Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-06-24


List of Missing ...........3 900
New York, (SpcciaD -Flames that
suddenly swept over the excursion
steamer General Slocum in the East
river, near its junction with Long Is
land Sound, at 10 A. NJ. Wednesday,
drove hundreds Of the passengers to
leap overheard, while hundreds more
who remained aboard were burned
to death.
1t seems certain that at least 600
persons, mostly women and children,
met death. The number OF deaths
is likely to reach as many as 900,
-Four hundred and ninety-eight bodies
had been recovered at late hour
and divers were at work taking more
from the hold of the steamer. The
remains of many persons who leaped
into the river have not yet been found:
The fatalities all occurred in a briet
race with death over a halt-mile
course which Capt. William H. Van
Schaik, of the boat, made in trying to
beach her on North Brother Island.
He succeeded in this attempt, but
the fire meanwhile had spread so
rapidly that one of the vessels decks
had collapsed, killing many, while the
flames had DESTROYED others or driven
them to death in the water.
Boats Officers Arrested.
The captain has been severely
criticised for not running the boat
ashore when the flames were dis
covered With FIVE of his men he was
arrested.
Some of the survivors declare that
the life-preservers were rotten and
proved utterly uselss when the pas
sengers tried to use them.
About 1000 persons, members OF
an excursion party given by ST. Marks
Evangelical Lutheran Church, 232
Sixth street. on East Side of Man
haitian, were on board the General
Slocum. The greater number OF
passengers were women and children.
All were on their way to Locust
Grove. a summer resort on Long Is
land Sound.
The dangerous He'll Gate rocks had
been passed in safety and the steam
boat was off the east end of Ran
dalls Island when there was sud-
den fire in the forward part the YES
sci. The overturning of pot OF
grease in the boats kitchen had caused
Il. What seemed an explosion fol-
lowed
A cloud of smoke and flames shot
into the air.
Death In Frightful Panic.
Instantly the women became panic
stricken. The crew of p men were.
powerless in the frenzied throng that
rushed toward the stern, pursued by
the flames. The pressure against the
rails was so great that they soon gave
way. Forty or fifty persons were al
most Immediately swept overheard.
CAPTAIN Van Schaik then headed
the boat for North Brother Island
and the harbor craft began picking
UP the trail of victims and survivors
who continued dropping in her wake
by hves and tens, some supported by
life preservers, but most of them with
out such aid.
Hundreds fleeing from the flames
fed to the upper hurricane deck,
which, under the unusual strain, to-
gether with the burning of its sup
porting stanchions, collapsed. One
hundred or more were thus preclpi-
tated to the middle deck. and many
of them were thrown bodily into the
blazing hold.
Few Could Be Saved.
The steamers whistle was blowing
for assistance, and tugs and other
nearby craft answered the call. Be-
fore any of the boats could reach the
burning steamer. however. the frantic
women and children had begun to
jump overheard. The current was
strong and there are manywhirlpools
in the channel The boats that always
abound in the vicinity picked many
persons from the water. but these
were only a small number of those
struggling in the swift current
As the fire increased the struggle to
gain points of vantage at the stern
became frightful Women and chill
dren crowded against the after rail
until it gave way and hundreds were
pushed off into the river. After this
there was steady stream of persons
who jumped or were thrown into the
water.
By this time the shrieking whistle
of the Slocum had attracted the at
tention of river craft for a con-
siderable distance around, and tugs
and other small boats were rushing to
the assistance of the burning steamer
Rows OF Heads In Water.
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 upstream was a line of |
little black spots marking the heads
and bodies of those who had sought |
to escape the roaring furnace in the
ship by throwing themselves over
board.
Few of those saved by the small
boats had On life-preservers. At no
time during the progress of the fire
was there any good opportunity either
to lower the lifeboats or get the life
preservers out from underneath the
seats. This gives All idea of the
rapidity with which the flames swept |
the decks.
1t was an experience narrowing and
terrible, and that any escaped alive
seems wonderful.
Through all The panic. during that
FINANCIAL.
Y. n.y.. Vo.i, +b;e ,,eet CT 12 mn