Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-06-22
DAY OF FUNERALS.
Many of the Victims of the Gen. Slo-
cum Disaster Are Laid at
Rest

New York, June 18-More than
seventy-two hours after the smouldering
wreck of the big excursion steamer,
Gen. Slocum, had sunk off Hunts point
In the East river the full extent of the
disaster to the st. Marks Lutheran
Sunday school picnickers had not been
learned. Out of the nearly 1900 pleasure
seeking women and children who board
ed the steamer on Wednesday morning.
the bodies Of 56S have been recovered,
While more than 800 others are in the
list Of missing and the search for them
Is continued along the shores and on the
Islands of the East river, while divers
regularly relieve each other in the
sunken hulk and wherever under the
water there seems possibility of finding
any victims Of the disaster.
Thirty Bodies in Hole.
In this search a diver today discovered
In the river near where the steamer was
beached, and fully two miles from where
the wreck now lies, hole in which more
than thirty bodies are closely packed.
The diver was searching along the
river bottom and had reached a point
near the foot Of the sloping lawn on
North Brother island, where the bodies
Of the first victims Of the tragedy were
eral bodies lying together, and at first
the diver supposed there were no more
than half a dozen in the pile, but upon
removing several he found a great hole
III the river bed literally packed with
dead.
Body Wrapped in Flag.
One of the bodies taken from the water
today was that of a woman wrapped or
entangled in a large American flag.
City Will Raise the Boat.
The relief funds will have large addi-
ton from the city treasury, resolution
for the issuance of $4,000 in bonds for
the suecor of the distressed victims of
the accident having been introduced to-
day, action being referred. Mayor Nc
Clellan today authorized the police COM
missioner to contract with wrecking
company to raise the hull Of the Gen.
Slocum, thereby ending the dispute which
had arisen between the underwriters IN
charge Of the wreck and the wreckers-
Work will be started at once and it IS
believed many more bodies will be recoV-
cred. At the same time the district at
torney hopes to learn more definitely
whether there was any culpable negli-
gence on the part Of the owners or crew
Of the steamer.
Many Funerals Held.
Throughout the day there was a sue
cession Of funerals, in many cases several
small collins being carried by a single
hearse, all vending their way across the
big bridge to the Lutheran cemetery on
Long Island, where nearly all will be
given a last resting place.
Couldn't Get Hearses.
Considerable difficulty had been expert.
enced by the undertakers who have con.
tracted for the burial Of the bodies in
securing a sufficient number Of hearses
and it became necessary to call upon Jer-
sey City, Newark, Hoboken and various
places in Westchester county in order to
supply the demand.
In the stricken district business was prac.
tically suspended and nearly every store
was draped in black. The streets were
literally filed with hearses. The flu.
nerals began at an early hour and al
times the streets were completely blocked
and traffic of other kinds was impossible
Every church in the vicinity was filled
to it's capacity. Clergymen from all parts
Of the greater city came down to the be-
reaved district to do what they could
to give spiritual consolation to the af-
ficted.
Sympathy from Kaiser.
The following telegram from the Ger
man ambassador at Washington, Baron
Speck Won Sternburg, inclosing a cable
gram from the German Emperor, was re.
ceived today by DR.. Haas, pastor Of St
Marks Lutheran church:
''The following cablegram has just
been communicated to me by his majesty,
the Kaiser:
Being most profoundly affected by
the news of the indescribably horrible
catastrophe which has overtaken the
Lutheran congregation, I command you
to express to it my innermost feelings OF
sorrow
''In carrying out the command of my
most gracious sovereign allow me at the
same time to offer you my own personal
sympathy"
TIETIN NEN TTON IIIAuT