Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-16

when we left the pier the decks
we're packed to the limit of it's capaci-
ty. The band was playing, the children
frolicing about and we were all hav-
ing a fine time. AS we neared He'll
Gate the children were called down to
the lower deck where ice cream and
soda water were served.
1.-The children were falling all over
Zach other in an effort to set to the
tables which held the refreshments.
With my mother and my little brother,
PauI went to- the engine room to
watch the machinery.
suddenly and without the least
warming there was a burst of flame
from the furnace room. that rushed up
through the engine room and flashed
ont about us. The flames spread with
the rapidity of an explosion. setting
fire to the clothing of the women and
children, who were grouped about the
engine room watching the machinery.
There was the most terrible panic
as the burning women and children
rushed out amid those who surrounded
the ice cream and soda water tables,
screaming with pain. In the terrific
scramble my mother and little brother
were swept from me and carried to-
ward the side where the children and
women with their clothes burning had
begun to jump into the water. The
flames spread in bursts that soon had
the entire deck envelOped.
1.-THE crew were helpless to render
any assistance or make any efforts to
check the advance of the fire. We were
Just passing out through He'll Gate
when the fire started. The captain
headed the boat toward North Broth
err island and Che pilots who were
with him yelled frantically to us to
stay aboard until they beached the
boat.
Put in a moment after the flames
had burst from the engine room great
numbers began to jump overheard. The
women We're wild with fright and,
snatching their children to them. leap
ed into the whirlpOols that carried
them toward the rocks on both shores.
II endeavored for few minutes to
break through the mad crush and get
to my mother and little brother, but I
was swept into one corner of the boat
and held there unable to move.
"As the boat kept on the breeze blew
the flames through the after part of
the ship where the panic stricken had
not jumped overheard. 1t was but a
few seconds before the flames had
swept down upon the children who
We're struggled about the ice cream
tables and set their clothing ablaze.
"They all rushed to the after part
of the ship in a stampede that carried
those who We're near the rail over
board against their will.
"At one time it seemed to me as If
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 us from every side.
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 We're only few spots on
the boat untouched by the flames and
women who had tainted and falling.
pinned others to the deck.
'"The men from the tugs, who could
get near the steamboat, shouted for
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 was
discovered, but the crew tried to eX-
tinguish the flames without alarming
the passengers.
Those in the after portions of the
boat did not know it was on fire until
the flames had swept back on them.
Then there was nothing to do but jump
overheard or be burned to death.
Persons on the shore say that there
We're scores huddled in an apparently
safe position on the hurricane deck,
with the breeze blowing the flames and
smoke from them, when suddenly the
deck fell in. After the cloud of 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 by
small boats We're dashed to camp stools
and other light boat furnishings,
showing that some adult had tried to
make the l1Jlle ones SAFE. HeSe pre-
cautions proved inadequate in the ter
rife current and in the whirlpools.
Very few of the children picked up
had on life preserverS. Children can
not get Mt the life preservers on excur-
sion boats in this harbOr as they can
only be reached by tall persons.
Paul Lebanon. one of the passengers.
who was on board. says n fire boat
passed the burning steamer. but offered
no assistance. Two policemen, who
had been assigned to accompany the
excursionists. jumped from the burning
steamer and reached the shore in
safety. One of them was slightly
burned.
Capt. William III. Van Setback. cap
tain of the Slocum, who Is at the Alex
ander Avenue police station. said:
"The Slocum left the foot of East
o2d street at $50 o'clock, this morning
There had been collected from those on
board 9S2 tickets. The boat passed
slowly up the river. through He'll Gate
and over toward Sunken Meadows
where the Seawanhaka was burned in
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