Shortly before Cover of historian Edward O'Donnell's book, Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum. A century ago today, a steamship called the General Slocum left the piers at East 3rd Street. A parade of witnesses came forth to testify that life preservers on the vessel had fallen apart; indeed cork dust clotted the hair of victims pulled from the water. His other books include: Seminar Selling for the Financial Industry, published by McGraw-Hill and How to Market to High-Net-Worth Households. She lost two sisters in the tragedy. The Department of Public Charities sent doctors and nurses from Randalls Island, Metropolitan, Infants, and the Alms The rise and fall of a school maintenance man in Schenectady, New York who terrorized his staff and got away with it for decades. In order to honor each familys experience, each familys story is related on its own page. Was this the same boat manned by Dr. Broder and the prisoners? The Coroner and courts also accused steamboat inspector Henry Lundberg of negligence because he had certified the ship as "safe" a month before. This project is dedicated to collecting the stories from the descendants, WebThe steamship PS General Slocum caught fire in the East River on June 15th, 1904 en route to a church picnic resulting 1,021 deaths. By the 1870s, the neighborhood featured countless German institutions, including fraternal societies, athletic clubs, theaters, bookshops, restaurants, beer gardens, synagogues and churches. ], FLEGENHEIMER, Lena, of 608 Greene avenue, Brooklyn, FOELSING, Fred, 8 years, of 194 Third avenue, FOELSING, George, 10 years, of 194 Third avenue, FOLKE, Dora, 79 years, of 257 Avenue B., identified by Carl KREGLER, same address. The better preserved were identified quickly. [16 years ], ROTHENBERGER, Annie, of Sherman Park, Westchester County, ROTHMANN, Mrs. Emily, 34 years, of 48 1/2 Seventh street, RUTHINGER, Ernest, 16 years, of 47 St. Mark's place. MAYER, Mrs. Louise, 39 years, of 430 East Seventeenth street, identified by husband Nicholas. This was repeated until all were too tired to continue. Victims, Survivors & Heroes Of Slocum Disaster ], MICHAELS, Carrie, of 171 Avenue A. The untrained crew below failed to promptly inform the captain, who was maneuvering through the East River's tricky passage at Hell Gate. Some of the burned and disfigured were identified by their clothing or jewelry. After 1904 Germans spread out over the region, abandoning their ethnic concentration on the Lower East Side. The wealthy and glamorous Titanic passengers captured more attention than the working class people of Little Germany. But less well known are the stories of the people of Rikers Island. ], MULLER, Mrs. Bernhardt, of 195 Second avenue [Mrs. B. MUELLER, above?]. Samaritans, the heroes, the caregivers, the passers by whose families were touched by the largest maritime disaster and most deadly fire in New York Captain Van Schaick decided not to beach on the river's Bronx side, since lumber yards and gas tanks lined the shore there around 130th Street. 1904-2004. Nor did the 3,000 lifejackets on board. Still, there are similarities in the way the city experienced the tragedy that are worth noting. One patient, Mary McCann, a 17-year-old Irish immigrant who had arrived at Ellis Island only three weeks earlier, plunged into the water and saved 10 children. Gen. Slocum has a distinguished combat record in several operations, including operations Deny Flight, Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. Suddenly, a fire broke out, possibly triggered by a lit cigarette dropped in hay being used to pack beer steins for the picnic at Locust Grove, Long Island. Sadly the majority of deaths at sea in recent times have occurred as a result of overcrowding on many small vessels, often unnamed and unregistered, carrying migrants so they do not appear on this list. GRAFFLING, Lillie, 27 years, of 55 Avenue A. GRAVES, Fred, of 54 Seventh street [GREVE on missing? Accelerate Inside Sales Now will enable your inside team to unleash their selling power by implementing the best practices of the most successful wholesalers. WEIDERMAN, Mrs. Caroline, 50 years, of 79 East Houston street, identified by husband, Henry. [SCHRUMPF ]. New-York Historical Society. catalyst for sweeping changes in how the public and the law looked at marine commercial transportation. When the Slocum was sighted, fully ablaze, covered in smoke, and heading for North Brother Island, John Merther and Dan Casey, both prisoners literally compelled Dr. Broder to take them over to the scene of the rescue efforts. Panicked passengers ran about the deck, unsure where to take refuge. haul in bodies and living victims. Also mentioned were