Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-23
the boat and held there, rzapls 70
Driven Aft by Flames.

the boat and held there, gzebie ts
move.
Driven Aft by Flames.
Gas the boat kept on her way the
breeze drove the flames toward the
after part of the ship, where those
who in their panic had not jumped
overheard we're huddled together. 1t
seemed but a few seconds before the
flames had swept DOM upon the chill
dren who we're struggling about the ice
cream tables and sci their clothing
ablaze. They all rushed to the after
part of the ship in a stampede that
carried those who were near the rail
overheard against their will.
cat one time it seemed 10 me as il
the women and children were pouring
over the sides like a waterfall. AS We
made for the shore the captain blew
his whistle in one continuous blast and
soon boats of all descriptions were
making for rs from every side of the
river.
~
81 was rescued by a launch just as
the boat settled close to the shore.
when she was grounded the flames
had spread over the entire upper and
lower decks. There were only a few
spots on the boat untouched BY the
flames and in these were piled xp men
and women who had tainted and, fall
ing, pinned others to the deck.
"The men from the tugs who could
get "a the steamboat shouted sor
those on board to jump and then the
small boats picked them up by The
score"
From all that can be gathered, no
alarm was sounded when the fire WIS
discovered, but the crew tried to ex-
tinguish the flames without alarming
the passengers.
Nothing to Do But jump.
Those in the after portion Of the bo&t
did not know it was on fire until tls
flames had swept back on them. Then
there was nothing to do but jump over
board or be burned to death.
Persons on the shore say that thert
were scores huddled in an apparently
safe position on the hurricane decS
with the breeze blowing the flames ant
smoke away from them, when sudden.
ly the deck fell in. After The cloud ID
smoke had drifted away the observers
looked back to where the crowd had
been standing. The space was vacant
Many Of the children picked up BIZ
small boats were dashed TO camp stoola
and other light boat furnishings, show.
ing that some adult had tried to MAKE
the little ones safe. These precautions
proved inadequate in the terrible cur
rent, and in the whirlpools.
Very Few Had Life P~reservers.
Very few of the children picked ul
had on life p%reservers. Children can not
get at the life preservers on excursior
boats in this harbor. They are dashed
to the ceilir gs over the decks and can
only be reached by a tall person.
Paul Lebenow, one of the passengers
who was on board, says d ferryboa,
passed hear the burning. steamer, but
offered no assistance. Two policemen
who had been assigned to accompany
the excursion jumped from the burning
steamer and reached the shore in safe-
ty. One of them was slightly burned,
For hours the bodies of the burned
and drowned drifted ashore on the
island, and between One Hundred and
Thirty-first and One Hundred and
Thirty-eighth street. r Some came
ashore, still alive. Many of these died
while others will cover
Capt. VIM. Won Schaick, who com.
manded the Slocum. has been arrested