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I a i 0 VOL XXXVII No 48. WILMINGTON JS.'C, JTJXE 17, 1904. S1.00 PER TEAR. .rv .-viKr. . I - II I fKicfKf (! . ml (Kir-' r x r v gr v r sr r - ' -HUMMED PERSOM SIX ET ME The Big Steamer, General Sh ewn, Burned to Water's Edge v RIVER FILLED WITH THE DEAD x Over a Thousand Excursionists, Form ins a Merry Sunday School Tarty, Were on Their Way to a Sound Resort for a Day of Pleasure, When . the Steamer Caught Fire in the Waters of Hell Gate and Six nun (I red Persons Were Either Drowned or Burned to Death The Disaster U the Most Appalling That Ever Occurred In New York Harbor and ' Most of Those Who Dost Their Lives Were Women and Children of Tender Age? Diligent Effort Will be Made to Fix Responsibility for the Occurrence Horrible Recital of Events Told by Those on Board lleuri-IIcndlns' Scenes Where Work or Identification Was Attempt- j rw o ed Brave Efforts W ere 3iaue to . i ! I'pwun Those on the Steamer A Message of Sympathy From the President. New York, June 16. Six hundred per sons, men, women and children, at a conservative estimate, met death yes terday by the burning, beaching and siniung oi me w& imc utv-v sion steamer Generar 6Jocum which took fire in the East river, near the entrance to Long Island sound while on her way. to a sound resort with more than a thnnsand excursionists, the Sunday School pupils of St. Mark's German Lutheran churcn, their rela tives and friends. At 1 o'clock this morning, according to a statement issued by Coroner O' Gorman. 4S3 bodies had been recovered from the destroyed vessel, burned to death or drowned and found on the ahores to which they had been washed, or picked up in the river to which they had jumped or fallen from the burning vessel. Tugs are arriving hourly with bodies from North Brother Island. Coroner O'Gorman said that more bodies had been sighted and that they j would be brought in during the night. New York. June 15. One of the most appalling disasters in the his tory of New York, tragic In Its Im mensity, dramatic In its episodes, and deeply pathetic In the tender age of most of its victims, took place today In the Bast River, at the entrance of Long Island Sound, within a short distance of the New York shore, within sight of thousands of persons, the majority of whom were powerless to minimize the extent of the catas trophe. By the burning to the water's edge of the General Slocum, a three decked excursion steamer, the largest In these waters, more than six hundred per .sons, the majority of whom wsre women and children, were burned to death or drowned by jumping oT2r board or by being thrown into tke whirl-pools by the lurching of the vessel and the frantic rush ef the panic stricken passengers. About 500 Bodies Recovered. Approximately five hundred bodies have been recovered and are now be ing tagged at the morgues of Belle vue hospital and Harlem. Divers were still busy at a late hour taking bodies from the hold of the vessel, which they say is choked with the remains of human beings, while the bodies of scores who leaped or were J by the Knickerbocker Steamboat Com - thrown into the river have not been j pany. owners of the Slocum. the num . v I ber of passengers was S73, that being recovered. one-thlrd of the Yessef-s licensed ca- It is the season of Sunday school pacity. . excursions in New York bay and Lonsr 1 The steamer, after leaving her dock Island sound, the latter one of the this morning, proceeded hp East river, most picturesque bodies of water In all three of her decks being crowded -the country. with merrymakers. Bands played and Between 1.500 and 2,500 Persons on . wher 7" decorated jj0ijJ j with nags from stem to stern. Great preparations had been made ; Fire Breaks Out. for the seventeenth annual excursion ! The Slocum had reached a nolnt near of the Sunday school of St." Mark's - German Lutheran church, the con gregation of wnich Is drawn from the dense population of the lower east and west sides, and" the General Slocum "had been chartered to carry the ex- -cursiofi t Locust Grove. ,on of the A HORRIBLE DE ; many resorts on Long Island sound. It Is variously estimated that there were between 1,500 and 2.500 per sons on board the General Slocum when she left the pier at Third. East river, though the Knickerbocker Steamship Company, which owns the Slocum, officially states that the num ber of persons was 873, this being only one-thirl of the vessel's capac ity. It Is thought, however, that there were several hundred children in arms for whom fares are not usually charg ed on these trips, on board. Breaking Out of the Fire. The