The Van Buren press., 1904-06-18

Many persons were thrown into the
water, but hundreds were precipitsted
into the lower deck, which was Itself
a mass Of women and children.
An Unknown Hero.
A tug Of the New York Central rail-
road saved nearly a score through the
heroism OF some unknow man. This
man stood on the paddle wheel box Of
the Slocum and passed women and
children to the tug until he was driven
back by the flames. He then jumped
into tho tug himself. Neither police
nor firemen, when they arrived, wait
ed to remove coats or clothes, but
jumped overheard and saved a great
many who would otherwise have
drowned.
Many of the bodies recovered were
horribly burned Wreckers say that 1t
will be hours before the fire in the
hold of the boat is out and the bodies
there can be recovered. Both firemen
and wreckers say the greatest loss of
life, extending into the hundreds, will
be found in the hold.
Every source of Aid Utilized.
When police headquarters received
the first vague report of the disaster,
every source of sucCor and aid was
utilized. The hospitals were notified
by telephone, and each sent all avail
able surgeons, nurses and ambulances
to the scene.
The police reserves of a half dozen
station were hurried TO the scene, and
nore than so patrol wagons were sent
for ambulance purposes.
North Brothers island where the
Slocum was beached, is occupied by
municipal charity hospitals, and con
siderable number Of physicians and
nurses were Immediately available,
Many Rescued VIII Die.
Many Of those picked up alive in the
river will die in the hospitals. Most OF
them were frightfully burned, having
delayed leapng from the boat until
their clothing was on fire,
Some died in the improyised ambu'
lances in which they were hurried from
the shore
Every man on board who could swim
went overheard loaded down with chill
dren Many of these heroes lost their
lives, because, burdened as they were,
they could make no headway agains
the oyCrpowering swirl Of the tide as It
rushes from the East river into the
sound
survivors, story.
John Edell, % years old, one Of the
survivors of the disaster, gave the fol-
lowing account Of his terrible eXperi'
ence, his mother and little brother be-
.na drowned before his eyes:
when we left the pier the decks
were packed to the limit Of their ca
pact. The band was playing, the
children We're frolcking about and We
were all having a fine time,
"Aa we nearel Hell Gate, children
yere called down to the lower deck,
Nutlt lt' Nltdlu dud SOud Ndt'l hCiV
served.
THE children were falling all over
each other in an effort to get to the
tables which held the refreshments,
with my mother and my little brother
Paul and went to the engine room to
watch the machinery, Suddenly and
without the least warning there was
4 burst Of fame from the furnace room
that rushed up through the engine
room and flashed out about us, The
flames spread with the rapidity of an
explosion, setting fire to the clothing
OF the women and children who were
grouped about the engine room watch
ing the machinery.
4 uost Terrible pnnic.
"There was the most terrible panic
as the burning women and children
rushed out among those surrounding
the ice cream and soda water tables
screaming with pain,
"ln the terrific scramble my mother
and little brother were swept from me
and carried toward the side, whore
the children and women with their
clothes burning had begun to Jump
into tho water The flames spread In
bursts that soon had the entire deck
enyeloped
"Thc crew were helpless TO render
any assistance or make efforts to check
the advance Of the fire We were just
passing out through Hell Gate when
the fire started The captain headed
the boat toward North Brothers
ISLAND, and the plos who were with
him yelled franticaly to us to stay
aboard until they beached the boat
FLAMES From Engincroom,
"But in a moment after the flames
had bur.< from the engine room great
numbers began to jump overheard The
women were wild with fright, and |
snatchIng their children 10 them,
leaped into the whirlpools which car.
rlcG them toward the rocks on both
shores
II cudeayored for few moments |
10 break through the mad crush, and |
get 20 my mother and little brother
but ! was swept into one corner OF
the boat and held there, unable to
move
DriNcn AZ by Flames
"As the boat kept on her way the |
breeze drove the flames toward the |
after part Of the ship, whore those
who In their panic had not jumped |
overheard we're huddlcd together, It
seemed but q few seconds before the
flames had swept down upon The chill !
drcU who were struggling about the Ice
cream tables and set thulr olnDhng |