Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-16
Further Details of the Burn
ing of the Gen. Slocum,
WONDERFUL RESCUES
CALAMITY'S BLOW FALLS ON
ONE SECTION OF CITY.
Many Pathetic Scenes at the Morgue-
Instances Of Heroism-Victims
Brought to Life.


the burning of the steamer General Slocum
in the East river yesterday will approxi-
mate 1000. This estimate is based on the
opinion of the chief of the fire department.
of the coroner's office and of the police. AT
/ o'clock this afternoon 5o4 bodies had been
recovered, of which 155 had been identified.
There were reported missing 467 persons.
and the hospitals had III injured.
The fact that twenty-four hours after the
disaster there still missing nearly 800
persons warrants the belief that the above
estimate of the dead will be verified. for the
authorities have used every source at their
command to locate all who escaped
Mayor Mcclellan announced this after
noon that he had decided to issue procla-
nation asking for subscriptions for the
burial of the dead and for such other imme-
date relief as could be given. He said he
would ask ten men of prominence to serve
on a committee to take charge of the fund.
At an informal meeting of Lutheran min
listers in the home of the Rev. Mr.. Haas
this morning an appeal to the ministers of
all denominations to assist in the funeral
services of the General Slocum victims wds
prepared.
Long Island Shore Patrolled.
The Long Island shore is being patrolled
by the police in boats today in order that
any bodies from the wreck of the General
Slocum that may come to land may be
promptly picked up and identified. If posi-
BILE At the turn of the tide it is expected
that many bodies of the missing will be
washed up on the Long Island shore. If
any bodies are found in this location they
will at once be turned over to the coroners
of the borough of Queens. description
of the victims will be promptly sent to po-
lice headquarters in Manhattan.
So many of the bodies of the dead are be-
Ing found charred and burned beyond all
possibility of Identification that public
funeral for all such persons and interment
In general burial plat have been sug-
gested.
Mayor Mcclellan today ordered the flags
of the city hall and all city departments
half-masted. He also said a suggestion
had been made that he name day for
public memorial service and that he had
taken the suggestion under advisement
The mayor declared that investigation
discloses that the city officials abso-
lutely powerless to take any steps to pre-
vent a repetition of the accident. They
have no right to take "a single step looking
TO the inspection of any steamboat or to
recommend any measures for its safety, as
the federal government has complete juris-
dictIon in the matter.
The mayor has received many kilograms
of coincidence and offers of assistance from
other cities.
The officers of St. Marks Church have
requested that the funerals of the victims
be held as quietly and unostentatiously as
possible No funerals will be held in the
church.
Most Appalling Catastrophe.
When the dread tale of the General Slo-
cola -l,.,N tl,x ct
blackened body has been taken from the
burned hulk and the swift waters of He'll
Gate give up their dead. the catastrophe
will take Its place as the most appalling
that has ever occurred in the land waters
of America. Definite figures on the loss OF
life cannot yet be given. That more than
five hundred persons perished is horrible
certainty, but how much In excess of that
number the total will run, will only be
known when the missing column Is FIN
ished.
All during the night and through the
early dawn of today the sad work of ex-
ploring the Slocums hull went on and from
dock to morgue the procession of ambu-
lances, each with it's pitiful load, wound it's
way from the river front to the morgue
at the foot of 26th street. until at 10
o'clock jO4 bodies lay on the slabs.
Most of these came from the wreck but
the night-long patrol of the waters of East
river added It's ghastly quota. There are
many bodies still in the hold of the burned
vessel,
ers but the river is looked 20 to complete the
list How many. preferring death by drown
ing TO the agony OF death by hre. went over
the rail never to rise again during the mad
race of the vessel for the beach, will prob
ably never be known for the treacherous
waters Of He'll Gate do not willingly give
up their victims.
Unlike Former Disasters.
Unlike the Iroquos Theater and other
great catastrophes of recent years where
the woe of the disaster reached throughout
the land the blow of the Slocums mortal
ity falls practically upon one little neigh
borhood of a great city. st. Mark parish
which furnished nearly every victim lies
within ten crowded blocks of the middle
East Side, and therein today is hardly a
house that is not one of mourning. The
membership OF the little Lutheran Church
IS practically German or OF German de-
scent. and all Of the comparatively well-to-
do class.
The race of the burning steamer from the
moment the fire was discovered until her
bows crashed on the shelving beach of
North Brothers Island lasted little more
than ten minutes, yet that time suffced for
deeds OF heroism which make the one bright
chapter in the heartrending story. Brave
men devoted mothers and even matdens
and Youths of tender years each contrib
uted their part to the roll OF heroic acts.
Rescues In Face Of Death.
There were rescues In the face of almost
certain death, and useless but exalted self
sacrifice The credit for the greatest saw
ing of life is due to the hardy tugboat men
and other followers of the river, who
braved flames and held the noses of their
boats against the fire. e-wrapped steamer un-
til driven off by the awful heat, scorched
and choking Dead bodies of women were
found with their burned arms clasping close
the pitiful forms of little children and ba-
bies were found, their tiny arms enfoldng
in tha sftn uf
But there is a darker side hinted at alorg
the river front. where are told stories that
seem TO be inevitable accompaniment of all
great calamites. There has been no evil
dence of a character specific enough to fas-
ten 1t upon individuals and permit of pun
ishment but survivors and eye-witnesses
say that some brutal acts of selfishness and
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