scene on the decks of the steamer as she proceeded up the East river was one of merry-making, cus tomary on such occasions. The mass of flags fluttered in the June breeze, the bands were playing and the chil dren were singing, dancing and wav ing hankerchiefs and flags in answer to thfk salutations of those on shore i treme east end of Randall's Island, off 133 th street, there Is a stretch of water kmnvn as the Sunken. Mead- ow& Afc tnig poIntt just as crowds wer watchiner the gaily decorated Slocum took fire, and as the age of the vessel she was built in 1891 had resulted in the well seasoning of the wood, with which she was almost, entirely built, she was soon a mass of flames. The fire is said to have broken out in a lunch room on the forward deck through the overturning of a not of grease. The win! was high, and all efforts to subdue the fire were futile At 134th street there are several lumber yards and oil tanks, and as Captain William Van Schaik, In com mand of the General Slocum, started to turn his vessel towards, the shore there, he was warned that it would cat fi rck tn t Vi o lnmhpr find nil. so Vie chnged his course for North Brother island, one or me xwin isianus, near the entrance to the sound, some half a mile away, where the boat partially burned, was beached. She sank near this place at 12:15 o'clock this after noon, two hours and twenty minutes after the fire was discovered. Life Preservers Could Not Be Se r cured. In the meantime the passengers had become panic stricken, and those who were not caught up by the flames rushed to the rear of the vessel, and hundreds jumped overboard into the swiftly running .waters. It is alleged that the life preservers were too se curely fastened to their holdings to be available, and stories are told of frantic efforts, made by strong men, to cut them loose, but even If they could have been torn down they were too high up for the captain to reach. It is also alleged that no attempt was made to get out the fire apparatus at Van that he immediately rang the belTa for getting out the ap paratus. According to several state ments, no attempt was made to lower boats or life rafts. Captain Van Schaik and his two pilots, named Edward Van" Wart anl E. M. Weaver, have been arrested. The three decked excursion steamer General Slocum. of the Knickerbocker Steamboat Company, was burned to the water's edge off North Brother Island, Bast river, at the entrance to Long Island sound today, resulting in the death, through burning or drown ing, of at least six hundred persons, mostly women and culldren. Four hundred and forty-seven bodies had been recovered tonight and divers were at work taking bodies from the hold of the steamer. Ilie remains of maJiy persons who leapea Into the riv er have not been found, and It irlll be mapy hours before xne list of dead Is any where near complete. The General Slocum, one of the lar gest excursion steamers in these wa ters, left Third street. East river, at B:S0 oclock this mornmg. . having on board the annual Sunday School excur sion of St. Mark's German Lutheran church, located In Sixth street. Her destination was Locust Grove one of the many resorts on Long Island sound. The excursion was in charge of CRer. George S- F. Haas, pastor of the church. The vessel was com manded by Captain William van Schaik one of the best known excursion boat captains in New York harbor. He has commanded the Genera e!ocum for al most the entire time since she was built in 1SS1. The number of excur- slonists on board today is variously j estimated at from 1,600 to 2,500. but ao- cording to an official statement issued the 6unken Meadows off 125th street. Manhattan, which is " at the extreme eastern end of Randall's Island, when fire broke out In a lunch room on the forward deck. The blaze was caused by the overturning of a pot of grease. . Tht headway of the vessel and a high ATM , wind, almost Instahtl tanned the in significant flames Into fury. Efforts were at once directed to subduing the Are. but they were tutile. The b!aze spread with almost lightning rapidity. Captain van Schaik In the pilot house, had been informed of the outbreak of the fire and realizing the danger to the hundreds of excursionists, decided to send hlswessel to shore at 134th street. At this point there are a number of lumber yards and several huge 611 tanks and the captain was warned that to attempt to iand at this point would endanger the property and perhaps further ImPerU the scores of people, who had already been frightened into a state of almost uncontrolable ex citement. Changing the big steamer's course slightly, he