Arizona republican., 1904-06-16

this place at 1925 o'clock this after noon, two hours and twenty-five min uteS after the fire was first discovered.
 MURDEROUS NEGLIGENCE.
 In the meantime the passengers be- came panic stricken and those who were not caught up by the flames, rushed to the rear of the vessel and hundreds of them jumped overheard in to the swiftly running waters. It is all legged that the life preservers were too securely fastened to their holdings to be available and stories are told of frantic efforts made by strong men to cut them loose: but even if they could have been torn down, they were tco high up for the children to reach. It is also alleged that no attempt was made to get out the fire apparatus at the first cry of fire" though Captain Van Schaicll says that he immediately rang the bells for getting out the apparatus. According to several statements, no at tempts were made to lower the boats or lift the rafts. The race to North Brother island was horribly dramatic. It was made while the flames. which had been famed into a fury by the strong head wind, were consuming hum dreds of persons, old and young. The scene was one of ftightful panic, with women and children jumping overheard and being dashed by the channel whirl- pools against the vessels side. Women and children were crowded together on the hurricane deck. which soon burned away and fell and it is believed that most of those on this deck were burned.
 SEPARATED FOREVER.
 The after rail gave way and p1ssen- gers who had crowded against it were pushed into the river. Mothers an l children became separated and frantic ally sought each other, while in several cases fathers and mothers, gathering their children together, jumped with them into the water. Little children holding each other by the hand, jumped together and were afterwards fcurd clasped in each others arms. It is said that men fought with women to escape, resulting in the trampling under foot of scores of children
 During her flame-enveloped run to North Brother island the General Gen. SIocum's whistles were kept blowing for assistance but before the whistles be- gan to blow, several tugs, the cap. aics of which had seen the outbreak of the fire, sterted after the vessel, joined by a yacht. while roawboats put out from the shore. The number of these craft constantly grew, and not the least dram attic incidents of the catastrophe were the efforts of people on these boats t0 rescue those who had jumped overheard from the burning vessel. Men crowded { to the rails of the tugs and caught up drowning persons as they were torne py the current There were many thrilling .rescues by this means.
 North Brother island, where the v5s- sel was beached, contains a scarlet few CT ward. The patients who witnessed the disaster were ordered Indoors, and the doctors hastened to the rescue O. those who had been washed ashore, but some scores of persons died while they were being attended 10.
 Captain Van Scbaick and his two pill cts. Edward Van Wart and E. M. Wea- yer. have been arrested.
 THE SHEPHERD OF A DOOMED FLOCK.
 The excursion was in charge of Rev. i George C. Haas, pastor Of the church. The vessel was commanded by captain Wm. Van Schaik, one Of the best known excursion boat captains in New York harbor. He has commanded the General Slocum for almost the entire time since she was built in 1891. The number of eXcursionists on the boat today is variously' estimated ct from 1,5OO and 2,OOO but according to an offi- ciaI statement, issued by the KniciIer- booker Steamboat company, the owners of the Slocum, the number of passen- gers was S73 that being one-third of the vessels licensed capacity.
 The steamer, after leaving her deck this morning, proceeded up East river. all three of her decks being crowded with merry makers. Bands played and the great side-wheeler was decorated with flags from stem to stern.