New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-16
MIR. HAASS GREAT LOSS
HIS STORY OF TRAGEDY.
All His Family Ercept His Son
and Sister Missing.

The Rev George c. A. Haas. the pastor Of ths
church. was saved. but his wife and daught..
are among the missing. The pastor was pros
trated last night. Much OF the time he was
unconscious With his sister. Miss Emma Haas
he returned home about o'clock.
With the exception OF Mr.. Haas's son George
who did not go on the excursion. these two
are apparently the only ones left OF large
family Mr.. Haas's mother-in-law. Mrs. Carl
Hansen; his sister-in-law. Mrs. William Teti-
more, and Mrs Tetimores two-year-old daugh-
ter. Edith, are also missing.
A thorough search has been made Of all this
hospitals but none OF the missing relatives had
been found up to a late hour last night.
According to Mr.. Haas's story. fat that boiled
over in the cooks galley started the fire.
THE fire" said MIR. Haas. started IN the
kitchen in the forward part. when were on
MISUNDERSTANDING fourth-st. under
stand that some fat that boiled over started
the blaze and that the men IN the kitchen, IN
stead Of fighting it. ran for their lives.
at that time most Of the women and chill
aren were damned In the rear OF the boat.
where the band was playing
WHY the captain did not point the boat
for the meadows do not understand. He kept
on, and the fresh wind from the Sound drove
the fire back through the different decks with
lightning rapidity-
In three minutes from the time the fire start
ed all the decks were abIaze.
such scenes as followed I don't think wsrs
ever witnessed before. I was IN the rear Of the
boat with my wife and daughter. Women were
shrieking and cIasping their children IN their
arms. some mothers had as many as three or
four with them. Our case seemed hopeless.
Death from FIRE vas 10 be escaped only TO die
in the water.
when the fire shot up 70 the top deck ard
drove the crowd back the panic was terri6ls
to witness. The crush from the forward part
of the boat swept those in the rear along Ths
women and children chung TO the ratings and
stanchons. but could not keep their holds L
with my wife and daughter, was swept along
II believe that the first that fell into the water
were crushed over. When they went there
seemed to be Il general inclination 10 jump. The
women and children went over the ratings like
flies. They preferred to take chance in the
water than await sure desIh in fire.
In the great crush many women tainted and
fell to the deck, TO be rramplsd upon Little
children were knocked down. Mothers with
their little boys and girls in their arms, would
give wild screams and then leap into the water.
We could see boats pulling out from the shore
BY this time, and a faint ray OF hope came
to us.
with my wife and daughter I had been swept
over the rail The fire then looked as II IL Would
devOur us the next instant L got my wife ana
daughter out on the rail- and then We went over
board. I was in such an excited state that I
don't remember whether We were pushed over
or Jumped.
When I struck the water I sank. and when
I rose there were scores about me fighting 10
keep afioat. One by one I saw them sink around
me- But was poNerleSs to do anything
II was holding my wife and daughter up N
the water as best could. almost under the side
Of the boat, when some one jumping from the
rail directly above me, landed on top or US
My hold was broken. and we ell went under
together. When / came up my wife and child
We're gone.
With great effort i nnaUag ed to keep ahoat
but my strength was about gone, when a man
on one OF the tugs picked up
Dr. SeInken- who is attending Or. Haas, said
that the latter was in a serious condition. While
he was not in imminent danger Of death. Il was
only his fine constitution that saved him. as he
was badly burned and suffered from immersion
Gertrude Haas. who at first thought 70 be
lost IL was said last night had been seen BY
some playmates at North Brother Island.
Charles Anger. the superintendent Of the sun
day school, has not been heard from since the
disaster. and it is believed that he has been
drowned