The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-06-16

Schys4k, In the pilot-ioaJe. lad tecn
informed of the outbreak of the fire
and, realizing the danger to the eX-
cursionists. decided to send his vessel
ashore at 134th street. At this point
there Is a number of lumber yards and
several huge oil tanks, and the captain
was warned that to attempt to land
ut this point would endanger the prop
erty and perhaps further imperil the
lives Of scores OF people, who had al
ready been frightened into state OF
almost uncomfortable excitement.
Changing tue steamers course
slightly, he headed her for North
Brother Island. half mile away. BY
this time the flames we're rushing by
leaps and bounds from the forward
part of the ship aft. The great open
decks, built for excursionists, with
little obstruction from bow to stern.
offered a clear sweep for the fire.
AS the Slocum dasned forward the
flames caught stanchion and cabin
woodwork, eating and tearing it's way
across the vessel. The excursionists.
but few moments before in the full
enjoyment of an ideal summers day
on Long Island sound, were driven to
the after part of the steamer to escape
the heat, flames and smoke that were
constantly increasing. Policemen and
deckhands aboard the boat struggled
hard to quiet the panic, but their eff
forts were in vain. The wild disorder
increased as frantic mothers sought
their children who had been at play
about the decks.
The steamers whistle was blowing
for assistance and tugs and other near
by craft answered to the call. Before
any of the boats could reach the burn
ing steamer, however, the frantic wo-
men and children began to jump over
board. The current was strong there
are many whirlpools in the channel.
The boats that always abound in that
vicinity picked up many persons from
the water, but these were only small
number of those that were seen strug
Cling in the swift current. AS the fire
increased the struggle to gain point
of vantage at the stern became fright
full. Women and children crowded
against the after rail until it
gave way and hundreds were pushed
off into the river After this there was
a steady stream of persons who jump
ed or were thrown into the water. In
the wake of the Slocum as she hur-
ried upstream was line of little black
spots marking the heads and bodies of
those who had sought to escape the
roaring furnace on the ship by throw
ing themselves overheard. Through
all the wild panic, during all that in
ferno, with fire and smoke surround
ing them, the officers and men of the
doomed boat remained at their posts,
but they were powerless to avert the
catastrophe
The Slocum got within fifty feet of
the northwest point of North Brother
Island and there stopped in the shall
low water, while it burned to the
waters edge.
St. Marks Lutheran church contain
ed in it's membership practically all
those Germans of the Protestant faith
within a radius of ten square blocks
The excursion was the event of the
year for scores of well-to-do German
families and had been looked forward
to for many months. Family parties
of ten or more had been made up
including in many cases the old grand
mother, the mother, and the children
of all ages, with a sprinkling of those
men of the families who could spare a
! day from their work.
A bureau of information was opened
in the church shortly after the first
news of the catastrophe was received
and ever since there has been a con
slant stream of agonized men, women
and children climbing the steps to ask
| for news of their relations or friends
AS soon as news is received as to sur
vivors or victims it is posted outside
and the information soon spreads
throughout the neighborhood.