The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-06-18
SIX HUNDRED LOST
EXCURSION>sTEAMER BURNS
TO THE WATERS EDGE.

/ EAU UkSlOfS>SSIE MERs BURNS
TO THE WATERS EDGE.
Caught from an Overturned Pot Of
/ Grease-Women and Children
Are Trampled Under Foot
!; While Others Leap to
! Escape Heat-Oth-
/ er News.
j One of the most appalling disas-
ters in the history of New York,
tragic in its immensity, dramatic
in its episodes, and deeply pathetic
10 the tender age of most OF its vic.
Tins, took place today in the East
River, at the entrance to Long Isl.
and Sound within short distance
of the New York shore, and within
sight of thousands of persons, the
msjority OF whom were powerless
to minimize the extent of the catas-
trophe. 50
| By the burning to the waters
edge Of the Slocum, three-decked
Excursion steamer, more than 800
persons, the majority of whom were
women and children, were burned
to death or drowned by jumping
loverboard or by beingthrown into
the whirlpools by the lurching of
the vessel and the frantic rush of
the panic-stricken passengers. -Four
hundred and eighty. five bodies
have been recovered, and are now
being tagged at the morgues of
I Bellevue Hospital and Harlem.
i Divers were still busy at late
hour, taking bodies from the hold
of the vessel, which they say, is
Ichoked with the remains of human
bodies, while the bodies of scores
who leaped, or were thrown, into
the river have not been recovered.
/ 1t is variously estimated that there
were between 1850 and $500 per.
sons on board the General Slocum,
when she left the pier at Third
street.
| The fire is said to have broken
out in a lunch-room on the forward
deck, through the overturning of a
pot of grease. The wind was high,
and all efforts to subdue the fire
were futile.
i The life preservers were too Sc
curely, fastened to their holdings to
be available, and stories are told of
frantic efforts made to cut them
. loose, but even if they could have
been torn down they were too big
, up for the. children to reach. 1t is
, also alleged that no attempt was
made to get out the fire apparatus
at the first cry of "fre," though
Captain Vanshaick says he imme.
diately rang the bells for getting
out the apparatus. According to
several statements, no attempt was
r made to lower boats or life-rafts.
III North Brothers Island, where
, the vessel was beached, contains q
= scarlet fever ward. The patients
, who witnessed the disaster were
, ordered in doors. and the doctors
. fastened to the rescue of those who
, had been washed ashore, but some
; ; scores of persons died while they
!, were being attended to.
Il Captain Vanshaick and his two
! pilots. Edward Vanwart and Ed
!, ward NJ. Weaver, have been arrest
t ed.
The General Slocum left Thirc
street, East River, at 9:30 O'Clock
this morning, having on board tht
Sunday school excursion of st
r Marks German Lutheran Church
/ located On Sixth street. Her des
: tination was Locus Grove, one O
!. the many resorts on Long Islanc
9 sound.
a. The excursion wasin charge o
Rev. George G. Haas, pastor of thu
fchurch. Captain William Van
schaick, the commander of the boat
l. was one of the best excursion.boa
! captains in New York harbor. III
!, has commanded the General Slocun
for almost the entire time since sh
# was built In 1891.
Il The steamer after leaving he
i. dock, proceeded up the East River
/. all three of her decks being crowd
q ed with merry-makers. Band
l. played, and the great side-wheele
l. was decorated with flags fron
10 stem to stern.
l. The steamers whistle was blow
:, ing for assistance and tugs and 9th
d nearby craft answered to the call
l. Before any OF the boats could reacl
the burning steamer, the franti
l. women and children began to jum]
It overheard. As the fire increased