The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-15

We're packed to the limit of their
capacity The band was playing, the
children were frolicking about, and
we were having a fine time. AS we
neared He'll Gate the children were
called down to the lower deck where
ice cream and soda water were
served. The children were falling all
over each other in an effort to get
to the tables which held the refresh
ments- With my mother and my little
brother Paul 1 went to the engine
room to watch the machinery.
Suddenly and without the least
from the furnace room that rushed
up through the engine room and
flashed out about US. The flames
spread with the rapidity of an expIo-
sion, setting fire to the clothing of the
women and children who were
grouped about the engine room
watching the machinery.
There was the most terrible panic
as the burning women and children
rdshed out among those surrounding
the ice cream and soda water tables
screaming with pain
In the terrific scramble my mother
and little brother We're swept away
from me and carried toward the side
where the chHdren and women with
their clothes burning had begun to
jump into the water. The flames spread
in bursts that soon had the entire deck
enVelOped. The 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 Brother
island and the pilots who were with
him yelled franticaly to US to stay
aboard until they beached the boat
Flames Burst Ont.
But in a moment after the flames
had burst from the engine room great
numbers began to Jump overheard The
women were wild with fright and
snatching their children to them leaped
into the whirlpools that carried them
toward the rocks on both shores.
I endeavored for a few minutes to
break through the mad crush and get
to my mother and little brother, but
was swept into one corner of the
boat and held there unable to move.
AS the boat kept on her way the
breeze drove the flames toward the af-
ter part of the ship, where those in
their panic had not jumped overheard,
were huddled together. 1t seemed but
a few seconds before the flames had
struggling about the ice cream tables
and set their clothing ablaze.
''They all rushed to the after part
of the ship in a stampede that carried
those who were near the rail overheard
against their will.
AT one time it seemed to me as if
the women and children were pouring
over the sides like a waterfall As we
whistle in one continuous blast and
soon boats of all descriptions were
making for us from every side of the
river.
I was rescued by a launch just as the
boat settled close to the shore.
when she was grounded the flames
had spread over the entire upper and
lower decks There We're only a few
spots on the boat untouched by the
flames and in these We're piled up men
and women, who had tainted and fallen
pinned others to the deck.
The men from the tugs who could
get near the steamboat shouted for
those on board to jump and then the
small boats picked Them up by the
score"
No Alarm Sounded.
From all that can be gathered no
alarm was sounded when the fire was
tinguish the flames without alarming
the passengers.
Those in the after portion of the boat
did not know it was on fire until the
there was nothing to do but jump over
board or be burned to death.
Persons on the shore say that there
were scores huddled in an apparently
safe position on the hurricane deck
with the breeze blowing the flames ano
smoke away from them, when suddenly
the deck fell in. After the cloud OF
smoke had drifted away the observers
been standing. The space was vacant
Many of the children picked up by
small boats, were lashed to camI
stools and other light boat furnishings
showing that some adult had tried tC
make the little ones safe. These pre-
cautions proved inadequate in the ter
rife current and in the whirlpools
Very few of the children picked UP hat
on life preservers. Children can not ge
at the life preservers on excursion boat:
in this harbor. They are lashed to tht
ceilings over the decks and can only
be reached by a. tall person.
Paul Lebenow, one of the passengers
who was on board, says a ferry boa
passed near the burning steamer, bu
offered no assistance. Two policemeg
who had been assigned to accompany
the excursion jumped from the burning
steamer and reached the shore in safe
tyS One of them was slightly burned.
Up to las p. m. twenty-six uniden
titled bodies had been listed. All wer,
/ women and children.
ARRESTS MADE.
] Canfain and Pilots of the RurDP6 ROa