The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-17
HUNDREDS PERISHED
BY FIRE AND WATER
EXCURSION STEAMER BURN
ED TO WATERS EDGE.
One Of The Most Appalling Disas-
ters in The History of
New York.

New York.
New York. June I5-One OF the most
appalling disasters in the history OF
New York, tragic in its immensely,
dramatic in it's episodes and deeply
pathetic in the tender age of most OF
its victims, took place today in the
East River, at the entrance to Long
Island Sound, within short distance
of the New York shore, within sight
of thousands OF persons, the majority
Of whom were powerless to minimize
the extent of the catastrophe.
BY the burning to the waters edge
of the General Slocum, three-decked
excursion steamer, the largest in
these waters, six hundred persons,
the majority of whom were women
and children, were burned to death or
drowned by jumping overheard or by
being thrown into the whirlpools by
the lurching of the vessel and the
frantic rush of the panic-stricken pas
sengers.
1t is the season of Sunday-school
excursions in New York Bay and
Long Island Sound, the latter one OF
the most picturesque bodies of water
in the country.
Great preparation had been made
ior the seventeenth annual excursion
of the Sunday-school of St. Marks
German Lutheran church, the congre-
cation of which is drawn from the
dense population of the lower East
and West sides. and the General Slo-
cum had been chartered to carry the
excursionists to Locust Grove, one of
the many resorts on Long Island
Sound.
The number OF excursionists on
board today is variously estimated at
from 1900 to $500. but according TO
an official statement issued by the
Knickerbocker Steamboat company,
owners OF the Slocum, the number OF
passengers was 873, that being one
third OF the vessels licensed capacity.
The fire broke out in lunch room
on the forward deck. The blaze was
caused by the overturning of pct
of grease.
The excursionists, but few mo-
ments before in the full enjoyment OF
an ideal summers day on Long Is
land Sound. were driven to the after
part OF the steamer to escape the heat
flames and smoke that were constant
ly increasing. Policemen and deck
hands aboard the boat struggled hard
to quiet the panic. but their efforts
were in vain. The wild disorder in
creased. as frantic mothers sought
their children, who had been at play
about the decks.
The steamers whistle was blowing
for assistance and tugs and other
nearby craft answered to the call.
Before 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
These small boats rescued all those
in the water whom they could reach,
but many persons struggled and sank
before any help could reach them. In
the wake OF the Slocum as she hurried
up stream was line OF little black
spots, marking the heads and bodies
OF those who had sought to escape the
roaring furnace on the ship by throw
ing themselves overheard.
The Slocum got within fifty feet OF
the northwest point OF North Broth
crs Island and there stopped in the
shallow water.
A Day of Gloom Yesterday.
New York, June 16-About two
hundred and fifty yards from the New
-