Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-06-24
600 LIVES ARE LOST
BIG EXCURSION STEAMER TAKES
FIRE OFF NEW YORK.
Pot of Grease Overturned and Flames
Spread to All Parts of Boat In Short
Under Foot, Many Pushed Overheard,
Others Leap to Escape Heat.

New York, June 17.-One of the
most appalling disasters in the history
of New York, tragic in its immensity,
dramatic in its 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 Is
land Sound, within a short distance of
the New York shore, and 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 Slocum, three-decked excursion
steamer, one of the largest in these
waters, more than 600 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 iurching of the vessel and the fran
tic rush of the panic-stricken passen-
gers. Four hundred and eighty-fiv
bodies have been recovered, and are
now being tagged at the morgues of
Bellevue hospital and Harlem.
Divers were still busy at late hour
taking bodies from the hold of the ves-
sci, which, they say, is choked with
the remains of human bodies, while
the bodies of scores who leaped, OF
were thrown, into the river have not
been recovered.
It is variously estimated that there
were between 800 and $500 persons
on board the General Slocum when she
left the pier at Third street, East
River, though the Knickerbocker
Steamship company, which owns the
Slocum, officially states that the num-
ber of passengers was 837, that being
only one-third of the vessels capacity.
1t is thought, however, that there were
several hundred children in arms, for
whom fares are not usually charged on
these trips.
The General Slocum left Third street,
East River, at $50 o'clock this morn
ing, having on board the Sunday school
excursion of st. Marks German Luth.
eran church, located in Sixth street.
Her destination was Locust Grove, one
of the many resorts on Long Island
Sound.
The Slocum had reached point near
the Sunkden Meadows. off 135th street,
Manhattan, which is at the extreme
eastern end of Randall's Island, when
the fire broke out. The headway of
the vessel and the high wind almost in
stantly famed the insignificant flame
into fury. Efforts were at once di-
rected to subduing the fire, but they
were futile. The blaze spread aft with
almost lightning rapidity. Captain
Vanschaick then headed for shore.
The great open decks, built for ex-
cursionists, with little obstruction from
bow to stern, offered clear sweep for
the fire. As the Slocum dashed for
ward, the flames caught stanchion and
cabin woodwork, eating and tearing
their way across the vessel.
Az the fire increased, the struggle to
gain point of vantage at the stern be-
came frightful. Women and children
crowded against the aft rail until it
gave way and hundreds were pushed off
into the river. After this there was a
steady stream of persons who jmuped
or were thrown into the water. In the
wake of the Slocum as she hurried up
stream was line of little black specks
marking the heads and bodies of those
who had sought to escape the roaring
furnace on the ship by throwing them
selves overheard.
Reinforcements for Kuropatkin.
St. Petersburg. June 1.-THE ap-