The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-07-09
STORIES OF THE
SLOCUM DISASTER
Dramatic Incidents of the Ex-
cursion Boat Horror.
BOY IN PRAYER ON PADDLE BOX

His Head Burned on as He Knelt In
Specification - Heroic Rescues by
| Young Boys and "a Pl1cky Waitress
Tragic stories Related by the Sur
| vivors.
When the steamboat General Slocum
with her merry party Of Sunday school
excursionists 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
die 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
fiaxen eurls 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 a fortune
of $4,000.
Four hundred and fifty Blackwelrs
island prisoners who are being kept I'M
der guard during the summer at Ri
ker's 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 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 guard, said.
Il 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.
Yes, SIR" was the reply, and at the
same time the man broke into a sob.
What troubles youT questioned the
guard.
"Well, sir" sobbed the man, 1.-The
body was that of girl, little fifteen
year-old girl. She had fiaxen hair, and
her eyes-they were wide open-her
eyes, sir, they were blue, and
WELL" interrupted the guard, "did
you know her"
mo, sir" answered the old man.
And here he broke down and cried like
DaDy. uldn [ know her, sir; but
II you please, I'd like to be excused,
from searching for any more bodies.
don't want to see nothing like that
again. Years and years ago l had
daughter, and she had fiaxen hair and
blue eyes and was just like this poor
little girl that found. She died when
she was just fifteen. I'd like to go
back to my cell. l amt strong enough
to do no more work today l guess my
old age must be telling on me. amt
strong enough to do no work that
mans supposed to do"
Tenderly the guard told the old fell
low to go to his cell.
Deeds of heroism by those on the
steamer and rescuers from the shore