Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-06-15
Terrible Disaster.

Burning of Excursion Steamer oe"-
eral Slocum-Five Hundred fer-
sons, Mostly Women and Children
Perish.
New York, June ia report has
reached police headquarters that the
steamboat General Slocum has run ashore
on North Brothers Island, of l3Sth
street. The vessel is SAID to De on hre
and loss Of life is feared.
A telephone message from North
Brothers island saws that many persons
lost their lives. The vessel took fire IN
her upper works, and the flames spread
rapidly. The pilot steered for the shore,
but before the boat could be beached,
the flames had spread from stern to stern.
The Slocum carried an excursion party
numbering nearly sixteen hundred
people, of whom more than half were
children. Many jumped overload and
were drowned, while others were
burned to death on the boat The
telephone operator at North Brothers
island states that the water near the
island is full of floating bodies. Quite
number were saved and are being
cared for at North Brothers island.
The General Slocum is an immense
triple deck steamboat and usually plies
between New York city and Rockaway
Beach. She can easily carry several
thousand persons. She was engaged to-
day to carry an excursion party from
New York city up the. Sound, and left
about nine clock this morning.
The latest reports received by the po-
lice state that five hundred lives are lost,
but it is hoped that this is an exaggera-
ton.
The Slocum left the foot OF East Third
street for Locust Grove at 9 o'clock this
morning. She had been engaged by
members of the Sunday classes OF
St. Marks Lutheran Church, located on
Sixth street between Second Avenue and
the Bowery. The police say that fully,
LOGO people, mostly women and child
rem, were on the boat.
The Knickerbocker Steamboat Com
pany, the owners of the Slocum, have
Just received a message from North
Brothers Island stating that the boat
has been burned to the waters edge
and that the hulk is still burning.
Another message says number of per-
sons jumped overheard and that some
were picked up by small boats. They
can give no estimate of the number OF
lives lost. The police so far have re-
covered seven bodies, which have been
taken to the Alexander avenue Police
station. One body was that Of child
and the others were adults, mostly
women. Ambulances and surgeons have
been sent to the scene audit is presumed
that some OF those who escaped have
been severely burned.
Later facts in connection with the
horror do not materially diminish the
number it is believed have persisted by
fire, water or from being trampled tc
death. Descriptions Of the horror a:
given by eye-witnesses are appalling.
About 100 bodies have been landed on
the New York side so far.
1t is said that as the blazing steamer
neared Brothers island, whistling fol
help, a ferry boat was crossing the river.
Her captain let the burning craft pass
her bows and then proceeded on his way
without offering to give the slightest as
sistance.
There are several docks and beache:
nearby into which it seems the boat
could have been run.
Capt. Van Schaik ofthe SlOcum, First
Pilot Van Wart and Second Pilot Ed.
win n. Leader have been arrested.
Wonder is expressed that the fire,
which it is definitely ascertained started
in the hold, should spread so rapidly.
There were rumors that some oil was
stored in the hold, bat Capt. Van Schaick,
who is detained at avenue police station,
together with his two pilots, says this is
not true. The captain says the steamer
was 200 feet from shore when he heard the
cry of fire. He rang the bell to get ready
the fire apparatus and leaving the wheel
10 charge of First Pilot Van Wart
started for the second cabin to see what
was the matter. BY the time he reached
the stairs, the passage-way was jammed
with people. He tried to calm them,
but the flames by this time were all
about him, and he was compelled to rush
for a water pail as his hat and clothing
were afre. When be saw the blaze
was getting beyond all control he shout
ed to the pilot TO beach me boat,
which was done. Before the vessel
reached shore the panic-stricken peo-
pie were trampling upon one another
and such as could reach the side Of the
boat jumped overheard and many. were
drowned. When the boat was fifty feet
from shore, says Captain Van Schaik,
he was burning in several places and
jumped overheard and swan ashore.
New York, June Is, 2:30 Up to this
hour III bodies, nearly ali women and
children, have been recovered, in and
about the scene of SlOcum disaster.
Another Battle.