New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-16
EAST SIDE PLUNGED IN GRIEF
aKTH-ST. IN FRONT OF CHURCH BLOCKED WI
MOURNERS
Eight Pupils of Public School No % Thought to Hare Been Lost
Many Narro1c Escapes.

Soon after the burning General slocum had
been beached. rurnOrs reached the lower East
SID, Of some sort OF catastrophe. Mothers at
onoe began 70 worry about the safety OF their
children, bat il was not until nearly II O'Clock
that q small boy told some Of his mates in
Pubuo School No. %. IN Fifth-st.. that the
steamer had been burned and every one was lost.
Halt an hour later the evening papers, with
short bulletins OF the disaster. and messages re
cssved from uptown by telephone by some Of
ths shopkeepers told Of the extent OF the dis
sasr and from Fourteenth-st- TO First-st.
every one was thrown into the greatest excite
rsnt There was q rush uptown al once by
those who had relatives on board, and the
elevated stations were jammed with anxious
weeping and hysterical men ana women Not
one had much. II any, Information about the
accident, and the vague. exaggerated rumors
served only 70 increase their fears.
Those that did not rush uptown besieged the
church and parish house. demanding news AT
ne parish house, No. O. Seventh-st-. the pas
tors brother was the only one at home. He
dc not learn OF the accident until fearful
mothers. seeking news OF the children. came
70 the house. he then stayed ct the house 10
Ap those n distress. and did not know OF the
a.s Of his brother and his family until the pas
tor telephone6 him that he had been saved. The
F.--h-st station was surrounded by noon by
scors OF people. The sergeants on duty could
grs them little Information, but called up Head
quarters every few minutes for further news OF
ne IRE, giving the people al the information
that they could get.
Public School No. %. in F1fth-st.. was thrown
into g turmoil by the news OF the accident.
Last Wednesday the Rev. George c. r. Haas.
pastor OF St Marks wrote a note 70 Principal
c. c. Roberts, requesting that the children OF
the school who asked 10 be excused 70 attend
the excursion be permitted 10 do SO. Mr.. Rob
er1s sent copy Of the note 70 the class teach
ers directing them 10 excuse the children that
wished 10 so on the Slocum.
one hundred and forry-seven boys in the
school were excused most Of them 10 attend the
picnic Many OF the others had sisters OF
brothers on board the boat and were Incapable
yesterday OF studying or reciting. The greater
portion Of these We're dismissed that they might
learn the fare OF The relatives. until the upper
grades were almost vacant. In the lower grades
WAS thought advisable 10 keep the youngest
eaAcTen in school, unless their parents sent for
Ineh- From The highest grade alone three boys
we're called away in the afternoon 10 get the
bodies OF their mothers.
TEACHERS SEEK THEIR CHILDREN.
ron house 10 house seeking the missing chill
o7en In their classes. Dr. Roberts. the principal
q The school, as soon as ne learned Of the acct
osat' Went 10 the families Of those in the school
Eho We're reported lost. he and the greater
S~Ft q his star are almost FRUSTRATED by the
Des OF the children under them. Probably over
a'eseore Of their pupils persisted yesterday.
y noon the crowd ia front Of ST Marks
Cnnrch had grown SO that four patrolrnen were
sent from the FIfth-st. station TO guard against
aoeole There was little need for their services
'eyona keeping passageway clear on the side
wax AL ages were represented IN the crowd
SAa with few exceptions. all were weeping
later IN the afternoon an Information bureau
vas opened on the porch OF the church, and
a soon rs one Of the dead had been Identified
MS or her name was pasted bulletin. As
we name after the other was added to the
"hg Lst some woman would burst out crying
saa have 70 be led away. often half dozen
e-'iaren would be tugging at her skirts, scarce
= knowing the reason Of their mothers grief
Despite the hundreds in the crowd. scarcely
N0lna arose from IT, A low hum OF whispers
'o seiieo sobs was all that could be heard. ex-
0epl tnat once in a while woman would Shrek
sAo Then faint. 10 De carried out Of the press
y some man. The incident would then cause
"o or three women. with nerves already
~@lnea 10 the breaking point TO burst out
-'s'erlcaly, until they. too, had been led away
@-u Deen Gained. Then all would be silent
1e@'l- As fast as some child reported missing
e'ofneo home the children Of the neighborhood
0~io rush 10 the church with the news and
-'s name was crossed of. In many cases fathers
"u mothers knew nothing OF their children's
ley Until they were told al the church.
NOt IL Sixth-st alone were there crowds OF
e'e~Fec ones. but every corner and every stoop
olocks had knot OF men and women sad
eo ny the loss OF relatives. or else rejoicing
a the safe return OF some child that had
-~4ly escaped by miracle On one stoop IN
.e'oe A OF a tenement house where six chill
- We're still missing the women of the be-