The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-18
ABOUT 1000 PERSONS DEAD.
Burning Of an Excursion Boat on
Long Island Sound.

New York, Juue 15.-One of the most APP
paling disasters in the history of New York,
tragic in its immensely, dramatic in its cpl.
sodes, and deeply pathetic in the tender age
| of most of its victims, took place today in the
East river, at the entrance to Long Island
Sound, within a short distance of the New
York shore and within sight of thousands of
persons, the majority of whom we're powerless
to minimize the extent of the catastrophe.
By the burning to the waters edge of the
General Slocum, a three decked excursion
steamer, the largest in these waters, at least
600 persons, the majority of whom were women
and children, were burned TO death or drown
ed BY jumping overheard, or by being thrown
into the whirlpools by the lurching of the yes
sci and the frantic rush of the panic stricken
passengers.
Approximately 500 bodies have been recov-
cred and are now being tagged at The mOrgues
of Bellevue Hospital and Harlem. Divers
were still busy at a late hour taking bodies
from the hold of the vessel, which they say is
choked with the remains of human beings,
while the bodies of scores who leaped or were
thrown into the river have not bees recovered.
1t is the season of Sunday school excursions
in New York bay and the Long Island Sound,
the latter one of the most picturesque bodice
of water in the country.
Great preparations had been made for the
seventeenth annual excursion OF the Sunday
school of St. Marks German Lutheran
Church. the congregation of which is drawn
from the dense population of the Lower East
aud West Sides. and the General Slocum had
been chartered to carry the excursionists to
Locust Grove, one of the many resorts on
Long Island Sound. 1t lis variously estimated
that there were between 1900 and $500 per
by,..r1 tho f,anaral Slp.f,v, trhan gha
left the pier at 23d street. East riyer. though
the knickerbocker Steamship Company,
which owns the Sloeum, officially states that
| the number Of passengers was S73. that being
only one-thrd of the vessels capacity. 1t Is
/ thought. however. that there were several
| hundred children in arms, for whom fares are
not usually charged on these trips, on board.
The scene on the decks of the steamer as
she proceeded up the East river was one of
merrymaking customary on such occasions.
/ The mass Of tags huttered in the June breszes,
| the bands were playing and the children were
/ singing dancing and waving handerohlets aud
/ flags in answer to the saluiaiious Of those on
shore or from passing steamers. At the ex-
( IRENE eastern end OF Randall Island, off One
/ Hundred and Thirty fifth street. there IS a
stretch of wafer known as the SuBken Mead
I OVs.
/ At this point, Just as crowds we're watching
/ the gAily decorated steamer from the shore
I the General Slocum took IRE, aud as the age
/ Of the vsssel-she was built in had re
4 suited IN the well seasoning Of the Wood Nth
I which she was almost entirely built, she was
/ soon a mass Of fame.
I The Ere Is said to have broken ouI in lunch
+ room on the forward deck through the over
/ turning OF pot OF grease. The Wind vas high
Z and all efforts to subdue the FIRE were futile.
I At One Hundred and Thirty fourth street.
I there are several lumber yards AID oii tanks,
and as Capt. William Van Setback, Iu cam-
| mand OF the General Slocum, started 10 turn
/ his vessel toward the shore there he Nss warned
I thai II would sci 6re To the lumber and oil. and
{ So be changed bis course for North Brother
/ Island. one Of twin islands near the entrance
/ to the sound, some half mile AwAf. where the
Z boat. partially burned. was beached. She
I sank near this place st IL. - O. clock THIS AZ
I teruoen, two hours aud twenty i've minutes
{ after The Gre Ezs FIRST discovered
In the meantime the passengers had become
panic stricken, aud those uho sere uot caught
/ up By the flames rushed To the rear Of The YES
{ sci aud hsuirv,is jampei overheard Iuso The
I s~iftiv running Waiers u IS alleged that the
/ igte- pFVs~Fvers we're tr8 sscGrelY fastened %
their hnidings 20 be available. and sg8FT@s are
tald Of frantic Efforts made by stFuHg men ia
cut them loose; bat even II thry could hare
been torn douu they ~ese TOO high ap tor the
children TO reach. Il a also alleged thai 10
atiesnp, vas made 10 gsi nai ihe brv apparatus
a. the frs csy OF "FIrcf though Captain Van
Schaick says that be immediately rang 'he
be}i- for getilng oui the apparagus- Aecpft-
ine ta several statements, us aftsspt vas nztc
10 loser boats % life RATS.
The race % North Brother lslznd Sas hor'
ribs dramatic. Il sas made wbiis the flames.
which bad bren tanned into fSFy ~ toe
strong bead wind, Eere consuming hanaFris
of persons. Old and yoanE. The scene wAs
{ one OF ir5Ehlful panic, with men. womeH And
I children lampIng overheard ard oriag .ashed
7 BY the ehaaarl vairipoois against TIE vessel 8
sides Women aud chIldfsa Ssre cft.waea
( together on the husricAns deck. uhieh SOON
[ burned away and fell. aud ii Is believed tia,
mos, Of those oa this drek @vFe bafas4
TIE after rail gave say ana the Vs-sep.
/ gers Who had crowded against il ~erv pushed
/ into the riveF Mother and ehiidreu became
{ separated and frAuucally sanEas zach other,
while in several cases fAfhrrs and mefA err gath
crlng ihelT children lngrsher ina. $ aith thsin
/ into the wAtrr. liIlc chsldrga aolaiag zach
other br the hand. Jumped taEggh~s and Nsrr
/ AferWard faaud elasp~d r. each others arms.
I II Is alleged that men fought wiih samcu TO -
I cape. resulting 10 the tramI3gnE gadeF foot u
T scores Of children
uursnE Der hanc-eaFTlefHe1 qua 20 Ntft2
I Brother lsisnd the General Sioeam f. shisiies
T kept blowing for assistance, bu, before she
& WHISTLES began To bloS several tags, ihe cap
{ lnins OF which bad seen the oalbFcas Of tar
frp. started after the vessel. joined BY yacht.
Z while yushoAis pat out from the shnrs- Inc
/ number Of these crah constantly gge~ Aad not
I ;hs lezst dramatic incidents q the Gala siruphr
Z Sere the efforts Of the people on thsse boats
E TO rescue those whO had Jumped overheard
/ from The burning vessel Aeu crowded 70
/ the rails Of the tugs add caught up the drowa
Z ing persons as they we're borne by the earreti-
( There we're mAEy thrilling rescaes By t&'s
means
T Captain Van Schairk and bis iso pilots
I named EiwaId Van War, ani +. " Weaver,
have been arrested