The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1904-06-25
BURNS
Many Excursionists Lose Their
Lives Off New York.
MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN PERISH
In Panic Ensuing Mary Were sFamp'e1
Under Foot Others Pushed overooaiA
still More Leap to Escape Heat

New York, June 17.-One oil the
most appalling disasters in the history
of New York, tragic in its lmmenslty'
dramatic in it's episodes, and deeply
pathetic in the tender age OF most OF
its victims, took place today IN the
East liver, at the entrance to Long is-
land sound. within short distance OF
the New York shore, and within sight
Of thousands Of persons, the majority
OF whom we're powerless to minimize
the extent Of the catastrophe.
BY the burning to the waters edge
OF the slocum, a three-decked excursion
steamer, one Of the largest IN these
waters, more than 900 persons, the
majority OF whom were women and
children, we're burned to death or
drowned by jumping overheard or by
being thrown into the whirlpools by
the lurching Of the vessel and the fran
tic rush of the panic-stricken passen-
gers. -Four hundred and eighty-five
bodies have been recovered, and are
now being tagged at the morgues OF
Bellevue hospital and Harlem.
Divers were still busy at late hour
taking bodies from the hold Of the yes
sci, which, they say, is choked with
the remains of human bodies, while
the bodies OF scores who leaped, OF
we're thrown, into the river have not
been recovered.
1t is variously estimated that there
were between 1900 and $500 persons
ON board the General Slocum when she
left the pier at Third street, East
River, though the Knickerbocker
Steamship company, which owns the
Slocum, officially states that the num-
Der of passengers was 1877, that being
only one-third OF the vessels capacity.
1t is thought, however, that there were
several hundred children in arms, for
whom fares are not usually charged on
these trips.
The General Slocum left Third street,
East River, at $50 o'clock this morn
ing, having on board the Sunday school
excursion of st. Marks German Luth.
eran church, located in Sixth street
Her destination was Locust Grove, one
of the many resorts on Long Island
Sound.
The Siocum had reached a point near
the Sunkden Meadows. off 135th street
Manhattan, which is at the extreme
eastern end of Randall's Island, wher
the fire broke out. The Roadway o.
the vessel and the high wind almost in.
stantly famed the insignificant flame
into fury. Efforts we're at once di.
rected to subduing the fire, but they
were futile. The blaze spread aft with
almost lightning rapidity. Captain
Vanschaick then headed for shore
The great open decks, built for ex
cursionists, with little obstruction iron
bow to stern, offered clear sweep foi
the fire. AS the Slocum dashed for
ward, the flames caught stanchion ant
cabin woodwork, eating and tearin,
their way across the vessel.
AS the fire increased, the struggle {,
gain point of vantage at the stern be
came frightful. Women and children
crowded against the aft rail until i
gave way and hundreds were pushed of
into the river. After this there was {
steady stream of persons who imupeC
or were thrown into the water. In tn,
wake OF the Slocum as she hurried up
stream was line of little black speck
marking the heads and bodies of thos,
who had sought to escape the roarin.
furnace on the ship by throwing them
selves overheard.