headed her ror North Brother island, half a mile away. By this time the names were rush ing by leaps and bounds from the for ward part of the ship aft. The great open decks, built for ex cursionists with Jittle obstruction from bow to stern, offered a clear sweep for ward, the flames caught stanchion ana cabin woodwork, eating and tearing their way across the vessel. Vain Effort to Quiet the Panic. The excursionists, but a few moments before in the full enjoyment of an Ideal summer's day on Long Island sound, were driven to the after part of the steamer to escape the heat, flames and smoke that were constantly increasing. Policeman and deckhands aboard the boat, struggled hard to quiet the panic, but their efforts were in vain. The wild disorder Increased, as frantic mothers sought to find their children, who had been to play about the decks. Answers to the Call for Assistance. The steamer's whistle was blowing for assistance and tugs and other near by, craft answsrod tc the call. E fore any of the boats could racii the burn ing steamer; however, the frantic women and children bf-gan to jump over board. The current was strong and there are many whirlpools in the channel. The boats that always abound in the vicinity Picked many persons from the water, dt these were only a small number of those that were seen struggling in the swift current. On the Slocum the first sweep of the flames cut off escape rrom the hurri cane deck, .where a greatjriany of the women and chidren wert? crowded to gether, and soo i burned away the light wood of the uprights which came down with a crash on those' below. It is thought that most of those on the hurricane deck were burned. Forced Into the Water. As the fire increased the struggle to gain a point of vantage at the stern became frightful. Women and chil dren crowded against the affr rail un til it gave ,way and 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 shrieking'whis.tle of the Slocum had attracted the atention of river craft for a considerable dis tance around and tugs and other small boats were rushing t tie assistance of the burning steamer. These small boats rescued al! those In the water whom they could reach, but many per sons struggled and sunk before any help could reach them. In the wake of the Slocum as she hurried up stream, was a line of little black spots, mark ing the heads and bodies of those who had sought to escape the roirln;; far nace on the 6hip by throwing them selves overboard. Few of those saves by the small boats had on life preservers. At no time during the rogress of the fire was their an opportunity to fither low er the life boats or get the life preserv ers out from underneath the seats. This perhaps, gives an idea of the rapidity with which the flames swept the decks. Boat's Crew Remained at Their Post of Duty. It was an exerience narrowing ana terrible and that any escaped nhve seems wonderful. Through all the wild panic, during all that mierno, with fire and smoke surrounding them, the offi cers and men of Mie doomed boal ie mained at their poits, but they were powerlesB to avert tne catastrophe. The Slocum got witnin fifty fwt cf the northwest Point of North Brother island and there stopped In the shallow water. It was just before she beached that the hurricane deck, the supports of which had burned away, fell with its load of women and children, add ing to the panic and horror of those on deck below. V"ery soon after, parts of the second and third decks a!so caved in. But before this happened, the tug Walter Tracey had come along side the burning steamer and been lashed to it. Many of the passengers were taken off by the crew of the Tra cey. which remained alongside the 8 1 earner until the tugs pilot house took fire. The point where the Slocum beached was just off the Scarlet fever ward on North Brother Island. The patients who had been out on the Porches and lawns watching the approach cf the burning steamer, were ordered Indoors, and the Physicians on the- Island has tened to the assistance of those who were being brought ashore through the shallow water. Many of those who leaped from the Slocum were car ried away by the current even after she was beached and were drowned. The Scene a Piltf ul One. The scene on North Brother Island as described by the rescuets was a pitiful one. Body after body was washed ashore or brought In by boats and add ed to the long row on the beach. Fifty three persons died there while the doc tors were attending them. As the bodies of the living and the dead were taken out of the water, those alive were taken to the hospitals on the Island or