The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-06-22

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One of the most appalling disasters
in the history of New York, tragic in
It's immensely, dramatic in its episodes,
and deeply pathetic in the tender age
of most of its victims. occurred Wed
nes6ay forenoon in the East river, al
the entrance of Long Island Sound,
within a short distance of the New
York shore and within sight of thou.
Cands of perscns the majority of
whom were power!ess to give aid.
The three decked excursion steamer
General Slocum, of the Knickerbocker
Steamboat company, burned to the
waters edge off North Brothers Is
land, resulting in the death through
burning or drowning of 800 persons.
The General Slocum, which was the
largest excursion steamer in these
waters, left Third street, East river,
at $3.50 a. m. having on board the an.
nual Sunday school excursion of St.
Marks German Lutheran church, Sixth
street. Her destination was Locust
grove. on the Sound The excursion
was In charge of Rev. George c. +.
Haas, pastor of the church. The yes.
sci was commanded by Captain Will.
lam Van Schaick, one of the best
known excursion boat captains in
New York harbor, who has commanded
the General Slocum almost since size
was built in 1891.
The fire broke out in lunch
room on the forward deck caused by
the overturning of a pot Of grease. A
high wind famed the flames into in
stant fury.
Efforts to subdue the fire were
futile and word was sent at once to
the captain, who started to land the
steamer at 134th street. He was
warned, however, that the boat would
set fire to lumber yards and oil tanks
there and changed the Slocum's
course, heading her for North Broth
er island, half q mile away.
AS the fire increased the struggle to
gain a point Of vantage at the stern
became frightful. Women and chill
dren crowded against the after-rail
until il gave way and hundreds were
pushed off into the river. After this
there was a steady stream of those
who jumped OF were thrown into the
water.
The tugs and small craft following
after kept close in wake of the Slocum
and rescued all of those who came
within reach of their crews. Few of
those who were saved had on life pre-
servers.
The Slocum got within so feet of the
point OF North Brother is
land and there stopped in the shallow
water. Just before the vessel was
beached, the hurricane deck, the sup
ports of which had burned away, fell
with its load of women and children,
adding to the panic ard horror of
those on the deck below
Very soon after, parts Of the seconl
and third decs also caved in. But
before this ha31 ened the tug Walter
Tracey had come alongside the burn
Ing steamer and been lashed to =.
Many of the pas sengers were taken
off by the crew OF the Tracey which
alongide the steamer until
Tie tugs pilot house took fire.
There is hardly German family on
the middle east side of the city that
Is not mourning a dead, an injured or
a missing friend or relative. st
Marks German Lutheran church con-
tanned in its membership practically
all of those of Protestant faith within
a radius of ten square blocks. The
fatal excursion was the event of the
year for scores of well-to-do and
thrifty Teuton families and had been
locked forward to for many months.
Family parties Of 10 or more had been
made up including in many cases the
Did grandmother, the mother and the
of all ages with sprinkling
Of those men of the families who could
spare a day from their work.
Charles e. Hill, a director of the
Knickerbocker Steamboat company,
made the following statement;
'The cause of the fire is not known"
said he. 81 say that because no inves-
t.gation has been begun. The govern
ment will undoubtedly begin an inves-
tigation. The captain is under arrest
anG it would be inadvisable for him to
make any statement at present, but he
.old me that he and the first and sec
ord pilots, Edward Van Wart and (.
NJ. Weaver, were in the pilot house
until the Slocum was beached. Then
they jumped directly from the pilot
house into the water. The captain
hurt his leg and may require an oper
alton The two pilots were practically
and assisted in saving life.
They were all in the wheel house un-
iii the last"
Secretary Cortelyou, of the depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, will per-
sonally undertake the investigation
into the disaster on behalf of the gov
District Attorney JerOme'9
assistants arc working energetically
on the case. and officials of the cor.
Jner's Office have made considerable
progress in the way Of gathering evi-
1ence which will be presented on Mon.
lay when tho coroner's inquiry will
Iegin its work.
There is in the coroner's possession
a standpipe taken at his direction by
, diunr frnnn tho snhmRrPnl wrnolr