The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-06-17


Brother island hospital and help of
every description was hurried thith-
er, but the fire had done its work well
and the dead aboard the Slocum and
in the river were already counted by
the hundreds. The firemen, volunteer
and regular, at work on the hull knew
that the best thing they could do
would be to recover some
BLACKENED CINDERS
that had so shortly before been the
bodies of women, children and men.
They worked at their tasks until the
hull sank.
In the meantime corps of physi-
clans was bending every effort to
save from death the half drowned,
half burned unfortunates still alive,
who had been brought ashore. Fully
half the manned and suffering survi-
vors had been taken to the island
while two-thirds of the dead were
stretched on its green lawns. The
medical staff was overwhelmed and
finally the police had to
COMMANDER STEAMERS
to bring the injured to the mainland
where they could be taken to hospi-
tails and given additional care.
All through the afternoon and night
an augmented feet of small boats
searched the waters and it was estl.
mated for time that the bodies were
being recovered at the rate of two a
minute. The wrecking tug Chapman,
whose divers were searching the sub
merged hull, kept at work until late
hour and thus many bodies were
brought out.
All of the watermen agreed that
many of the bodies will not be re-
covered for several days to come and
some not at all. After the Hoboken
fire three years ago bodies were COM
ing to the surface for many days at
terward
MUCH MONEY AND JEWELRY.
Coroner O'Gorman, who with a
squad of police made detailed
search of the bodies for marks of
Identification, repoJ,ed that about
s1SO,0O0 worth of jewelry and money,
or bank books representing money,
was found on the bodies.
So soon as the police heard that
most of the officers Of the Slocum had
escaped they set out to corral them.
Captain William Van Schaick, First
Pilot Edward Van Wart and Second
Pilot Edward Weaver were taken into
custody and held to await the
ACTION OF THE CORONER
Coroner Barry assumed charge Of
the investigation into the sinking of
the steamer tonight, and Immediate
ly sent to the district attorneys office
for help in his endeavor toward plac-
ing the responsibility. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Garvin was assigned
and the two set about preliminary
investigation. 1t soon developed that
SERIOUS CHARGES
would have to be made and it was
decided to postpone until tomorrow
the actual investigation and to notify
the police and fire departments to
secure all persons who might be in
position to throw light on the sub
ject, to tell their stories at that time.
In the meantime, the local board of
steamboat inspectors will also con-
duct an independent investigation to
see if any of the government rules
were violated. The officials all viewed
the wreck at low tide this afternoon.
There is a very strong current off
North Brother island as it is near this
point that the Harlem river combines
with Long Island sound and as the
tide went out it carried with it the
hull of the steamer and landed it off
Oak Point. There it remains at pres
ent with its gruesome cargo of char
red bodies.
DESERTED HIS POST.
Grave charges are made against
part of the engine force of
the steamer by some of the surviving
members of the crew. Alex Trembley,
one of the deck hands declares that
WIN the fire signal was sounded, he
took the main hose and ran to the
scene. He failed to get any water and
went back to the engine room which
he found deserted. The man assigned
to couple up the> fire apparatus Ii
case of need is alleged to have de-
serted his post Trembley claims that
he then went into the forward cabin
and rescued number of children who
were in danger of being burned. Re-
turning to the stern Of the boat +
tried to get out life preservers for the
women and children but the crowd
clung to him and he finally had to
abandon the task. However, he final.
ly secured a life preserver, picking
up two children, jumped overheard
with them, finally getting safely to
shore.
BARRELS OF OIL.
Henry Garfield, a negro cook, told
Coroner Barry that the rapid spread
of the flames was due to the fact that
all of the reserve oil supply of the
steamer, amounting to several bar
rels was stored directly under the