New York Police Officer John Schueing, Lt. Harry Dobert, tugboat fireman Patrick Lynch and Ernest Plate, a firefighter who dove off a [Guerck ], BERNHORDI, Annie, 5 years, of 614 East ninth street, identified by aunt. On June 15, 1904, the congregation of St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church on East Sixth Street rented the steamboat The General Slocum for a picnic excursion to Long Island. The General Slocum tragedy left a lasting impact on New York City. Every inch of the island was used in the rescue, and then in the inevitable recovery of the dead. How were Frank Barnaby's records falsified to show that he had purchased new life preservers? Not a single lifeboat would float and the firehose all burst. MERSELES, Matilda, 16 years, of 394 Sixth avenue, Brooklyn, identified by John E. LUTZ, of Demarest, N.J. MESKE, Mrs. Charles, of 508 Robbins avenue, Bronx. Some living victims were also delivered to the island and cared for there. During the last 14 years, she has also pursued her familys history in Germany, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. Their tales are no less dramatic, like the minister who so totally wore himself out caring for the families of the dead, that he also dropped dead after performing round the clock funerals. Her mother, Anna Liebenow, was badly burned and bore the scars for the remainder of her life. [SCHMEDLING ], SCHMITT, Sophia, of 341 East Twenty-fifth street, SCHNEIDER, Eva, 42 years, of 326 Sixth street, SCHNEIDER, Louise, of 426 East Seventy-sixth street, SCHNEIDER, Tessie, 14 years, of 90 First avenue, SCHNITTINGER, Freda, 16 years, of 754 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth street, SCHNITZLER, Kate, 6 years, of 10 Gouveneur place [Brooklyn?]. HEIMS, Henrietta, 10 years, of 300 First avenue, identified by mother. Some people who had lost loved ones married others in the two [GREISSLER, no first name given, same age, same address ], GOETZ, Catharine, 28 years, of 80 First avenue, GOETZ, Leone, 13 years, of 337 Fifth street, GOETZ, Margaret, 2 1/2 years, of 80 First avenue [GATES?]. DORRHOEFER, Frederick, 11 years, of 121 Avenue A. DRECIOES, Catherine, 68 years, of 54 Fourth street, identified by son,Herman. ca. They then returned to Rikers Island and their original assignment. Stories abound of the heroic fireboats and tugs, which raced to the scene, picking up victims along the way. and where appropriate, linking the families. Slocum June 15, 1904 above; North Brothers Island, East River, N.Y. below. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor achievements and trophies list - Polygon [SIERICKE ], SIERRICH, Mrs. William, 423 East Twelfth street, SIEWART, Phoebe, of 225 East Fifth street, SMITH, Edward, 68 years, a waiter, of 228 West Twenty-eighth street, SMITH, Fannie, 34 years, of 97 East Fourth street. SCHWARTZ, Mrs. Louise, 43 years, of 141 Fifth street, identified by husband. Like Sept. 11, the Slocum tragedy tested the wills of New Yorkers and brought out their best. GRAFF, Elsie, 40 years, of 134 Second street. Pierre Toussaint (ca. Watching From The River's Edge. On June 15, 1904, more than 2,000 people boarded the General Slocum at the East 3rd Street pier for a day at Locust Grove on Long Island Sound. 356), ROSENBERGER, Mary, of 417 East Sixteenth street. Or that of my grandaunt who missed the boat to "play hooky" and spend the day with her fiance. MULLER, Rose,14 years, of 368 Bowery, identified by father, Edward, MUSEKA, Anna, 16 years, of 508 Robbins avenue, Bronx, identified by brother. Same person? GATES, Margaret, 2 1/2 years, of 80 First avenue, identified by father Edward. First person interviews done within hours of the tragedy were included in the newspapers of the day. [Mrs. Addie ELK on missing? WebLinotypes Burned and Composing Rooms Gutted; Telegram Badly Handicapped but Still in Ring; Campbell Meets Street Car Men and Trouble May be Settled; Session On Several crewmen tried to put the fire out, but they had never conducted a fire drill or undergone any emergency training. I suspect it was another team of heroes who could not remain on the shore, safe while others perished. He's the author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and other books. 