The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-18
More Than One Hun
dred Victims Laid
to Rest.
THRONGS ON EAST SIDE
Ministers Assigned to Homes,
Churches and Cemeteries.
Search for Bodies.

NEW YORK. June 1s-Today. the first
funeral day for the victims of the Gen
eral Slocum horror, saw the stricken
East Side district thronged with people.
Many were mourning friends and rela-
tives of the dead. the others were at
tracted to the scene by that morbid
curiosity so prevalent in human nature.
The throngs were subdued and respect
ful. Men and boys removed hats and
caps whenever funeral cortege was en-
countered passing through the avenues
of crepe, while women and girls stood
with heads bowed down.
Many women wept, especially at the
sight Of the white hearses. which some
times contained two and three little
white caskets. -Four hundred policemen
were scattered through the district but
what little work they had to do was
accomplished with touch of tenderness.
These men. whose work usually calls for
gruffness, showed today their humane
and sympathetic side.
Arrangements had been made for more
than 100 funerals today, and as early
as Q o'clock the first OF these sad cor
teges began TO move Services were held
in churches Of all denominations This
was because persons of numerous re-
ligious beliefs were among the victims.
There were scores Of ministers In the
churches. and in the homes 10 perform
the last rites. They had volunteered
their services at a meeting yesterday.
and TO each was assigned a particular
work. Wherever there was a funeral
there was TO be found a crowd Of sor-
rowing relatives and sympathizIng
friends. BY 10 o'clock a constant stream
of hearses and carriages flowed out OF
the district and made their way toward
the cemeteries IN Brooklyn
In Lutheran Cemetery.
Lutheran Cemetery in Middle Village
will receive the bulk OF the dea1- There
hundreds OF graves have been prepared
for the victims. score Of ministers
have been assigned TO the cemetery,
Religious services will be held at the
graves as the victims are consigned to
their last resting places.
The coroners. police, and other au-
thorities who have been receiving and
checking the bodies at the scene of the
disaster and at the morgue have care
fully revised the list of the dead and
missing. so that a comparatively correct
estimate Of the number or dead can be
given today. The total 'Bumber of vic
Tins recovered up to midnsf z last night
is 562. The total number missing IS
Z1. indicating total deaia list of S33
OF the bodies recovered g. have been
Identified. remarkable showing for
such general catastrophe. Two hun
dred and eighty-six of the recovered
dead are children. 25S women. and q
men.
A large number OF the missing are be-
lieved TO be wedged in under the hulk OF
the Slocum. which is lying in the mud
on her side of Hunts Point Some ones.
ton has arisen as 10 who shall move the
hulk- The wreckers have asked for
$1,000 for the task
The Knickerbocker Steamboat Com
pany claims that the removal Of tho
hulk is the duty of the marine r,nder-
writer's, but others claim that ss ,ba
disaster occurred when the boat was tbe
property Of the steamboat company they
should spare no expense in recovering
the dead. The city authorities have in.
tlnlated that II something is not done
today steps will be taken to compel
wreck 'he
Coroner's Inquest.
The coroner's inquest into the cause
and responsibility for the disaster will
begin on Monday. 1t will be held In
the coroner's office in the Bronx. AZ
IHth Street and Third Avenue. the
Jurisdiction in which the disaster 90
CURED. Coroners Berry and O,fsorroar,
who are in charge. have been WORKING
night and day caring for the bodies
and collecting evidence
After the inquest is under way - ,s
expected that the truth or falsitv OF the
numerous charges that the lire pre-
servers and fire apparatus were useless
Will develop Five life preservers that
were strapped about victims have been
obtained and will be placed in evidence
1t Is also said that the coroners have
caused TO be taken from the wreck ono
OF the standpipes through which water
was supposed TO have been supplied 70
the nre hose The valve. IL Is stated
A witness turned up today who de-
clares that the fire started below Nine
tieth Street. II this is so II shows
that Captain Van Schaick ran the burn
ing vessel for nearly two miles 49,
he beached her. River men have point-
ed out eight places between Ninetietb
street and oak Point all much nearer
to have originated than North Brothers
Island, where the boat could have been
beached and possibly many lives saved.
Engleman's Testimony.
The witness is John Engelman, of 425
East Twelfth Street He came to the
norgue this morning TO look for two
sisters who were lost. Engelman saws
that he jumped overheard with his wife
In his arms at Ninety-second Street. and
that the fire broke out several blocks
below that point. He saved his wife
and himself. but could not help his
sisters.
OF the money. jewelry and other val
ua bles taken from the bodies of victims
Continued on Third Page.)