The San Francisco call., 1904-06-16
MAD STRUGGLE
ON THE DOOMED
VESSELS DECKS
FrightfuI Panic Follows
the First Sweep of
the Flames.
Mothers With Clothing on
Fire Seize Babes and
Leap Overheard


burned tc the waters edge of North
Brothers Island, East River. al the en-
trance TO Long Island Sound to-day,
resulting in the death through burning
or drowning Of at least 600 persons.
mostly women and children. -Four hun
dred and ninety-eight bodies had been
recovered to-day and divers were at
work taking bodies from the hold or
the steamship. The remains Of many
persons who leaDed into the river have
not yet been found, and il Viii oe many
hours before the list Of dead Is any
where near complete.
The General SlOcum. one Of the
largest excursion steamships in these
waters. left Third street. East River, at
$50 o'clock this morning, having on
board the Sundav-school excursion OF
St Marks German Lutheran Church,
located on Sixth street. Her destina-
tion was Locust Grove. one Of the
many resorts on Long Island Sound.
The excursion was in charge OF Rev.
George c. Haas. pastor Of the church.
The vessel was commanded by Cap
tain ". A Van Schaick. one Of the best
known excursion boat captains in New
York harbOr He has commanded the
SlOcum for almost the entire time since
she was built. in 1891.
ALL DECKS ARE CROWDED.
The steamship after leaving her dock
this morning proceeded up the East
River, all three Of her decks crowded
with merrymakers. Bands played and
the great sidewheeler was decorated
with flags from stem TO stern.
The SlOcum had reached a point near
the Sunken Meadows of One Hundred
and Thirty-fifth street, Manhattan.
which is at the extreme eastern end Of
Z. fTp T-Tu
in a luncheon room on the forward
deck The blaze was caused by the
Overturning Of a pot Of grease.
The wind almost instantly famed the
Insignificant flame into a fury. The
blaze spread like lightning. Captain
Van Schaick. in the pilot-house, had
been informed Of the outbreak Of the
FIRE and being aware of the danger,
decided 10 send his vessel TO shore at
One Hundred and Thirty fourth street
At this point there are number Of
lumber yards and several huge oil
tanks and the captain was warned
that TO attempt TO land at this point
would endanger the property and per-
haps further imperil the scores Of per-
sons who had already been frightened
into state Of almost uncomfortable
excitement
Changing the big steamships course
slightly, he headed her for North
Brother Islard, a half mile away.
FLAMES QUICKLY SPREAD.
BY this tine the flames were rushing
by leaps and bounds from the forward
part Of the ship aft The great open
decks. built for eXcursionists, offered
q clear sweep for the FIRE.
AS the SlOcum dashed forward the
flames caught stanchion and cabin
TF-rrlr eating AID RING their
way across the vessel.
The eXcursionists. but a few minutes
before in the fun enjoyment Of an
ideal summers day on Long Island
Sound, were driven to the after part
Of the steamship to escape the heat.
flames and smoke that were constantly
increasing. Policemen and deckha rds
aboard the boat struggled hard TO quiet
the panic, but their efforts were in
vain. The wild disorder increased as
frantic mothers sought their children
who had been at play about the decks.
The steamships whistle was blow
ing for assistance and tugs and other
nearby craft answered the call. Be
fore any Of the boats could reach the
burning vessel however, the frantic
women and children began to jump
overheard. The current was strong
and there are many whir1Pools in the
channel. The boats that always
abound in that vicinity picked many
passengers from the water. but these
were only a small number Of those
who were seen struggling in the swift
current.
FIRE CUTS OFF ESCAPE.
On the Slocum the first sweep of
the flames cut off escape from the hur-
ricane deck, where a great many Of
the women and children were crowded
together, and soon burned away the
light wood Of the uprights. which
came down with a crash on those be-
low. II is thought that most of those
on the hurricane deck were burned.
AS the fire increased the struggle
10 gain point Of vantage at the stern
became frightful. Women and chill
dren crowded against the aft rail un-
I'll IL gave way and hundreds were
pushed of into the river. After this
there was a steady stream of persons
who jumped or were thrown into the
water
In the wake Of the Slocum as she
hurried up stream was a line Of little
black specks, showing the heads of
those who had sought to escape the
roaring furnace Of the ship by throw
ing themselves overheard
Few Of those saved by the small
boats had on life preservers. At no
time during the progress Of the fire
was there an opportunity to either
lower the lifeboats or 10 get out the
life preservers. This, perhaps, gives an
idea Of the rapidity with which the
flames swept the decks.
II was an experience narrowing and
terrible and that any escaped alive
seems wonderful.
HEROIsM OF THE CREW.
Through all the wild panic, during
all that inferno, with fire and. smoke
surrounding them, the officers and
men Of the doomed boat remained at
their posts, but they were powerless
10 avert the catastrophe.
The Slocum got within fifty feet Of
the northwest pier Of North Brother
Island and there stopped in the shall
low wafer
II was Just before she beached that
her hurricane deck, the supports OF
which had burned away fell with its
load Of women and children, adding
10 the panic and horror of those on
the deck below. Very soon the after
Darts Of the second and third decks
also caved an. Just before this oc-
Cured the tug Walter Tracey had
come alongside and ,the burning
eteamshfp had been dashed to II. Many
Of the passengers were taken on by