Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-26

The awful disaster that befell the eNcur-
sion steamer General Slocum with its load
OF picnicking children June Is, 1904, when
over i.Oo0 lives were lost by fire and water,
is sharply recalled by the promised parole
Of Captain william H. Van schaick, COM
man6er of the Inflated boat. and the only
person prosecuted for the carelessness
which led to the calamity. Captain Van
Schaick is 20 years Of age and has served
one-third Of the sentence OF ten years.
The parole OF Captain Van SchRick VIII
have been largely due to the earnest ef-
forts OF his wife. who was Grace Mary
Spratt one Of the heroines Of the great
disaster and who married Captain Van
Schaick when he was under $1,000 bail
and facing long term OF Imprisonment.
At the time Of the burning OF the
| "Slocum," Mrs Van Schaick was superin-
| tendent Of nurses at Lebanon hospital. New
York city At the first alarm she left for
! North Brother Island at the head Of eight
! trained nurses and took full charge OF the
rescue work. In recognition OF her heroism
the government gave her a certificate of
honor. Captain Van Schsick was arrested
as soon as he was allie to leave the hos
! pital and tried for negligence Of duty. on
January q, 1906 verdict was rendered in
| the United States circuit court holding the
captain responsible for the disaster and
/ sentencing him TO ten years Imprisonment
Grace May Spratt was married to Cap
/ tain Van Schsick at the darkest hour OF his
| life. He had wooed her for fourteen years.
! but during the days that his reputation
was secure and he was regarded as one OF
! the most competent masters OF navigation
\ about New York, the trained nurse would
/ not consent to the marriage saying she
desired to follow her career, But when the
gray days came and all the future looked
/ black to Van Schaick. she went to him in
his disgrace and told him that she would
marry him.
! Since Captain Van Schaick has been in
! Sing Sing his wife has worked for his re
| lease in conjunction with the American
Association of Masters, Mates and Pilots
A petition signed by 10000 citizens praying
! President Roosevelt that a pardon be ex-
tended the convicted captain was submitted
! by the association in 1905.
The ultimate purpose of the George
Washington Memorial association Of New
| York has been advanced materially by a
donation of 100000 by a New York financier
This gift practically makes sure the collec-
ton Of a total OF $4,000 which the associa-
ton has set itself to get before a site for
luo HltuOTlhl 10 ueCtueu upon. Inc donor OF
this 100000 prefers for the present not to
| disclose his name.
The purpose of this ASSOCIATION is to erect
a building to be known as the George
| Washington Memorial Building. in Com
memoration of Our First President and His
Interest in Higher Education I'm America"
The building is to be practical in plan
and construction and of the most durable
character. 1t is to furnish a home and
gathering place for national patriotic.
scientific, educational, literary, art medical
and similar organizations which may need
such accommodations. 1t will contain
great auditorium and rooms for large con-
crosses and small meetings, offices and re-
! search rooms.
II is proposed to raise 100000 for the
building, and an additional $4,000 as an
! endowment for maintenance so that CON
ventions and societies can use the building
without charge.
Two million dollars Of this total will be
raised by popular subscription 80 that the
memorial may be really a gift of the peo-
pie, and the association is not encouraging
further big individual donations
An unusual holdup was successfully
pulled off in a fashionable section OF up
town New York shortly before / o'clock
ieSN SATURDAY morning. MIS-, FRANCES El-
Holt, wealthy society woman, had been
entertaining a small party at her home on
| West Fifty-sixth street. and her guests
were just putting on their wraps and say
ing their goodnights when five rough look
ing men pushed their way through the
open door. With drawn revolvers the in
truders lined up the hostess and her guests
in train-robber fashion and proceeded to
go through the pockets of the men and
the handbags OF the women now and then
pausing to remove a tempting bit OF
jewelry.
Mrs. Elliott and her friends were so
thoroughly frightened by the threats and
rough actions of the robbers that they
made no cutlery until the five had left the
apartments. Then Mrs. Elliott called up
police headquarters. So far as known the
robbers got only $40, in money, but the
value Of their jewelry haul was not given
The police believe the five made their
escape in an automobile.
1t Is rarely that the statue of a soldier
gives faithful picture of his rough per
sonal appearance while engaged In a hard
campaign, but the bronze equestrian statue
OF General Sherman has recently assumed
the appearance of real war
Every time ! now pass the old hero
up near Central park l am reminded of
the time when to shave once a week was
luxury and to have torn and muddy
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