Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-06-18
SURVIVORS TELL OF
TERRIBLE DISASTER

TERRIBLE DISASTER
Fred. Hoffman, fireman, and one
Of the excursionists. was brought
ashore unnerved and hysterical. At
first all that could be got from him was
that he had lost his mother and sister
in-law. his brothers two children and
II young woman with him. He told
this story:
Il was on the upper deck with the
family and little Edna. my brothers
.s-year-old child. was in my arms. Be.
sides me were my mother. my BROTH
er's wife Celia. her boy Raymond.
aged 4. and Jane Workman, my friend.
aged 90. don't remember much about
the fire. II seemed to come from be-
low I grabbed the boy and called
upon the women to follow me. First
the women were separated from me.
then the crowd swept me and the lit
tie ones towards the stern of the boat.
1T was an awful crush. the women
fought and could do nothing but pro-
tect the two children with my body.
and moved with the crowd. Tugboa;s
were all about us. but they were busy
trying to put out the fire. and saw
no attempt to take of the people. The
boat was gone. that was plain. The
fire was eating her up. The tugs would
have done better had they tried to save
the passengers. In trying to reach the
women folks of my family | got lost
in the crowd and went overheard with
IT, remember nothing but being
trampled on. When came to the sur
face life preserver was within reach.
and I chung to that. My strength was
gone. and IL seemed as II I could not
hold on a minute longer. when some
one pulled me out of the water and took
me ashore"
Miss Clara Stuer, a survivor. after
reaching the home of friends on East
Seventh street. said: 81 was sitting on
the upper deck with some friends,
when little girl near noticed the Are.
II seemed but a few moments later
that there was roar as though can
non had been shot off. and the entire
bowof the boat was one sheet of flames.
The people rushed pell nell over one
another. and in the rush l lost track
of my friends. Hundreds of people
jumped overheard, being caught so by
the flames that escape was impossible.
81 jumped over the rail and dropped
down to the next lower deck. when
began to dispense with my clothing so
that | would have better chance in
the water. Then l started to climb
down the side of the boat, when heard
a voice calling to me to hold on a
minute. turned and saw a man stand
ing on the bow of tug. which was
approaching. ! held on and was soon
taken off. with number of other per-
sons, who had been rescued from the
stern of the boat and from the water.
THE tug then put into the landing
on Randall's Island. AS left the dock
l saw. il looked to me. 200 bodies.
mostly of women and children. along
the shore"
Miss Martha Weirk says that while
she was struggling In the water a boat
pulled up alongside of her and she
was stripped of her rings. earrings.
brooch and then pushed back in the
water She was later rescued in an
unconscious condition by another
boat and taken to the island.
A little girl about years old. walked
sobbingly along the line of dead on the
pier She said she had lost her mother
and grandmother BY a peculiar coin
cidence. the bodies were found side by
side ana identified by the little girl.
The mother was Mrs. Annie F. Bue-
chard and the grandmother Mrs.
Louisa Schwartz.
A sight that brought tears to the
eyes of all beholders was the body of
Mrs. Lillian Granfire. Clasped to her
breast was the body of her 9-months-
old baby. Both had been burned to
death. the mother vainly endeavoring
to protect her child.
Many pathetic scenes were witnessed
at the various hospitals. where the rel
atives sought their loved ones. Wild
eyed men. tremulous women and
frightened children begged to know IL
any of their family were in the hos
pitfalls. Eagerly they seized upon sur
vivors. Most of the interrogations were
in German. Have you seen my wife,
My children? have lost ALL