New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-16
TIE BrRyJyG or TIE SLOCUu


The worst marine disaster of its kind which
has ever occurred in the vicinity of the metrop-
Oils was recorded yesterday. The steamer Cen
eral Slocum, carrying at least n thousand Sun
Gay school excuTSionsts, was burned soon after
passing through Hell Gate for Il resort on the
Sound. Scarcely more than one hour had
elapsed since the pleasure seekers embarked.
and probably less than ten minutes interviewed
between the first alarm and the full consumma-
ton of the horror. 1t is not unlikely that the
number of women and children who were
drowned, in consequence Of jumping or falling
overheard. will reach or exceed four hundred.
How many others were entrappod In the hull by
The collapse Of the hurricane deck and were
burned 10 death ut present bc only con-
jectured. The exact truth may never be known.
nut these victims may swell the total loss TO
fully six or seven hundred.
The greatest mortality from similar cause
I'm local waters was that which resulted from
the explosion OF a boiler on the Staten Island
ferryboat West6ei in 1871. Fully 100 persons
were killed at thar time, and 200 more were in
jured. Between 100 and 200 deaths have re-
suited from the burning of steamers on the
Mississippi River and Long Island Sound. and
even worse records have been made the st.
Lawrence and the Great Lakes. though not re
Gently. The loss of life from fire on the Mon
treal in 1857 was about go and that from one
in 1850 on the Griffith, running between Erie
and Cleveland. was estimated AT nearly 800. II
is with these last two disasters that comparison
will now naturally be made. Obviously an en-
tirely new precedent has been established. Per
haps even the effects OF the destruction Of the
Iroquois Theatre in Chicago last December
have been surpassed.
Widespread as will be the sorrow created by
Yesterdays tragic event. and universal rs Will
I've the sympathy excited, it is now too soon 10
censure anybody. The boat had been inspected
by federal officials within a few weeks and pro
nounced TO he in first class condition. On this
occasion she carried much smaller number Of
passengers than her permit specifies. The cap
tain, the two pilots and the engineer showed the
utmost heroism. the last mentioned officer dying
at his post Moreover, Captain Van Schaicks
discretion seems 10 have equalled his courage.
Some OF the excursiOnists believe that he should
have beached the steamer sooner. 1t is safe 20
say. however. that he understood his business
better than any Of his critics. No else on
board could have been so well acquainted with
the difficulties and dangers OF pursuing any
other policy than the one which he chose
A number OF lessons will he found by wide
awake steamboat men in this disaster when the
facts better known than they are to-day.
The chief one will relate 10 the prevention of
any such outbreak OF fire ms that which oc-
CURED on the General SIocum. Another will
deal with improvements in construction. In
the mean time. the public will do well TO recog-
niZe the probability that travel on excursion
boats during the remainder Of the season VIII
be safer than it was before. If no new prccau-
lions are adopted, at least n greater vigilance
will be exercised. Again, the aJority Of the
patrons Of these boats also have something 10
learn about the safeguards provided for them
10y law. One person i'm ten. perhaps, can swim,
hut ii is doubtful If one III n hundred put
on life preserver. To make use OF the latter
in crowd and when 4 panic develops, may not
be possible; but these hndrances do not always
exist when the reed arises Many lives might
have been saved yesterday if, before going on
board the General Slocum, all OF her passengers
had famliarized themselves with the arrange
ment of n life preserver and the art of donning
one In the right manner.