The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-06-18
600 PERISH
IN BLAZING
STEAMBOAT
New York Sunday School Picnic
Comes TO Horrible End When
Boat Catches Fire.
FRlGHTFUL PANIC FOLLOWED

Scores Of Victims Burned TO Death and
Hundreds Of Others. crazed With
FRIGHT. Leaped Overheard and Were
Drowned-Ptiable Scenes Along
the Beach.
New York. Juno 1G.-One of the
most appalling disasters in the his
tory of New York. tragic in its I'M
mcnsity. dramatic in its episodes and
aesply 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
,isht of thousands of persons. the ma
i1~itv of whom were powerless 20 mini
mize the extent of the catastrophe.
BY the burning 10 the waters edge
of the General Sl0cum. a threedecked
excursion steamer the largest in these
waters. more than 600 persons. the
majority of whom were women ana
children. were burned 20 death or were
drowned by jumping overheard or by
heiDg thrown into the whirlpools by
the lurohing OF the vessel and the
frantic rush of The panic-strjcken pas
sengers.
Approximately 500 bodies have been
recovered and are now being tagged
AZ the morgues of Bellevue hospital
and Harlem. Divers were still busy
this morning taking bodies from the
hold Of the vessel. which they say Is
choked with the remains of human be
inqs. while the bodies Of scores who
leaned overheard or were thrown into
the river have not been recovered.
The General Slocum left Third
street. East River. having on board the
annual Sunday school excursion of ST.
Marks German Lutheran church. To-
Gated i'm Sixth street Her destination
was Locust Grove. one Of the many re
sorts on Long Island Sound. The eX-
cursion was in charge OF Rev. George
c. F. Haas. pastor of the church. The
vessel was commanded by Captain
William Van Schaik, one Of the best
known excursion boat captains in New
York harbor The number Of eXcur-
sionists on board is yariously estimat-
cd at from 1900 10 2o0o
The steamer proceeded up the East
River. all three Of her decks being
crowded with merrymakers. Bands
played and the great side wheeler was
decorated with flags from stem to
stern.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
The Slocum had reached point near
the Sunlen Meadows off 13jth street.
Manhattan. when fire broke ont in a
lunch room on the forward deck. The
blaze was caused by the oyerturnins
u a pot Of grease. The Roadway Of
the vessel and a high wind almost in
stantlv famed the Insignificant flame
into fury. Efforts were al once direct
ed 10 subduing the fire but they were
futile. The blaze spread aft with al
most lightning rapidity Captain Van
Schaik in the pilot house had been in
formed of the outbreak of the fire, and
realizing the danger % the hundreds
Of excnrsionists, decided 10 send his
vessel to shore at 18th street. At
this point there are a number of lum-
Der yards and several huge oil tanks.
and the captain was warned that TO
attempt 10 land at this point would
endanger the property and perhaps
further imperil the scores Of people.
who had already been frightened into
Q state OF almost uncomfortable eX-
element
Changing the big steamers course
slightly. he headed her for North
Brother Island, half a mile away. BY
this time the flames were rushing by
leaps and bounds from the forward
part Of the ship aft
The great open decks. built for ex-
cursionists. with little obstruction
from bow 20 stern. offered a clear
sweep for the fire. AS the SlOcum dash
I'd forward the flames caught stanchion
and cabin wood work, eating and tear
ing their way across the vessel
The excursionists, but few mo-
ments before in the full enjoyment OF
an ideal summers day on Long Island
Sound. were driven TO the after part
Of the steamer 20 escape the heat.
flames and smoke that were constant
" increasing. Policemen and deck
hands aboard the boat struggled hard
10 quiet the panic but their efforts
were in vain. The wild disorder in
creased. as frantic mothers sought for
their children who had been al play
about the decks.
Women and Children Jump Overheard.
The steamers whistle was blowing
for assistance. and tugs and other
nearby craft answered TO the call. Be
fore any of the boats could reach the
burning steamer, however the frantic
women and children began to jump
overheard. The current was strong and
there are many whirlpools in the
channel. The boats that always
abound in the vicinity picked many
persons from the water, but these were
only a small number OF those that
were seen struggling in the swift
current
On the steamer the first sweep OF
the flames cut off escape from the