Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-06-24


Young Boys and n PIuc.y Waitress.
Tragic stories Related by the Sur
vIyors.
When the steamboat General Slocum |
with her merry party Of Sunday school
excurslonists dashed for the shore Of |
North Brother island wrapped in flame |
and smoke. her decks crowded with |
maddened. struggling women and chill
dren, there was enacted series OF
dramatic and unusual incidents quite
apart from the tragic horror OF the
panic on board.
When the flames were at their height
one boy climbed TO the top of the flag
pole in the bow and hung on until the
boat was beached Then the smoke
wrapped him in its folds, and he lost
consciousness and tumbled into the
furnace beneath just as rescue was
near, says the New York Journal
Another boy, in the last moments OF
the run, climbed to the top OF the pad
de box and knelt In prayer. THOSE
around him had a momentary vision
of the little figure with hands clasped
and eyes upturned; then the flames
swept over him. When the boat was
beached the first arrivals found the
little form still kneeling on the paddle
box, but the head was gone. The long
faxen curls had caught in the first
gust Of fire, and the boys head was
burned to crisp without disturbing
the posture of the body.
One of the women victims was found
to have in her clothing cash, securities
and bank books representing fortune
of $4,000.
Four hundred and fifty Blackwells
island prisoners who are being kept un-
der guard during the summer at Ri
kers island, near North Brother island,
were detailed to assist in searching for
the bodies. All of these men are "trus-
ties" and although many have long
terms to serve none attempted to es-
cape. Overwhelmed by the horror Of
the disaster, they lost sight of their own
condition and worked with a will in
bringing bodies ashore. AS fast as
these bodies were secured they were
sent over to North Brother island.
One of the "trusties"-a gray haired
man-returned to headquarters only a
few minutes after he had been sent
out and, saluting a guard, said:
81 have Just found body, SIR" He
was trembling from head to foot, and
his eyes were filed with tears.
"Have you turned it over to the prop
er authorities?" asked the guard.
Eyes, sir,' was the reply, and at the
same time the man broke into sob.
what troubles you" questioned the
guard.
"Well, sir" sobbed the man, "the
body was that of girl, little fifteen,
year-old girl She had flaxen hair, and
her eyes-they We're wide open-her
eyes, sir, they were blue, and
"Well," interrupted the guard, Ibid
you know herr"
"No, sir" answered the old man
And here he broke down and cried like
a baby. 81 didn't know her, sir; but
if you please, I'd like to be excused
from searching for any more bodies
don't want to see nothing like tina
again. Years and years ago l had 6
daughter, and she had fiaxen hair an(
blue eyes and was just like this poo
little girl that found. She died whel
she was just fifteen. I'd like to g.
back to my cell. amt strong enough
to do no more work today. guess m.
old age must be telling on me. l ain
strong enough to do no work that
mans supposed to do"
Tenderly the guard told the old fel
low to go to his cell.
Deeds of heroism by those on tn
steamer and rescuers from the >shor
were plentiful Arthur Link, thrice
years old, of New York, found bah
soon after the fire started lying on tn
upper deck and being trampled on. H
put the little one on camp chair an
lay on it to save it from being crushed
says the New York World. When b
felt the deck falling beneath him b
picked up the baby and jumped int
the water with it. Then, with the be
by tucked under one arm, he struc
out for the shore.
The load was too much for him, an
he was about to sink when man in
rowboat took the baby from him. Al
thur refused to get into the boat, ant
calling back to the man to take car
of the baby" he struggled through til
current till he reached the shore.
Peter Wingerter of New York, VIII
is only thirteen years old, picked u
four babies whom he found deserted o
the upper deck. Going to the railing
he dropped two upon tugboat. Their
with the other two huddled under hi
left arm, he slid down deck post
the lower deck, where he passed thei
to man In rowboat. Peter the
jumped to tug.
A moment later he saw an infaI
tossing in the water, and he ran to til
side of the boat and dived for it. Ju!
as he went over the side ma
grabbed his foot and pulled him bacl
The baby went down, and Peter fougl
to go after it, but he was held back.
One Of the pluckiest actions Of Il
day was that performed by Emn
O'Connell on North Brother islam
says the New York Journal. She Is Ell
ployed as waitress in the Nurse
home, and, like every other ablebodit
person in the place, had gone out
play her part in the work Of rescue.
AS she stood by the ladder at the t.
of the bank, watching the bodies bell
brought ashore, she saw child aft
child carried by beyond the reach
the eager hands stretched out to rescu