Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-06-18
OVER SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE
DIE IN FLAMES AND FLOOD


OF New York. tragic in rs immensity.
dramatic in its episodes. and deeply
pathetic in the tender age OF most OF
its victims, took place yesterday in the
East river. at the entrance TO Long
Island so-lnd within short distance
Of the New York shore and within
sight Of thousands of persons. the ma
iorify of whom were powerless 10 mini
mize the extent OF the catastrophe.
BY the burning to the waters edge
OF the General Siocum. a three-decker
excursion steamer. the largest in these
water. more than COO persons, the ma
jortty Of whom were women and chill
dren, were burned to death or drowned
BY jumping overheard or by being
thrown into the whirlpools by the
lurching of the vessel and the frantic
rush OF the panic-stricken passengers.
approximately 500 bodies have been
recovered and are now being tagged
at the morgues OF Bellevue hospital
and Harlem.
Divers were still busy at late hour
taking bodies from the hold OF the yes
sell which they say is choked with the
remains of human beings. while the
bodies Of scores who leaped or were
thrown into the river have not been
! recovered
The three-decked excursion steamer
General Slocum of the Knickerboeker
Steamboat Company burned to the wa
ter's edge OF North Brother island.
East river. at the entrance TO Long
Island sound yesterday. resulting in
the death through burning or drowning
o; al least Goo persons, mostly women
and children.
-Four hundred and ninety eight bod
les had been recovered to-day and
divers are still at work taking bodies
from the hold of the steamer.
The remains OF many persons who
Ieaped into the river have not yet
been found. and il will be many hours
before the list OF dead is anywhere
near complete.
The General Slocum. one OF the larg-
est excursion steamers in these va
tcr6. left Third street. East river, a.
$50 O'Clock this morning, having on
board the Sunday school excursion OF
st. Marks German Lutheran church,
located in Sixth street. Her destina-
tion 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 Capt.
William Van Schaick. one of the best
known excursion boat captains in New
General Slocum for almost the entire
time since she was built in 1891.
The number OF excursionists on
board to-day is yariously estimated
at from 500 TO 600 but. according
to an official statement issued by the
Knickerbocker Steamboat Company.
owners of the Slucum. the number OF
passengers was s73. 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
crowded with merrymakers. Bands
played and the great side-wheeier was
decorated with flags from stem to
stern.
The Slocum had reached = point
near the snnken mead ,ws. of One Hun.
dred and Thirty-ffth street. Manhat-
tan. which is at the extreme eastern
end OF Randall's island. when fire
broke out in lunch room on the FOR
ward deck.
The blaze was caused by the over
turning of pot OF grease.
The headway OF the vessel and the
high wind almost instantly famed the
insignificant flame into fury. Efforts
were at once made to subdue the nre'
but they were futile.
ne Spttah aiN "ish ei@c'N
lightning rapidity.
Captain Van Schaick. In the pilot
house. had been informed OF the out
break of the fire and realizing the
danger to the hundreds of excursion
lists. decided TO send his vessel to shore
at One Hundred and Thirty-fourth
street
At this point there number OF lum-
Der yards and several huge oil tanks.
and the captain was warned that to
attempt to land at this point would
endanger the property and perhaps
further lmperil the lives of the people
who had already been frightened into
state of almost uncomfortable ex-
eitement
Changing the big steamers course
slightly, he headed her for North
Brother island. half mile away.
BY this time the flames were rush
| ing by leaps and bounds from the for
y ward part Of the ship aft
q The great open decks, built for ex-
cursionists. with little obstruction
from bow to stern. offered clear
sweep for the fire.
As the Slocum dashed forward the
flames caught stanchion and cabin
woodwork, eating and tearing their
way across the vessel.
The excursionists. nut ie" mo
ments before in the full enjoyment OF
OF an ideal summers day on Long
Island sound, were driven to the after
part Of the steamer to escape the
4 heat. flames and smoke that we're con-
stantly increasing
Policemen and deck hands aboard
the boat struggled hard to quiet the
panic. but their efforts were In vain
The wild disorder increased as frantic
a mothers sought to find their children
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NJ n..n~xnA Asn aefurnino.