Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-16
decked excursion steamer General slo-

cum, belonging to the Knickerpocker
Steamboat CO., was burned to the wa
ter's edge off North Brother isiano d.
the entrance Of Long Island souno' 'ni'
morning, resulting in the death ny
burning or drowning OF at least oo'
persons. mostly women and chlldren'
Four hundred and ninety-three bodles
have already been recovered. Divers
gro NOW busy taking bodies from the
hold of the vessel, and the bodies Oh
many who leaped into the riNer' ia'e
not yet been recovered.
The General Slocum, which was the
largest excursion steamer In these
waters. left Third street. East river, at
40 o'clock, this morning, having on
hoard the annual Sunday school excur-
s;on Of st. Marks German Lutheran
church Sixth street. Her destination
was Locust Grove, one of the many re-
aorts on the Sound. The excursion was
in charge of the Rev. George c. X.
Haas. pastor of the church. The ves-
sci was commanded by Capt. William
Van Setback one of the best known ex-
cursion boat captains in New YORK
harbor. who has commanded the Cen
eral Slocum almost since she was built,
I'm 1891. The number of excursionists
on board is variously estimated at from
1900 to $500, but according to an OIL
ciaI statement issued by the knlcKer-
booker Steamboat Co. the NUMBER OF
passengers was 875, that being one
third OF the vessels licensed capacity.
The steamer proceeded up the East
River. each of her decks being crowd
ed with merry makers, with bands
playing and flags flying. She had
reached n point at the Sunken Mea-
dows. off 135th street, which is at the
extreme eastern end Of Randalrs Is
land. when fire broke out in lunch
room on the forward deck, caused by
the overturning of pot Of grease. A
high wind famed the blaze into in
slant fury. Efforts to subdue the hre
were futile, and word was sent ut once
to the captain, who started to make
IL landing at bath street. He was warn
ed. however, that the boat would set
fire to lumber yards and Oil tanks
there and changed the Slocum's course
heading her for North Brother Island,
half a mile away. The flames had now
broken out all along both sides of the
SltdIIcT. It pu~oNli61io otiHNN VIVA
panic, rushed to the stern of the YES
sci to escape the heat and the smoke
that was constantly increasing. Police
men and deck hands aboard the boat
struggled hard to quiet the panic, but
their efforts were unavailing. The wild
disorder increased as frantic mothers
sought to find their children who had
been at play about the decks.
The steamers whistle was blowing
for assistance, and tugs and other
nearby craft answered 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 cure c was strong and
there are many whirlpools in the cham
mel. The boats that were following the
Slocum picked up many from the
water, but there were only small
number.
Only a small number of those that
were seen struggling in the swift cur
rent. On the Slocum the first sweep
of the flames cut off escape from the
hurricane deck, where a great many
of the women and children were crowd
cd together and soon burned away the
light woodwork which supported the
deck. 1t is thought that most OF those
who were on this deck were burned.
As the fire increased, the struggle to
gain a point of vantage ut the stern
became frightful, women and children
crowded against the after rail until
1t gave way and hundreds were pushed
of into the river. After this there was
a steady stream Of those who jumped
or were thrown into the water. The
tugs and small craft following kept
close within the 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. At no time during the progress
of the fire was there any opportunity
to either lower the life boats or get
the life preservers out from underneath
the seats. Through all the wild panic
the officers and men Of the blazing
boat stood at their posts.
The SlOcum got within so feet of the
northwest point of North Brother is
land and there stopped in shallow wa
ter. Just before she was beached, the
hurricane deck. the supports of which
had burned away. fell with it's load Of
WOiIleIi anu CfliiuTtIt. ONeIWIleliIiiiiS tIic
crowd on the 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 made fast to her. Many Of the
passengers We're taken off by the crew
OF the Tracey. which remained along
side the steamer until the tugs pilot
house took fire.
The point where the Slocum was
bcached was just off the scarlet fever
ward on North Brother island. The
patients. who had been out on the
rOrches and lawns watching the ap-
proach of the burning steamer, were
ordered In doors. and the physicians on
the island fastened to the assistance of
those who We're being brought ashore
through the shallow water Many Of
those who leaped from the Slocum were
carried away by the current even here
and were drowned.
The scene on North Brother island is
described by the rescuers as pitiful
one. Body after body was washed
ashore or brought in by boats and