach. II
Is also alleged that no attempt was
made TO get out the IRE apparatus at
the irst cry OF SIRE though capthln
Van schaick said that he Immediately
rhag the bells for getting cut the ap-
paratus. According TO several state
ments no attempts were made TO lower
the boats or life RATS. So.
The race to North Brothers Island
was horribly dramatic 1t was made
while the flames. famed into a fury by
the strong wind, were consuming hum
dreds Of persons, old and young. The
scene was one of frightfuI panic with
women and children jumping over
board and being dashed by the chan
mel whirlpools against the vessels
sides. Women and children were
crowded together on the hurricane
deck which soon burned away and
fell' and 1t is believed that most of
those on this deck were burned.
Pushed IntO the stream.
The after rail gave way and the
passengers Who had crowded against
1t were pushed into the river. Moth
ers and children became separated and
frantically sought each other while in
several cases fathers and mothers
gathering their children together
jumped with them into lac water
Little children holding each other by
the hand jumped together and were
afterwards found clasped In each 9TH
ers' arms. 1t IL alleged that men
fought with women to escape, result
ing in the trampling under foot of
scores OF women and children.
During her fiame-enveloped run %
North Brothers Island the General
Slocum's whistles kept blowing for as
sistance but before the whistles began
to blow several tugs the captains of
which had seen the outbreak of the
fire. started after the vessel, Joined. by
yacht, while rowboats put out from
the shore. The number of these craft
constantly grew and not the least dra-
matte incidents of .--e catastropne
were the efforts of the people on these
boats to rescue those who had jumped
overheard from the burning vessel
Men crowded to the rails o. the tugs
and caught up the drowning persons
There were many thrilling rescues by
this means.
Captain Van Schaik and his two pi-
lots. Edward Van Wart and E. ~
Weaver, have been arrested
Divers Bring Up Bodies.
The three-decker excursion. steamer
General Slocum. of the Knickerbocker
Steamship Company. burned to the wa
ter edge of North Brothers Island. |
East River. at the entrance to Long
Island sound, resulting in the death
through burning or drowning of at
least six hundred persons. mostly wo-
men and children. -Four hundred and
fortyseven bodies have been recovered !
tonight and divers were at work TAX
ing bodies from the hold of the steam
er. The remains Of many persons who
IcaI ed into the river have not yet been
found and 1t will be many hours before
the list ct dead is anywhere near com
plcte.
Tho General Slocum, one OF the larg-
est excursion steamers in these waters,
left Third Street. East River. at $40
&" clock this morning. having on board
the aELrai Sunday sch Dol excursion of
ST. Marks German Lutheran Church,
located on Sixth Street. Her destina-
ton was Locust Grove, one of the |
many resorts on Long Island sound |
The excursion was in charge of Rev |
George c. Haas. pastor of the church. !
The vessel was commanded by Captain !
William Van Schaik. one of the best |
known excursion boat captains in New
York harbor.s He has commanded the |
General Slocum for almost the entire /
time since she was built in 1891.
Say SIS Were On Board,
The number OF excursionists on |
board today is variously estimated at |
from 1900 to 1000. but according to |
an Official statement issued by the
X nickerbocker Steamship Company. !
owners OF the Slocum, the number Of |
passengers was sTs. that being one
third of the vessels licensed capacity.
The steamer, after leaving her dock
this morning. proceeded up the East
River. all three of her decks being
with msrrv- usakerR Bands