sent across the river to hospitals in Manhattan. Here am- (Continued on Eighth Pas.) GENERAL LEE Chosen Commander-in- Chief of the Confed erate Veterans ROUTINE WORK The Veterans Decided to Hold Their Next Reunion in Louisville Me morials on Departed Heroes of the Confederacy. With Special Tributes to tlie Memory of General Gordon Corner Stone of a Monument to the Private Soldiers Laid The Sons of Veterans Meet. Nashville. Tenn., June 15. A sweet voiced young woman of Norfolk, Va., Miss Mary K. Ewell, maid of honor for the south, by her singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" today won for Louisville the reunion next year of the United Confederate Veterans. It was after the old veterans had chosen Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee as their commander-in-chief, and had listened to a stirring speech by Col onel Bennett H. Young, of Kentucky, extolling the beauties, capability and hospitality of his home city and peo ple, and their desire to entertain the followers of the stars and bars, that Miss Ewell was escorted to the front of the stage. Her voice thrilled the great crowd that filled the tabernacle, and the last note of the famous song had barely left her lips, when the convention went wild with shouts of "Louisville," "Louisville." Seconding speeches were unneces sary, although General Lee gracious ly permitted one from a Virginia del egate and another from Kentucky. The date will be determined later. In addition to the election of offi cers the convention disposed of a vast amount of routine business, but did not complete their work, and a final session will be held at four o'clock in tho afternoon. The report of Adju tant General Mickle shows that since the last reunion, charters hate been issued to forty new camps, making the total 1,563. General Mickle's predecessor had borrowed money to pay most of the debts on his own personal security. This indebtedness has been cut down to $750 during 'the year. The ex penses for the year were $5,662. The Women's Monument Associa tion was Instructed by the veterans to turn over all funds to the.jSons of Veterans, who will complete the work of erecting a monument to the women of the south. The most interesting part of the committee on resolutions report is oa follows: First, That the section requesting Congress to take appropriate action looking to the care and preservation of the graves of the Confederate dead now in the various cemeteries in the northern states be adopted. Second, The committee reports to the association that more than one application has been made to this association to fix a permanent place for our annual reunions, but your committee is of the opinion that for the present it would be wise for many reasons to hold our, annual re unions as heretofore, at such time and places as the association shall fix from year to year, adopted. Resolved, That all Confederate veterans regularly enrolled In this association, and none others, shall be eligible to election 4r annwlntment In this association. AAnrstA At noon 'the regular business of the convention was set aside for the memorials, at which Judge Thomas G. Jones, of Montgomery, was the orator. All the departed heroex f the Confederacy were referred" to by several speakers, but General John B. Gordon, the last great figure to pass over Into the Invisible beyond, was made the, occasion of special tribute. The association of medical officers of the army and navy of the Confed eracy today elected these officers: President, Dr. John S. Cain, Nash ville; First Vice-President, Dr. J. D. Plunkett, Nashville: Second Vice President, Dr. D. H. Xv r Monroe, Ala.: Third Vice-President. Dr. W. M. Martin, Kinston. Ky.; Fourth Vice President, Dr. Peter B. Bocat, of Florence, S. C. The survivors of the Confederate navy chose Captain H. B. Littlepage, f Washington. D. C, as commander. In succession to Commander Dabney H. Scales, of Memphis, and elected Captain W. F. Clayton, of Florence. S. C., secretary. The Southern Confederate Me morial Association met, heard nu merous welcoming addresses and re sponses and adjourned until tomor row. " The veteran will have their annual parade tomorrow morning, the start to be made .t 10 o'clock. Owine to the increasing Infirmities of the old! soldier, the route was almost cut In I tvo toiiy by those having the parade 1 ' In charge. j Th. .t of Veterans will elect ; officers tomorrow. The most -brilliant function of the' reunion occurred tonleht at the Golf ;nn1 Country Club. It was a recep-1 . Hon and ball complimentary to the sponsors and maids of honor, by the : Sons of Veterans. THE SONS OF VETERANS. Report! of Different Committees Headquarters in New Orleans. Xashville. Tenn., June 15. The Sons of United Confederate Veterans met today, Commander-in-Chief Fayssou presiding. Reports of differ ent committees were heard.