The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-16
Loss Of Life by Burning Of the
Steamer SIOcum
Proves to Be Greater Than at
First Thought Possible.
522 BODIES TAKEN OUT
or These 155 Already Have
Been Identified.
Number of Missing, Probably
Dead, 467.
There Are liz Injured in the
Hospitals.
DIVING FOR THE DEAD.
Number OF COrpses Is Being
Added to Continuously.
Stood Up in Groups Of Four and
Photographed.
DIVING FOR THE DEAD.
lumber OF Corpses Is Being
Added to Continuously.
Stood Up in Groups of Four and
Photographed.

New York. June 16.-The loss of life
by the burning of the steamer, General
Slocum in the East river yesterday viii
approximate 1000. This estimate is
based on the opinion OF the chief Of the
fire department, of the coroner's ONCE
and of the police. At 2:s0 o'clock this
afternoon 522 modes had been recover
ed, of which 155 had been Identified
There were reported missing 467 per-
sons and the hospitals had III injured.
The fact that "A hours after the dis
aster there are still missing nearly 500
persons warrant the belief that the
above estimate of the dead will be YER
flied, for the authorities have used ev-
cry source at their command to locate
all who escaped.
Mayor Mcclellan announced this af-
ternoon that he had decided TO issue a
proclamation asking for subscriptions
for the burial of the dead and for such
other immediate relief as could be Civ
en-. He said he would ask ten men OF
prominence to serve on a COMMITTEES
to take charge of the fund.
At an informal meeting Of the Luth-
eran ministers today an appeal to the
/ ministers of all denominations to as
sist in the funeral services OF the vic
Tins was prepared
New York. June 1s.-When the dread
4 ed tale OF the General Slocun1 is fullv
/ told-whenthe last blackened body has
4 told-when the last blackened body has
/ the swift waters Of Hell Gate give UP
| their dead, the catastrophe will take
/ its place as the most appalling that has
! ever occurred in the inland water of
4 America Definite figures on the loss
of life cannot yet be given That more
| than 500 persons perished is horrible
certainty, but how much in excess of
| that number the total Will viii
| only be known when the missing col
4 umn is finished.
All during the night and through the
early dawn Of today the sad work OF
exploring the SlOcums hull went on
and from deck to morgue the procession
of ambulances, each with its pitifut
load, wound its way from the river
front to the morgue at the foot OF
| TWenty-si street until al 2-30 this
afternoon 522 bodies lay on the slabs.
| Most Of these came from the wreck.
but the night long patrol of the waters
of East river added its CHASTITY quota
There are many bodies still in the hold
of the burned vessel, according to the
divers and Wreckers, but the river is
looked to to complete the list. How
many preferred drowning to the agony
| of death by fire, went over the rail-
never to rise again during the mad racs
| of the vessel for the beach, may never
be known, for the treacherous waters
of Hell Gate do not willingly give up
their victims Unlike the Iroquois the
recent years where the woe Of the dis
/ aster reached throughout the land the
blow of the Slocum's mortality falls
practically upon one little neighbor-
hood of a great city
All From One Parish
St. Marks parish. which furnished
nearly every victim. lies within ten
crowded blocks Of the middle east side
and there is today hardly a house that
is not one of mourning. The member
ship of the little Lutheran church IS
practically German or Of German de-
scent and all of the comparatively well
to do class. The race of the burning
steamer from the moment the fire was
discovered until her bows crashed on
the shelving beach Of North Brother is
land lasted little more than ten min
utes. yet that time sufficed for deeds
| of heroism which make the one bright
chapter in the heartrending story.
maidens and youths of tender years
contributed their part to the roll Of he
roic acts.
There were rescues in the face of al
most certain death. and useless but ex-
alted self sacrifice. The credit for the
greatest saving Of life is due to the
hardy tug boatmen and other followers
of the river, who braved the flames and
held the noses Of their boats against
the fire-Warped steamer until driven
off by the awful neat. scorched and
choking. Dead bodies Of women with
their burned arms clasping close the
lpitifuI forms of little children and
{ babies were found their tiny arms en-
folding each other in the stiff embrace
of death
: Brutality Alleged.
: But there is a darker side hinted at
along the river front where are told
. stories that seem to be the inevitable
f accompaniment Of all great calamities-
: There mas been no evidence Of "a char
] acter specific enough to fasten it upon
I individuals and permit Of punishment,
but survivors and eve witnesses say
= that some brutal acts Of selfshness and
q cowardice on the part Of the SlocuIn' 9
r crew were seen and that distress sig
nails from the burning boat were dis
regarded by passing craft. One man
AYERS that a big white yacht passed the
Slocum when the bodies of women and
* children we've going overheard and did
e not even slacken speed According to
4 this man the yacnt few the pennant Of
: the New York Yacht club. but not the