The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-06-15
BY Associated Press.


New York, June l5-The steamship
General Slocum, carrying over two
Thousand women and children, on the
annual excursion given by st. Marks
German Lutheran church burned at the
waters edge on East river, Off Hell
Gates this morning, enroute TO Locust
Grove beyond Flushing.
1t is reported that one thousand were
burned or drowned, including Rev.
George 9. Htass and family.
1t was impossible to run ashore on
account of the Hell Gate rocks on either
side.
The flames soon swept the ship and it
was impossible to launch boats.
The flames we're uncomfortable when
first discovered.
There was a terrible panic and all
boats there rushed to the rescue, but
it is believed over half of those aboard
were lost.
Every woman rescued is calling for
her child.
The steamer was beached north of
Brother Island, of Port Morris, with
the captain, pilot and engineer all bnrn
ed at their posts.
Thousands or both shores witnessed
the blazing boat.
The current is so strong there that
most of the children drowned before
help arrived.
Scores Of them were il ed into the
He'll Gate whirlpool. hes
People along l25th street say the
flames were spreading in the crowded
General slocum as she was passing
there.
The steamers capacity was four
thousand.
Hundreds Of doctors and thousands of
( policemen were dispatched to the scene.
The first temporary morgue at North
Brothers Island opened with forty dead
bodies.
At l35th street many whose clothes
We're afire were seen jumping over board.
At l2sth street many crazed from
heat stampeded for the raining to jump
over.
Then the upper deck fell, leaving them
in a helpless mass and funeral pile, but
many were rescued from tne burning
boat after it was beached at North
Brothers Island, where hospitals and
morgues were established as well as
along lower shores.
1t viii be hours Before the fire in
the hold of the boat can be cxtinguishcd
and there the greatest loss of life is
expected
Hundreds of most heroic acts are re-
ported by the, rescuers.
North Brothers Island is occupied by
municipal and charity hospitals and
many physicians and nurses are there
for immediate assistance.
William vanschaick, captain of the
slocum was arrested this afternoon.
Pastor Haas was not killed as report
ed.
ERE nashed from the engine room
soon enveloping the whole steamer.
Few bodies can be identified, and
around the ice cream table in the lower
deck corpses are charred and piled on
top Of each other, thus showing that
those getting refreshments on tae boat
were unable to escape from the fasten-
ings
There is no identifcations yet as the
bodies are being landed all along the
shores, long distance wherever they
are recovered, the same as with those
rescued by hundreds Of boats thus en-
gagged, which land nearest the place
1 ssay are found and then resume rcscue
cork.
The dead taken from the boat are
mostly unrecognizable They arc care.
fully numbered. and everything possible
done for latel Identification.
ofie1eA Jshat s72 tickets have
bcen taksN
Groups Of identified bodies are being
made at different places along the shore
as well as at the final landing place.
Docks at 1s2nd and lSsth street ar,
piled high with dead bodies.
business Is suspended in most parts
Of the city.
Daring the afternoon crowds gather
ed around The church and parsonage