- It ra3 recommended that headquarters of the organization in New Orleans be accepted and that a permanent secre tary be employed. The total number of camps was announced as 481, but onjy lot are In good standing. The quartermaster announced that after Paying the expenses of the year the cash on hand was $13. Former Gov ernor McMillan addressed the Sons, congratulating them on the fact that the histories being taught In the Ten nessee public schools were written by Confederates. Chairman Owen submitted the re port of the historical committee and it was adopted. It showed that the north was showing a spirit of co operation in the matter of southern history and was returning torphles to the south. Louisville invited the Sons to meet there next year. THE NEW OFFICERS. General Stephen D. Leo Elected commander- in-Cliier Reports of Committees. Nashville, Tenn., June 15. The United Confederate Veterans today elected the following officers: Commander in Chief, Lieutenant General Ft.: hen D. Lee, of Columbus. Miss. Commander of the Department of Northern Virginia, General G. Irvine, of Greenville, S. C. Commander of the Department of Tennessee, General Clement A. Evans, of Atlanta, Ga. Commander oj tfte TransMMissis sippi Department, General W. L. Cabell, of Dallas, Texas. Chaplain General Jones' report of the board of trustees of Battle Abbey dealt with the financial condition of the Abbey and the Underwood suit, and was substantially as given out by the committee Monday night. General A. Clement Overts, of Geor gia, read the report of the historical committee, which said the south was now assured of fair treatment in his tory and that the youth of the coun try would not grow up under a false Impression. The report was adopted. A resolution favoring the erection at Richmond, Virginia, of a home for needy Confederate women was adopt ed. INSTRUCTED FOR PARKER. Delegates From Mississippi Will' Vole for the New York Judge The Con vention Hears Rousing Speeches. ) Jackson. Miss., June 15. The Demo cratic state convention late this after noon instructed the delegates from Mississippi to the national convention to vote for Alton B. Parker, as long as there was any chance for his nomina tion. 'Little or no work was done by the convention this morning, most of the time befog taken up in speech mak ing. The permanent chairman cf the con vention wa3 former Congressman A. F. Fox, of West Point. During the morn ing hours rousing speeches were made by Congressman Wlilliams, "Senators H. D. Money and MeLaurin and Gov ernor Vardaman. After the speeches the convention adjourned until 5 o'clock in order to give the districts time in which to bring in their nominations for delegates to the natonal convention and for state committeemen. The fol lowing Is the delegation from the state at large: Congressman Williams, Senators Money and MeLaurin, Governor ' Var daman, former Congressman T. C. Catchings and former Congressman Hooker. ARKANSAS FOR PARKER. Great Demonstration Occurs When the Victory for Parker Wm Announced. A Fnll State. Hot Springs, Ark.. June 11 Ths state Democratic convention today In structed for Judge Alton B. Parker of New York as the choice of the Arkan sas Democracy for presidential candi date. The vote was Parker CSSft; Hearst Johm Shap Williams one. United States Senator 7axnes IX. Ber ry. United States Senator James P Clarke,. Governor Jefferson Davis and Secretary of State J. W. Crockett were named as delegates at larre from the state to the national Democratic con vention at St. Louis. W. H. Martin of this city was named as natloaal com mitteeman The vote for instruction of delegates was accompanied by enthusiastic dem onstrations by the Parker and Hearst supporters and when the victory for Parker was announced, the enthusiasm was unbounded. The opposition of Senator Berry as a national delegate did not materiaJtae and when the se lection of these delegates came up. Hamp Smead, who had been selected by the Davis-Clarke faction to oppose Berry, withdrew his name. Final Commencement Exercises of Washington and Lec Lexington. Va., June 15. The final commencement exercises of Washing ton and Lee University took place to day. 