Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1904 — THE DISASTER TO THE “GENERAL SLOCUM.” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE DISASTER TO THE “GENERAL SLOCUM.”

TUGS AND ROW-BOATS ATTEMPTING TO SAVE THE PASSENGERS OF THE BURNING STEAMER. The steamer “General Slocum,” carrying the annual Sunday school excursion of the St Mark’s German Lutheran Church, of New York, to Locust Grove, Long Island Sound, on June 15, took fire while off Sunken Meadows. The flames speedily became uncontrollable, and panic followed. The vessel, unable to turn because of the Hell Gat* rocks, was run at full speed to North Brother Island, and there beached. The hurricane deck gave way almost at the first. Many brave attempts at rescue were made, but nothing could prevent an enormous sacrifice of life, and over 1,000 persons, mostly women and children, perished.