The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-06-18
Excursion
Steamer
Burned.
1000 People Aboard.

New YORK, June Io.-FiVe hundred
persons. mostly children, have persisted
by the burning of the excursion steamer
General Sloeum, near Hellgate in the
East river.
The General Slocum. with the an
nUal Sunday school excursion of st.
Mark German Lutheran church Of
this city, ON board, was proceeding mp
the river to one Of the many resorts Of
Long Island sound.
When near One Hundred Tweny fifth
street, persons ON shore saw smoke and
flames spring from the upper part of
the crowded steamer.
A panic ensued ON the boat almost
Immediately.
The crowds ON the forward deck be-
gan to spring over board or TO crowd to
the after part Of the boat
The screams of the terrified passen-
gers could be heard on shore and hun
OF to the rescue.
Owing to the rocks on each side Of
the channel at this point. it had been
impossible to beach the vessel
The captain stuck TO his post at the
wheel and headed the vessel straight
mp the river to North Brothers island,
where she was put sgroand in shallow
water. Several hundred feet Of open
water still lay between the burning
steamer and the shore and many per
sons persisted either in the water or ON
the burning vessel, after she had been
beached.
1t was estimated that the steamer
carried more than 5000 persons.
1t is estimated that from 800 to 500
persons persisted in the flames or were
drowned.
The disaster is the most appalling
that has ever occurred in New YORK
harbor, and is made more distressing
by the fact that most Of those who lost
their lives were women or children of
tender age
She was the largest excursion steam
er in these waters and could carry $500
passengers
Before she was beached the crowded
hurricane deck gave way and precipi-
tated hundreds into the fiery furnace
between decks, already checked with
a struggling, panic stricken mass OF
women and children The continuous
blasts Of the SOcum 3 sireens brought
dozens of tugs and small craft to hel
side, and the work Of rescue was quick
and daring. Some Of the Tugs stuck t.
her sides until they themselves wer'
AFR or were driven of by the leapinl
flames.
When the steamer was beached quit
q distance Of open water lay between
her and the shore and hers many per
sOns persisted. either by the flames o.
weHe drowned in efforts to reach shore
At the office OF the United State
Steamboat inspection bureau it wa
said the General Slocum was inspected
Aay and was reported 10 be IN
thoroughly good condition., ready To-
the excursion season. Aboard tn
steamer Was all her life saving appara
tus required by law Of steamers Of he
capacity.
The General SlOcum's licensed cap
tain is Captain ". II. Van SchAick
one Of the oldest excursion captains il
New York waters
The disaster was witnessed by thOus
Ands Of people from both shores of tn
river, and as rapidly as possible hun
dreds Of small boats and launches Sc
OF 10 render assistance. With the boa
burning under his feet, the captai
stayed in the pilot house and the sngi
neer stayed st his post below deck IN
til the boat was beached at the lowe
end of North Brothers island, of POI
Morris. Even then the passengers weF
not in safe position. for they wer
some distance from shore and the boa
was a furnace.
Hundreds Of small boats were seal
tered about and picked up those VIII
jumped overheard as rapidly as poss
BILE. Il is estimated that between 40
and 500 persons spranR into the watel
An eye witness said the loss of lii
was due 70 the collapsing Of the heav
upper deck. IL fell with a crash 500
after the fire started, crushing hui
dreds Of persons who had gathered O
the lower deck. Il was then that III
greatest panic ensued amid the Twin
stream OF persons going overheard int
the water.
mine. the flames Originated IN the fO
ward part Of the boat. Persons wi
saw the accident from the shore So
that almost instantly persons who o,
eupied places on the forward deck b
gan to jump overheard.
Policemen in the Bronx and HaTle
saw the blazing boat steaming 40 Il
river and Immediately began To turn
alarms for ambulances mad firebOats.
All the boats at North Brothers /
land were sent 20 the assistance of q
people in the water, and as fast as tbs
were brought ashore were cared for
the pavilions there.
The patients in the hospitals on Il
island became almost insane fro
fright at the terrible scenes they hi
witnessed.
A large part Of the crowd in q
d tofued steamer were children Al