Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-18

on. With my wife and daughter /
was swept along with the others.
II believe that the first who fell into
the water were thrown overheard.
When they went there seemed to be
general inclination to jump. The
women and children went over the
ratings like flies.
Overheard With Wife.
I'm the great crush many women
tainted and fell to the deck, to be
trampled upon. Little children were
Knocked down. I got my wife and
daughter out on the rail and then we
went overheard. was in suchsa ex-
cited state that I don't remember
whether we were pushed over or
jumped.
when struck the water I. sank,
and when l rose there were scores
about me fighting to keep afloat One
by one saw them sink around me. but
l was unable to do anything. With a
great effort | managed to keep af1oat,
but my strength was about gone when
a man on one of the tugs picked me
up"
Story of the Captain.
Captain William H. Van Schaick Of
the Slocum, who is arrested and at
the Alexander avenue police station,
said:
"The Slocum left the foot of East
Twenty-third street at $50 yesterday
morning. There had been collected
from those on board 9S2 tickets. The
boat passed slowly up the river,
through Hell Gate, and toward sunken
Meadows, where the Cawana was
burned in 1878.
when close to the Meadows an
alarm of fire was given At that time
was in the pilot-house. jumped
down to the deck and gave immediate
orders in regard to fighting the fire.
The fire drill was sounded, and the
crew of the boat, numbering twenty
three men, worked like nailers to get
water on to that part of the boat that
was burning.
"The fire was under the forward boil
ers on the port side, as I made 1t out
in the excitement. My men were ex-
erting their efforts to keep the passen.
gers from jumping. The fire was gain.
ing every instant. and the cries of peo-
pie burning to death could be heard
above every sound.
Full Speed for Shore,
81 got the boat under way for North
Brother island, which was the safest
place to attempt to land. The steamer
was driven on under full speed and
pulled up sideways to the shore of
the island. Many had jumped prior
to this. Many were jumping every in
slant. My pilots, Edward Van Wart
and Edward M. Weaver, were doing ev-
erything to get safely toward shore,
and Engineer B. F. Conklin remained
in the hold. Mate Edward Flanagan
had charge of the fire brigade, but
when the flames spread over all, we
had to get off the boat. My hat was
burning when l jumped, and ! was
pulled out of the water and hauled to
shore under a tree before rem ember.
ed what had happened"
Loses Family Of Seven.
One man who was saved and taken
off at One Hundred and Thirty-eighth
street, crazed with grief, walled that
he had lost his wife and six small chill
dren. When a policeman tried to
learn his name he rushed away, SEEM
ingly insane. 1t is reported that ten
bodies are at Oak Point. When the
news of the disaster became known
there was rush of telephone and
personal inquiries at the home of the
pastor of the church.
George Haas, son of the pastor, was
the only member of the family at
home and it fell to him to inform all
those who inquired if the reports were
true. AS the news spread in the par
ish crowds aocked around the church
and parsonage and the scene was in.
deed pitiful one.
Large numbers Of the parishioners
boarded elevated trains and fastened
to One Hundred and Thirty-eighth
street. Business was practically at a
standstill in the neighborhood.
Policeman Tells His story.
The two policemen on the boats
were William Van Tassel and George
Kilt 10th of the harbor squad, who
had oeen detailed to the excursion
Van Tassel was on the main deck,
while Kilt was on duty on the upper
deck forward. Van Tassel was one
of the first to reach the main land
from the North Brother Island He
said that he heard what he believed
to be an explosion, everybody scream.
ed and some men assisted women to
put on life preservers, while others ap.
peared to be excited and were un.
able to do anything.
Il got on one side of the boat" he
said, ''and tried to quiet the people, in
which succeeded to an extent. A
few minutes later the upper deck gave
way and I was carried down with 9th.
ers into the water. l managed to swim
| to a dock on North Brother IsIond