Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-23

eighth street had been reached, the
heat from the fire had become so in
tense that men, women and children
plunged overheard by the score. There
was a terrific crash when the boat was
beached at the reef OF the northern
end of North Brothers island. where
she rapidly burned to the waters edge.
1t is said the fire started in the lunch
counter in the forward part of the
boat. When the alarm spread among
the passengers the hurricane deck was
crowded, and when off One Hundred
and Thirty-eighth street this deck col
lapsed.
Many persons were thrown into the
water, but hundreds were precipitated
into the lower deck, which was itself
a mass of women and children.
An Unknown Hero.
A tug of the New York Central rail-
road saved nearly a score through the
heroism of some unknow man. This
man stood on the paddle wheel box of
the Slocum and passed women and
children to the tug until he was driven
back by the flames. He then jumped
into the tug himself. Neither police
nor firemen, when they arrived, wait
ed to remove coats or clothes, but
jumped overheard and saved a great
many who would otherwise have
drowned.
Many of the bodies recovered were
horribly burned. Wreckers say that it
will be hours before the fire in the
hold of the boat is out and the bodies
there can be recovered. Both firemen
and wreckers say the greatest loss of
life, extending into the hundreds, will
be found in the hold.
Every Source of Aid Utilized.
When police headquarters received
the first vague report of the disaster,
every source of succor and aid was
utilized. The hospitals were notified
by telephone, and each sent all avail
| able surgeons, nurses and ambularces
to the scene.
The police reserves of a half dozen
station were hurried to the scene, and
more than SO patrol wagons were sent
for ambulance purposes.
North Brothers island, where the
Slocum was beached, is occupied by
municipal charity hospitals, and a con-
siderable number of physicians and
nurses were Immediately available.
Many Rescued Will Die.
Many of those picked up alive in the
river will die in the hospitals. Most of
them were frightfully burned, having
delayed leaping from the boat until
their clothing was on fire.
Some died in the improvised ambu-
lances in which they were hurried from
the shore.
Every man on board who could swim
went overheard loaded down with chill
dren. Many of these heroes lost their
lives, because, burdened as they were,
they could make no Roadway against
the overpowering swirl of the tide as it
rushes from the East river into the
sound.
| "A SURVIVOR StDTS.
John Edell, % years old, one of the
survivors of the disaster, gave the fol-
lowing account of his terrible expert
ence, his mother and little brother be-
ing drowned before his eyes:
when We left the pier the decks
were packed to the limit of their Ca
pacity. The band vas playing, the
children were frolicking about and we
we're all having a fine time.
CAS- we neared He'll Gate, children
were called down to the lower deck,
where ice cream and soda water were
served.
"The children were falling all over
each other in an effort to get to the
tables which held the refreshments.
With my mother and my little brother
Paul and I went to the engine Don to
watch the machinery. Suddenly and
without the least warning there was
a burst of flame from the furnace room
that rushed up through the engine
room and flashed out about us. The
flames spread with the rapidity of an
explosion, setting fire to the clothing
of the women and children who were
grouped about the engine watch
ing the machinery.
A Most Terrible Panic.
There was the most terrible panic
as the burning women and children
rushed out among those surrounding
the ice cream and soda water tables
screaming with pain.
"In the terrific scramble my mother
and little brother were swept from ME
and carried toward the side. where
the children and women with their
clothes burning had begun to jump
into the water. The flames spread in
bursts that soon had the entire deck
enveloped.
"The crew were helpless to render
any assistance or make efforts to check
the advance of the fire. We were just
passing out through He'll Gate when
the fire started. The captain headed
the boat toward North Brothers
island, and the pilots who were with
him yelled frantically to us to stay
aboard until they beached the boat.
Flames From ~EngineroOm.
"But in a moment after the flames
had burst from the engine room great
numbers began to jump overheard. The
women were wild with fright, and
snatching their children to them
leaped into the whirlpools which car.
ried them toward the rocks on botf
shores.
81 %endeavored for a few moment!
to break through the mad crush, ant
get to my mother and little brother
but I was swept into one orner o.