Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-06-23
HUNDREDS ARE DEAD
Steamer on East River Burned with
Excursionists on Board.
Women and Children Jumped Over.
board and Were Drowned or
Perished by Fire-Rescuc of
Victims Impossible.

New York, June 16.-One Of the
most appalling disasters in the his
tory Of New York, tragic in its i'm
mensity, dramatic in its episodes and
deeply pathetic In the tender age of
most Of Its victims, took place 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 ma
jority Of whom were powerless to min
imi2e the extent OF the catastrophe.
BY the burning to the waters edge of
the Genera! Slocum, three-decker
excursion steamer, the largest in these
waters, more than 600 persons, the
majority of whom were women and
children. were burned to death or
drowned by jumping overheard or by
being thrown into the whirlpool by
the lurching of the vessel and the
frantic rush Of the panic-stricken pas
sengers. On board the vessel were
members of the ST. Marks German
Lutheran church, who were being car
ried to Locust Grove on a picnic ex-
cursion.
The Slocum had reached point
near the Sunken Meadows of 135th
street, Manhattan, which is at the ex-
treme eastern end OF Sandals island,
when fire broke out in lunch room
on the forward deck. The blaze was
caused Wy the overturning of pot Of
grease. The Roadway of the vessel
and q high wind almost instantly
famed the Insignificant flame into
fury. Efforts were at once directed
to subduing the fire, but they were
futile. The blaze spread aft with al
most Lightning rapidity Capt. Van
Schaik, in the pilot house, had been
informed Of the outbreak of the fire
and, realizing the danger of the hun
dreds of excursionists, decided to send
his vessel to shore at bath street.
At this point there are a number of
lumber yards and several huge oil
tanks and the captain was warned
that to attempt to land at this point
would endanger the property and per-
haps further imperil the scores Of peo-
pie who had already been frightened
into state oil almost uncomfortable
excitement.
AS the fire increased the struggle
to gain point Of vantage at the stern
became frightful. Women and chill
dren crowded against the atfer-rail
until it gave way and hundreds were
pushed of into the river. After this
there was steady stream of persons
who jumped or were thrown into the
water. In the wake of the Slocum
as she hurried up stream was a line
Of little black specks marking the
heads of bodies Of those who had
sought to escape the roaring furnace
on the ship by throwing themselves
overheard Few OF those saved by the
small boats had on life preservers.
At no time during the progress of the
fire was there an opportunity to either
lower the life boats or get the life
preservers cut from underneath the
seats. This perhaps gives an idea Of
the rapidity with which the flames
swept the decks. 1t was an experience
narrowing and terrible and that any
escaped alive seems wonderful. |
all the wild panic, during all |
that inferno, with fire and smoke sur
them, the officers and men of |
the doomed boat remained at their |
posts, but they were powerless 10
avert the catastrophe.
The Slocum got within so feet of
he northwest point of North Brother
Island and there stopped in the shall
ow water. 1t was just before she
oeached that the hurricane deck, the
of which had burned away.
ell with its load of women and chill
lren, adding to the panic and borrow
If those on the deck below. Very
loon after parts Of the second and
bird decks also caved in.