The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-06-24
COULD NOT BE REACHEp.

WILL W. De OCNSfl-C.
Owink to the rocks on either side Of
the channel at this point 1t had been
impossible to beach the vessel. The
captain stuck to his post at the wheel
and headed the vessel straight up the
river for North Brother island where
she was put aground in shallow water.
Several hundred feet of open water
still lay between the burning steamer
and the shore and many persons per-
iShed either in the water or on the
burning vessel after she had been
beached.
It is estimated that the steamer car
ried more than 1000 persons. She was
the largest excursion steamer in these
waters and could carry 1900 passen-
gers.
There are forty bodies on North
Brother island, eighteen on the fire
boat Gopher Mills and eleven on Rikers
island. The board of health has sent
100 doctors, and 500 policemen are on
the scene.
The excursion was in charge of the
social committee of the church, headed
by Miss Mary Abendschein. In the
minister's party We're the pastor, Miss
Abendschein, Assistant Superintendent
Carl Anger, VIM. Schlafer the pastors
daughter Gertrude, his sister, Miss
emma Haas, and w. b. Tetamore.
PASSENGERS BEGIN TO JUMP.
BY the time the Slocum had reached
One Hundred and Thirty fifth street
tle eXcursionists were driven to the
rail, ana many Of them, with their
clothing on fire. began to jump over
board by twOs and threes.
When one Hundred and Thirty
eighth street WAS reached the heat had
become 50 intense that men, women
and children plunged overheard by the
score. There was a terrific crash When
the boat was beached.
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
ana Thirty eighth street this deck col
lapsed Many persons We're thrown in
to the water. but hundreds We're pre-
cipitated into the lower deck, which
was itself a mass OF women and chill
dren.
A tug of the New York Central rail-
road saved nearly a score through the
heroism of some unknown man. This
man stood ION the paddle wheel box
children to the tug until he was driven
back by the flames. He then jumped
into the tug himself
MANY HEROIC RESCUES.
Neither police nor firemen, when they
arrived, waited to remove their coats
or clothes but jumped overheard and
saved great many who would other
wise have drowned.
Many of those picked up alive in the
river will die in the hospitals. Most
of them are frightfully burned hav.
ing delayed leaping from the boat unit
their clothing was on fire. Some dice
in the improvised ambulances.
Every man on board who could swim
went overheard loaded down with chill
dren, and many Of these heroes lost
their lives because, burdened as they
We're, they could make no Roadway
against the overpowering swirl of the
tide.
A SURVIVORS, EXPERIENCE.
Lno. I1dell. % years old, one of tn,
survivors of the disaster, gave the fol
lowing account of his terrible eXper
fence. His mother and little brothe
were drowned before his eyes.
When we left the pier the decks wer
packed to the limits of their capacity
AS we neared Hell Gate the children
were called down to the lower decl
where ice cream and soda water wer
served. With my mother and litt
brother Paul, l went to the engine room
to watch the machinery.
Suddenly and without the leas
warning there a. a burst of fam
from the furnt. room, that rushe
up through the engine room and nashe
out about us. The flames spread wit
the rapidity of an explosion, settin
fire to the clothing of the women an
children who were grouped about tn
engine room Watching the machinery
There was a terrible panic as tn
Burning women and children rushc
out among those surrounding the ic
cream and soda water tables screann
with pain.
in the terrible scramble my mothe
and little brother We're swept from m
and carried toward the side, whe1
children and women with their clothe
n n 70 i,1,,1 ;,,t~
water. The flames spread in burst
that soon had the entire deck envelopes
The crew was helpless to render an
assistance or make efforts to check tn
advance of the fire. We We're ju.
passing out through He'll Gate whe
the fire started
THE DEVOURING FLAMES,
1.-THE captain headed the boat towa1
North Brother bland and the pilo
who were with him yelled frautical
to us to stay aboard until they beache
the boat. But in a moment after II