The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-16
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MEN& BOYS ourFlTTERa

|
| beefl Informed of the outbreak of the fire,
and, realizing the danger to the huT-
dreds Of cxcursionists, decided to send his
vessel to shore at One Hundred and
IiThirty-follrth street. AT this point there
arc q number OF lumber yards and several
huge oil tanks, and the captain was
warned that to atteinpt,to land at this
point would endanger the property and
perhaps further imperil the scores OF
people, who had already been frightened
into q state or almost uncontrollable ex-
element s
Changing tho big steamers course
slightly he headed her for North Brother
island. half lille away.
BY this tinie the flames were rushing
by leaps and bounds from the forward
The great open decks. built for excur-
sionists with little obstruction from bow
To stern, offered q clear sweep for. tho
fire. AS the Sloctm. dashed, forward the
work eating and tearin 6 tn cir way across
! the vessel,
The excurslonists. but a few moments
summers day on Long Island Sound
| were driven to the after part of the
steamer to escape the heat, flames and
| Policemen and deck hands aboard the
boat struggled hard to avert the panic,
I but their EFFORTS We're N vain. Wild dis
order increased as frantic mothers sought
| to find their children who had been at
/, play about the decks,
| Crafts Come to Rescue.
The steamers whistle was blowing for
\ craft answered to the call. Before any
! of the boats could reach the burning
a steamer, however. the fran tic women and
children began TO jump overheard. The
current was strong and there areBmany
Il whirlpools in the channel. The boats that
always abound in the vicinity picked
81 many persons from the water, but these
were only u small number OF those that
were seen struggling in the swift current.
| !, On tlle Slocum the first sweep Of the
4 flames cut off escape from the hurricane
1 deck, where Il great many of the women
1 and children were crowded together and
soon burned away the light wood of tho
on those below. 1t is thought that most
or those on the hurricane deck were
4 burned, ss
AS the fire Increased the struggle to
4 gain point of vantage at the stern be-
/ came frghtful Women and children
4 crowded against the after deck until it
gave way, ana 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 shieking whistle of
OF the river craft for u considerable dis
lance around, and tugs and other small
boats were rushing to the assistance OF
| the burning steamer.
I These small boats rescued all those In
4 tho water whom they could reach but
i many persons struggled and sank before
any help could reach them. In the wake
/ was a line OF little black spots, marking
/ the heads and bodies Of those who had
/, sought to escape the roaring furnace on
the ship by throwing themselves over
/ board
! Few OF those saved by tho small boats
had on life preseryers. at no time dur
| ing the. progress OF the fire was there an
! life. prescrvers out from underneath tho
/ seats. This perhaps. gives All idea OF the
| rapidity with which the flames swept the
| decks. A y
IT was an experience narrowing and ter
ribie. and that any escaped alive seems
| wonderful.
Officers Were Powerless.
Through all the wild panic. with fro
and mon of the doomed boat remained at
their. posts, but they were powerless to
Tho socnnl got within Atty feet Of tho
northwest point OF North Brother Island
apd there stt9p z In thS shal9w water
hurricane deck, the supports Of which
had burned qWasl fell, with Its load OF
women elan. and g eHlidhrsn adding to The panic
Very soon after parts of the second and
THIRD, decks also .oaved IN, But before
this happened the tug Walter Tracey had
come alongside tho burning steamer and
been dashed 70 II. Many OF the passen-
gers were taken off by the crew Of the
Tracey. which remained alongside the
steamer until the tug pilot house took
fire.
The point where the slocun1 beached
was Just. off the scarlet fever ward OF
the. North Brother Island Hospital. The
patients, who had been out on the. porches
and lawns, Watching the approach OF the
burning steamer, We're ordered lndoors
and the physeians on the island hasteneI
TO the assistance OF those who were being
/ brought ashore through the shallow wn-
tlser. Many OF those, Who leapcd from tho
/ slocum We're carried away BY the current
| drowned.
Scene Was Pitiful One.
The scene on North Brother Island, as
described by the rescuers was piliful
one. Body after body was washed ashore
or brought IN by boats aud added to the
long row OH the beach, Fifty,lhrae per-
sons died there While the doctors were
attending them.
AS the bodies OF the living and the dead