The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1904-06-23
AN AWFUL DEATH.
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are a number of lumber yards and sew
eral huge oil tanks, and the captain
was warned that to attempt to land
at this point would endanger the prep
erty and perhaps further imperil the
hundreds of people, who had already
been frightened into state of almost
uncomfortable excitement.
Changing the big steamers course
slightly, he headed for North Brother
Island, half a mile away. BY this
time the flames were rushing by leaps
and bounds from the forward part OF
the ship aft.
The great open decks, built for ex-
cursionista, with little obstruction
from bow to stern, offered clear
sweep for the FIRE. As the Slocum
dashed forward, the flames caught
stanchlon and cabin woodwork, eating
and tearing their way across the vessel.
The excurslonists, but few mo-
msnts before in the iull 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 in
creasing. Policemen and deck hands
aboard the boat struggled hard to quiet
the panic, but their efforts we're in
vain. The wild disorder increased as
frantic mothers sought their children,
who had been at play about the decks.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN JUMP.
The steamers whistle was blowing
for assistance, and tugs and other near
by craft answered to the call. Before
any of the boats could reach the burn
ing steamer, however, the frantic wo-
men and children began to jump over
board. The current y,as strong and
there are many whirlpools In the chan
mel. The boats that always abound in
the vicinity picked many persons from
the water, but these were only a small
number of those that were seen strug-
Cling in the swift current.
On the Slocum the first sweep Of the
flames cut off escape from the hurrl-
cane deck, where a great many women
and children were crowded together,
and soon burned away the lightwood
OF the uprights, which came down
with crash on those below. It is
thought that most of those on the hur-
ricane deck were burned,
As the fire increased, the struggle to
gain point of vantage at the stern be-
came frightful. Women and children
crowded against the after rail until 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 shreiking whistle
of the Slocum had attracted the atten-
ton of river craft for a considerable
distance around, and tugs and other
small boats were rushing to the assist
ance of the burning steamer.
These small boats rescued all those
in the water whom they could reach,
but many persons struggled and sank
before any help could reach them. In
the wake of the Slocum as she hurried
up stream was a row of little black
spots, marking the heads and bodies of
those who had sought to escape the
roaring furnace on the ship by throw
ing themselves overheard.
Few of those saved by the small
boats had on lite preservers. At no
time during the progress OF the fire
was there any opportunity either to
lower the life boats or get the life pre-
servers out from under the seats. This
perhaps gives an idea of the rapidity
with which the flames swept the decks.
1t was an experience narrowing and
and that any escaped alive
seems wonderful.
HURRICANE DECK FALLS.
Through all the wild panic, during
all that Inferno, with fire and smol 9
them, the officers and
men Of the doomed boat remained at
their. posts, but they were powerless to |
avert the catastrophe. The Slocum
got within fifty feet of the northwest
point OF North Brother Island and
there stopped in the shallow water. It
was just before she beached that the
hurricane deck, the support of which
had burned away, fell with its load OF
women and children, adding to the
panic and horror of those on the deck
below.
Very soon after parts OF the second
and third decks also caved in. But he
fore this happened the tug Walter
Tracy had come alongside the burning
steamer and been dashed to it. Many
Of the PASSENGERS were taken off nv tho