'John Temple Graves, of Georgia, who was to deliver the address before the literary societies of the Universi ty, was absent owing to Illness. New President of Roanoke College. Salem, Va., June 15. The 5 let an nual commencement of Roanoke Col lege was marked by the inauguration of President J. A. Morehead. newly elected. The Installation address was OJivered by Hon. A. .M. yowman, of Salem, -vice-president of the board of trustees, after which came the inaug ural address by President Morehead. NAVAL FIGHT Japanese and Russian Squadrons Have Re cently .Met AT PORT ARTHUR The Russian Vladivostok Squadron Met a Japanese Squadron In tho Korean Straits There Is Great Anxiety Felt for tho Safety of Japa nese Shipping A Russian War Vessel. Convoying Torpedo Boats. Caino Out Form Port Arthur and Compelled a Japanese Flotilla to Retreat. Tokio, June 15. 4 p. m. A flotilla of torpedo boats and torpedo boat de stroyers, under the command of Cap tain Tschlva and in co-operation with the army, made a reoonnassance in force near Shao-Ping island yesterday and bombarded the Russian outposts on the coast to the west of the island (Shao-Ping Island is 12 miles to the west of Port Arthur). At noon, the Russian cruiser Novik. convoying ten torpedo boat destroyers, steamed out from Port Arthur. The Russian shore batteries protected tnese vessels with a heavy cannonade. The Japanese flo tilla retreated slowly, firing as it went, for the purpose of decoying the enemy to sea. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the Russian ships returned to the en trance of Port Arthur. The fact that the Novik came out of Port Arthur makes it certain that the Russians have succeeded in blasting a channel through the cement laden merchantmen sunk by the Japanese in the entrance to the harbor. This freedom of egress comes too late to permit of any effect on the opera tions of the Japanese army, for men. guns and stores have practically all been landed, and Admiral Togo is ca pable of keeping the remnants of the Russian fleet imprisoned in Port Ar thur. Last Monday night Japanese Vidette boats, protected by torpedo boats and torpedo destroyers, succeeded in reaching the entrance to Port Arthur and planted a series of mines. The darkness of midnight favored the oper ation. The Japanese vessels were not observed and they returned to the rest of the squadron without having sus tained any damage. A Naval Engagement 31ay Soon Take Place. Tokio, June 15.-3:30 p. m. Reports of cannonading have been received here from various points, such as Chi Kuzen province. Oki island and Tsuz hima. but the exact nature of the oper ations of the 'Russian Vladivostok squadron is not disclosed. The Japanese warships in the vicini ty are hurrying to the scene. There is a strong possibility that a naval en gagement will take place soon. No southern city in Japan is exposed to attack, but this Russian raid may prove expensive to shipping. Shipping In Danger. London, June 15. A dispatch to The Central News from Tokio, filed at p. m. today says: "A dispatch Just received from Uofi. says the cannonading at sea stopped et 1 p. m. There was a heavy sea la the straits all day. Ten Japanese Mer chant steamers are known to have left various porta for Moji and there Is ntuch anxiety about their fate." It is rumored tonight that the Rus sian warships have gone eastward. Activities of the Vladivostok Squad ron. Tokio. June 15. 6 p. m. It Is report ed hers that the Japanese protected cruiser Nlitaka engaged the Russian Vladivostok squadron off Tsu Island in the strait between Korea and Japan. This report, however, lacks confirma tion. Tho Japanese transports Urb and Fuyo, homeward bound, met the Rus sian vessels, near Old i&iand. The Tin. tlana pursued them and fixed 1 shots at the Japanese ships. The transports escaped and reached Kartrusomorto. Russians Fire on Japanese Trans-' porta. Tokio. June 15. Three Japanese trans ports, outward bound from 6hhnonoee kl. met the Russian warships this morning outside the strait of Korea. The Russians fired 18 shots at the Jap anese ships. One transport escaped. The fate of the other twe is not known. Frghtlng Still la ProgroM at Yafen gow. London. June 15. The correspont of The Central New at Llao Tang tele graphed today as follows: The fighting at Vafangow (aboat fci miles north of Port Arthur) was re newed today and is still proceeding. No details are obtainable but there are persistent rumors that tae Russians were 'partly successful. destroying squadrons of cavalry and making pris oner sixty men. The Russian casual ties In the fighting yesterday were (Continued on Elghtli Page.) n M 4 i
The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.)
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June 17, 1904, edition 1
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