The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-06-23
FIND MANY MORE
BODIES OF DEAD
SEARCH FOR VICTIMS oF SLoCUM
HORROR CONTINUES.
FoRTY-oNE FOUND SUNDAY
Total Number of Bodies Recovered
Is 624 = over 800 Persons
Still on the List of
Missing. q


the big excursion steamer General Slo-
East river, the full extent of the dis
hster to the st. Marks Lutheran Sunday
school pienickers had not been learned.
Sundays harvest of dead numbered
Al, bringing the total number OF bodies
so far recovered up to 624. OF these,
$50 have been identified, while 81 of
the victims now lying at the morgue
have not been claimed by friends or
relatives. While the list of missing has
been cut down somewhat by the iden-
tifications made Sunday, IL new names
were added to that roll, thus leaving
the total of missing almost as it was
on Saturday something more than
800.
Work of the Divers.
Divers who went to the wreck found
the bodies of woman, a girl and boy
and brought them to the surface. They
were burned beyond recognition. The
divers said there are more bodies in the
wreck, thus bearing out the statement
made day or two ago, after it was
thought the wreck had been cleared, that
many bodies remained under the en-
tanglemenC of timbers and machinery.
A life saver, graphing from raft,
brought UP a woman of 80 and girl of
IL years locked in each others arms. A
few minutes later he brought the bodies
of q boy of nine years old and girl of
six, apparently brother and sister, cling
ing tightly to each other. One body was
found floating IN the river near Riker's
island by the crew of a four-oa barge
Of the Metropolitan Rowing club, while
10 were brought up from the bottom
along the beach running from the island
down to the channel in the river. Three
men working with an improvised Crap
pei, consisting of block of wood to
which many blue fish hooks were at
tached drew up section of the rail of the
upper deck of the Slocum about 80 feet
in length. The bodies of four women
were clinging to the rail, the fingers
gripping the interlaced wire roping.
This is part of the rail which gave way
just before the steamer was beached,
precipitating 100 persons into the water.
While theGaillZas being bronghtas ashore
two Of the bodies Broke away from 1t,
but were secured Immediately; the 9TH
er two we're still clinging to the rail
when it was landed.
Held Down by Rocks.
Nine bodies were taken from a pocket
under the rocks at the bed of the river
near North Brother island Saturday
morning, and five more were recovered
later in the day. According to Diver Gil
ligan, who secured the majority of the
bodies, the hole contains tangled mass
of the remains of fully so more These
bodies will be taken up as rapidly as the
divers can work when the tide slackens.
Many Funerals.
The funerals of nearly a hundred of
the victims of the disaster were held Sun
day. In many instances two baskets
were carried in the same hearse, and in
some cases two and even three hearses
bore away the dead of a single family
Boat officials Detained.
Coroner Berry said that he had issued
an order for the detention OF the captain.
pilots, engineers and crew of the Slocum
Il learned" said he, that they were
trying to escape, and asked the police
to detain everybody who was employed
on the boat, as witnesses. Some OF them
have escaped, and we may never be able
TO get them. But We are after them AMI
will leave no stone unturned TO get them
within our Jurisdiction"
Secretary CortelyOu, of the depart
ment of commerce and labor, visited the
scene Of the disaster Sunday. He was
accompanied by II. X. Smith, deputy
commissioner of corporations of the
same department, under whose supervi-
sion an investigation will be held. Su-
pervising Inspector General Uhler and
Inspector Rode Secretary Cortelyou
remained at North Brother island long
enough to witness a number of bodies be-
ing taken out of the water He refused
TO discuss the situation, but Mr.. Uhler
gave out statement in which it was ex-
planned that the trip was preliminary
to the investigation to be made by the
federal authorities which, it was prom
Used, would be complete and thorough in
every respect. Mr. Cortelyou left for
Washington Sunday night and will con-
suit with Assistant Secretary Murray,
of his department, this morning Mr..
Murray will then come to this city to be
present at the investigation to be made
by the steamboat inspectors, which will
begin probably on Wednesday.
Lake Captains Warned.
Chicago, June 20.-To avert even
possibility of a repetition of the General
Slocum disaster the Chicago government
inspectors office has sent a warning let
ter to all lake captains. Their special
attention is called to the regulations re-
garding fire drills, and extreme care Is
urged in the matter of preventing fires
OF any kind on board, in lamp rooms.
Kitchens. lunch counters or buffets.
Engineers are reminded of the danger
Of fires in their departments and Of their
duty TO have the fire pumps in working
order at all times. Investigation OF the
lake craft brought 10 light the fact that
while steamships are licensed to carry