The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-06-17
SLOCUM AN
UNLUCKY BOAT
seven Times Before the Steamer Has
Been In Trouble.

Been In Trouble.
NEW YORK, June 1.-THE General
Slocum was built by Devine Burtis,
of Brooklyn, the hull being OF white
oak, locust and yellow pine me
keel was laid December %, 1880, and
the ship was launched on April Is,
1881. The keel length was $50 feet;
length of deck, ESQ feet; breadth OF
hull, 81 feet G inches; breadth of deck,
70 feet.
The machinery was from the works
of w. e A. Fletcher, OF Hoboken. The
engine, which was cylinder, 53
inches in diameter, with a l2-foot
stroke, was of the American vertical
beam type, with surface condenser.
The paddle wheels were 81 feet in
diameter.
The tensile strength OF the boilers
was 10000 pounds and the working
pressure SO pounds. The speed was
IS miles an hour and the boat had
capacity for 5000 passengers.
The Slocum had been an "unlucky
boat. On August IA, 1891, four months
after she was launched, she ran
aground on a mud bank at Rockaway
Beach Two days later, August 1G,
she went aground in n storm with
load of excHrs ionistS Off Manhattan
Beach, and the frightened passengers
we're taken Off by the steamboat An
eler. While returning from Roclsaway
Beach on July 30, 1894 crowded
with passengers, she ran aground at
Rocltaway Inlet and those on board
were thrown into a panic. On Sep
tcmber i, 1894, the SlocuIn backed
into the tug Robert Sayre and was
disabled. She drifted helplessly with
400 passengers aboard, until she was
taken in tow by TWO tugs.
On July s. 1895, while the Slocum
was on her way to Rockaway Beach
with $50 passengers she collided with
the steam lighter Amelia, off Pier L.
East river, cutting q big hole in that
vessels side. Passengers on the Slo.
clt,n were thrown from their feet and
small panic followed. The Slocum
was only Slightly damaged, however.
The Slocum, with $50 passengers
aboard, On July Ii. 1901. went aground
on 4 bar about i've mites off Barren
Island while on Der way back TO the
city from a short "trip to sea. The pas
seuger.s We're badly frightened and
somewhat shaken up
On june 49, 1902, 1900 excursion
lists were held prisoners for two hours
on the Slocum after she had stuck
hard and fast on a bar in Jamaica
bay. The passengers were finally
taken Off in small boats and put
ashore.
While racing TO a pier on July G.,
1902, the Slocum and the Thomas Pat
ten came together off the Battery
Neither boat was seriously damaged.
The Slocum was overhauled this
a new vessel She was rated as Al
for a fire risk by the underwriters.
Her crew was composed of IS deck
hands, She made her first trip this
year with an excursion party on May
%. Her regular run in season was
to Rockaway and to Bridgeport on
Sundays She was owned by the
Knickerbocker Steamship Company,
of which James e. Atkinson is the
superintendent.
The Slocum's licensed captain is
Capt W. H. Van Schaick, one of the
Oldest excursion captains in New
York harbor waters. He has always
had the reputation of being capable
and reliable and has had more eSpe-.
rience than most commanders Of
excursion craft in the handling Of
.sidewhe elers, He has been for sew
eral years with the Knickerbocker5
Steamship Company