The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1904-06-23
AN AWFUL death.
A TALE OF HORROR.
Sunday School Excursionists Lost in
the Deep.

1
tail
The excursion was in charge of Rev.
George G. F.Haas, pastor OF the church.
The vessel was commanded by Captain
William Van Schaik, one OF the best
known excursion boat captains in New
York harbor. He has commanded the
General Slocum for almost the entire
time since she was built in 1891. The
number of excursionists on board to-
day is variously estimated at from
l,5OO to 1000, but according to an off
cial statement issued by the Knicker-
booker Steamboat Company, owners OF
the slocutn, the Number OF passengers
was 873, that being one-third OF the
vessels licensed capacity.
The steamer after leaving her dock
this morning, proceeded up the East
river, all three of her decks being
crowded with merry-makers. Bands
played, and the great side-wheeler was
decorated with flags from stem to stern.
The scene on the decks of the steam
or as she proceeded up the East river
was one OF merry-making, customary
on such occasions. The mass of flags
f1uttered in the June breeze, the bands
were playing and the children we're
singing, dancing and waving their
handkerchief and flags in answer to
salutations OF those on shore or from
passing steamers.
At the extreme eastern end of Ran
dall's Island, of 135th street, there Is a
stretch of water known as the Sunken
meadows. At this point, just as crowds
were watching the gaily decorated
steamer from shore, the General Slo-
cum took fire, and as the age OF
the vessel-she was built In 1891
had resulted in the we'll seasoning of
the woodwork, with which she was al
most entirely built, she WAS soon
mass of flames. The fire Is said to
have broken out in a lunch room on
the forward deck through the overturn-
ing of pot of grease. The wind was
high and all efforts to subdue the fire
were futile.
At 134th street there are several lum-
Der yards and oil tanks, and as Captain
William Van Schaik, in command of
the General Slocum, started to turn
his vessel towards the shore there, he
was warned that 1t would set fire to
the lumber and oil, so he changed his
course for North Brother Island, one
OF twin islands near the entrance of
the..sound some half mile away where
the boat partially burned was beached.
She sank near this place at II :15
o'clock this afternoon, two hours and
twenty-five minutes after the fire was
discovered.
In the meantime the passengers had
become panic-stricken and those who
were not caught by the flames rushed
to the rear of the vessel and hundreds
jumped overheard into the swiftly-run-
ming waters. It is alleged that the
life preservers were too securely fasten-
ed to their holdings to be available, and
stories are told Of frantic efforts made
by strong men to cut them loose, but
even If they could have been torn
down, they were too high up for the
children to reach. It is also alleged
that no attempt was made to get out
the fire apparatus at the first cry of
"fire," though Captain Van Schaiks
says that he Immediately rang the
bells for getting out the apparatus. Ac-
cording to several statements, no at
tempt was made to lower boats or
life RATS.
Captain Van Schaick and his two
pilots, Edward Van Warl and E. M
Weaver, have been arrested.
FIRE BREAKS OUT ON FORWARD DECK.
The Slocum had reached q point
near the Sunken Meadows, off 135th
street, Manhattan, which is at the ex-
treme eastern end of Randalls Island,
when fire broke out in a lunch room
on the forward deck. The blaze was
caused by the overturning of pot of
grease. The headway of the vessel and
a high wind almost instantly famed
the insignificant flame into fury. e.
forts were at once directed to subduing
the fire, but they were futile. The
blaze spread att with almost lightning
Captain Van Schaick, in the
pilot house, had been informed of the
outbreak OF the fire, and realizing the
danger to the hundreds of excursion
lists, decided to send his vessel to shore
at l34th street. At this point there
CONTINUED on Fourth Page.
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