The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-15
LOSS OF LIFE
AMONG 1900 PASSENGERS
Babes In Arms, Little Folks. and Mothers
Victims of the Horror Families Torn
Apart Nearly AH Rescued Injured.

NEW YORK, June i5The most horrible holocaust that oc-
cured in New York Haor years place morning in Long
Island Sound when the triple steamboat General Son belong
ing the Kkerbocer Steamboat Company carrying about 500
cursionists mostly and children to the waters
edge
At conservative estimates placed the number of those who LOST
their lives at between 200 and 300.
About fifty bodies had been recovered al that time Police tug
boats steamers and small boats in the looking for
dozen anbuances score Of physicians and nurses and all the
police reserves in the c were on the scene to rescue the bodies Of the
dead and the living and injured
OFFICERS UNDER ARREST.
Captain Van scck Of the General slocn F Pilot Van a
and Second Pilot Edwin ~ Leader besn arrested
The Slocum had been engaged for Sunday school excursion by
ST. Marks Lutheran Church located Street between Sec
ond Avenue and the Bower As usual with affairs of this kind the Marty
largely made up and children
At O'Clock this morning the boat moored to the pier at the
foot of East Third Street after happy stream of mothers
with their young aboard the capacios steamer
Nine O'Clock fixed the sailing that hour cam.
captain Van ochc veteran among the navigaos New York
waters gave the signal and the boat pulled away from the pier
was planned to spend several hours at Locust Grove picnic re-
sort long Island Sound.
The Socm headed up River toward Long Island Sound
All went we'll until the boat passed through Hell Gate and was
nearing North Brothers Island
FIRE DISCOVERED.
Then the joy and merrment quickly panic by the cry
of fire Flames had been discovered among the life preseuers but
how and when they started vet can saw
The burning life preserers from their resting places and
thrown overheard in an endeavo to smother the flames
This fact added greatly to the loss life
gle case enwTapped in this Hfe-Savng apparatus
Captain Van SchaCk when the dreadful cry arose called for full
speed and headed for the rock bound shore of Brothers Island
SCENES or HORROR
Meantime board were frhtl Flames spead vt
terrible rapidity.
Men, women children were rushing about in wild fear Shrek
ing and in tears seeking haven of safety. Mothers flames grew
near gathered their children into their aped into the water
Others seemed too dazed move.
Flames licked up and about them and burned them 10 death
The great bulk stood by the boat neared the shores of the
island where the water aower thinking that here they might find
chance for life.
FL0ATED AMONG DEAD
An eyewitness states that eboa neared the shore she was sur
rounded on all sides by the floating bodies passengers who rad
jumped for life.
On North Brothers Island located hospital for CONTAGIOUS dis
eases and some other city Institutions The employees few other
people on the island did what they could small boats graphing
hooks and RATS they pulled ashore of people many of them
blackened and burned by the fire
The city eephoned aid but was more than an hour
before the first relief arrived
The steamer Nasaso and tug boats happened to be in the
vicinity They saved number OF lives of people who had jumped
board
from North Brothers Island number the ad injured and others
saved and hurried them to the New York side river landing
them at the foot of 18Th Street
CARRIED DEAD AND INJURED.
On her first trip she about thirty dead mostly women and
children and seventyfve of the including injured On the pier