The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-17
SIX HUNDRED PERSONS
MEET A HORRIBLE DEATH

wind, almost instantly ianned the m
significant flames into fury. Efforts
were at once directed to subduing the
fire, but they were futile. The blaze
spread with almost lightning rapidity.
Captain van Schaik in the pilot house.
had been Informed OF the outbreak or
the fire and realizing the danger to the
hundreds of excursionists, decided to
send his-vessel to shore at 134th street.
At this point there are number of
lumber yards and several huge Oil
tanks and the captain was warned that
to attempt to land at this point would
endanger the property and perhaps
further imperI the scores of people,
who had already been frightened into
a state of almost uncomfortable ex-
citement. Changing the big steamer
course slightly, he headed her ror
North Brother island. half a mile
away
By this time the names were rush
ing by leaps and bounds from the for
ward part of the ship aft.
The great open decks, built for ex-
cursionists with little obstruction from
bow to stern, offered a 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.
Vain Effort to Quiet the Panic.
The excursionists. but few moments
before in the full enjoyment OF an
| ideal summers day on Long Island
sound, were driven to the after part
| of the steamer to escape the heat,
| flames and smoke that were constantly
| increasing. Policeman and deckhands
aboard the boat, struggled hard to
quiet the panic, but their efforts were
| in vain. The wild disorder increased,
| as frantic mothers sought to find their
| children. who had been to play about
the decks.
| Answers to the Call for Assistance.
The steamers whistle was blowing
| for assistance and tugs ard other near
| by craft answered tC the call. Before
| any of the boats could reaei. the burn
women and children began to jump
over board. The current was strong
and there are many whirlpools in the
channel. The boats that always
abound in the vicinity picked many
persons from the water, u1t these were
only small number Of those that were
seen struggling in the swift current.
On the Slocum the first sweep of the
flames cut off escape from the hurri-
cane deck, where a great many Of the
women and children were crowded to-
gether, and sool burned away the light
wood of the uprights which came down
with a crash on those below. It is
thought that most OF those on the
hurricane deck were E1rned.
Forced Into the Water.
AS the fire increased the struggle to
gain point of vantage at the stern
became frightful. Women and chill
| dren crowded against the after rail un-
| til it gave way and hundreds were
pushed off into the river. After this
/ there was a steady stream of persons
who jumped or were thrown into the
water.
BY this time the shrieking whistle Of
the Slocum had attracted the attention
of river craft for a considerable dis
| tance around and tugs and other small
boats were rushing t. .he assistance
/ of the burning steamer. These small
boats rescued all those in the water
| whom they could reach, but many per
| sons struggled and sunk before any
help could reach them. In the wake of
| the Slocum as she hurried up stream,
| was a line of little black spots. mark
| ing the heads and bodies OF those who
| had sought to escape the roaring fur
| mace on the ship by throwing them
| selves overheard
Few Of those saved by the small
boats had on life preserver.. At no
| time during the rogress Of the fire
| er the life boats or get the ffe preserv-
ers out from underneath the seats.
This perhaps, gives an idea OF the
| rapidity with which the flames swept
| the decks.
! Boats Crew Remained at Their Post
OF Duty.
1t was an exer;ence narrawing anu
terrible and that any escaped alive
seems wonderful. Through all the Wild
mir oil hot ar
and smoke surrounding them, the Off
GERS and men Of .he doomed boat Ie-
| mained at their posts, hut they ware
powerlees to avert the catastrophe.
The Slocum got within fifty feat cf
the northwest Point OF North Brother
| island and there stopped in the shallow
water. 1t was just before she beached
of which had burned away, fell with
its load of women and children, add
ing to the panic and horror of those
on deck below. Very soon after, parts
Of the second and third decks also
| caved in. But before this happened.
! the tug Walter Tracey had come along
side the burning steamer and been
| lashed to it. Many Of the passengers
| were taken of by the crew OF the Ira
cey. which remained alongside the
steamer until the tugs pilot house took
fire.
Inc point Wnere the SlOcum DeacneQ
was just off the Scarlet fever ward on
North Brother island. The Patients
who had been out on the porches and
lawns watching the approach Cf the
burning steamer, were ordered indoors,
and the physicians on the island has
tened to the assistance OF those who
were being brought ashore through
the shallow water. Many Of those
who leaped from the Slocum were car
ried away by the current even after
she was beached and were drowned.
The Scene a PiitfuI One.
The scene on North Brother island as
described by the rescue,s was a pitiful
] one. Body after body was washed
ashore or brought I'm by boats and add
! ed to the long row on the beach Fifty
three persons died there while the doc
| tors were attending them.
| AS the bodies of the living and the
dead were taken out of the water,