1825.Gift of Miss Georgina Schuyler. (Box No. FELDLUSEN, Margaret, 52 years of 50 West Eighth street, identified by Cortlandt F. MAYBORG. LOEFFLER, Louise, 9 years, of 9 East Third street. DIECKHOFF, Annie, 17 years, of 124 Fourth avenue, Brooklyn, identified by father, Fred. WEIDLER, Laura, 35 years, of 411 East Ninth street, WEIDLER, Laura, 55 years, of 411 East Ninth street. One team of heroes in the best tradition of Aw, shucks, I didnt do nuthin rose to the occasion at Rikers Island. TREBER, Mrs. Anna, 35 years, of 310 East Twenty-fifth street, identified by brother, Henry OSTHEM. Perhaps eclipsed by the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the devastating events VOLKENBERG, Miss Lucy, 25 years of East Seventeenth street, between First and Second avenues, identified by Albert HENTZE of 201 First avenue. [HEIDENKAMP], HEERZ, Mrs. M., 32 years, of 412 Sixth street [HERZ on missing? ), 2022 Irish Echo 40 Under 40 Peoples Choice, 165 Madison Avenue, Suite 302, New York, NY 10016, T: 212-482-4818 F: (212) 482-6569 (212) 482-7394, OLDEST IRISH AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN USA, ESTABLISHED IN 1928, Irish Echo Classifieds for week of April 27th, 2022, Click to access the login or register cheese. . But as the steamship made its way up the East River, it caught fire and sank. Thousands more rushed uptown to the East 23rd Street pier designated as a temporary morgue. Is that a fact? Suicide Prevention Resources in Utah - Intermountain Healthcare (Box No. Within minutes of the tragedy, reporters from the New York World and other major dailies were on the scene. Spencer ], MICHAELS, Margaret, of 624 East Twelfth street, MICHEL, Carrie, 12 years, of 171 Avenue A, identified by father, John. Reformers called for stricter boat inspections, crews trained with fire drills, less-flammable ship materials and even swimming lessons for the public. Instead, he opted to proceed at top speed to North Brother Island a mile ahead. HELLER, Christina, 68 years, of 404 Sixth street, identified by son William. SACKMAN, Margaret, 34 years, of Rivington street, SANDERS, Helen, of 416 East Sixteenth street, SCHAEFFER, Annie, of 77 East Houston street, SCHAEFFER, William, of 69 Manhattan street, SCHEELE, Lavinia (Vinie), 8 years, of 14 St. Mark's place, SCHEUER, Julia, 8 years, of 237 East Tenth street, SCHEUER, Mrs. Margaret, 24 years, of 237 East Tenth street, SCHICK, Minnie, of 430 East Fifteenth street, SCHINDE, Henry C., 35 years, of 1958 Washington avenue, Bronx, identified by W.F. MEYER, Albert, Jr., 19 yrs of 434 East Fifteenth st, identified by father, Colonel MEYER. What began as a recreational cruise, a Sunday school outing for St. Marks Lutheran Church, became an event so cataclysmic that it devastated the largest ethnic German community in the United States, and acted as a The generally accepted number of dead has been given as 1,021. Over 1,000 people died in the tragedy, making it New York City's deadliest disaster until the September 11, 2001 attacks. Image ID: PS_MSS_CD8_109 The Aftermath For days afterward, WebSt. HINDES of the Mulberry street station (Body No. Just as with Sept. 11, no one seemed to know where to go. Nearly all of the medical personnel on North Brother Island, where the flaming wreck came to rest, assisted however they could. Slocum SPIUZ, Mrs. Augusta, 52 years, of 90 First avenue, identified by son [SPINZ ]. (6 minutes). They then returned to Rikers Island and their original assignment. ZEIGLER, Mrs. Anna, 25 years, of 123 East One Hundred and Eighth street, ZIMMERMAN, Augusta, 16 years, of 196 Second avenue, ZIMMERMAN, Hugo, 12 years, of 196 Second avenue, identified by J. HART of 314 West Fifty-third street (Body No. The six men and two women who lived to tell the tale survived by clinging to a five-by-five foot raft, and were rescued by a Norwegian tanker. SCHMIDT, Eva, 17 years, of 149 East Fourth street, identified by brother. The General Slocum disaster claimed the lives of 1,021 people, mainly women and children from Kleindeutschland. BECKER, Theodore, 34 years, of 1010 East One Hundred and Seventy-eighth street, identified by father, Frank. KLEIN, Emma, 25 years, of 314 East Sixth street, identified by husband Gottlieb. Dozens learned they had lost their entire families. The high-spirited crowdmostly women and children from New York's Little Germanyleft the Third Street Pier singing. Helen's body was never found, although what her mother later identified as her earrings turned up in the badly charred hold of the ship. The General Slocum And Little Germany | New-York at 138th St. or the pier near Bellevue Hospital at 26th St. The General Slocum Disaster of June 15, 1904 Sister Helen was six and toddler Anna only three. 209) [GESTENBERGER ], HAAG, William, 14 years, of 210 East Fourteenth street [HAAD on missing? Charles Dersch, the first president of the General Slocum Survivors Organization, in 1909. City officials vowed to conduct a thorough investigation and within weeks, Captain Van Schaick, executives of the Knickerbocker Steamship Co., and the inspector who certified the General Slocum as safe only a month before the fire were indicted. There has never been an effort to document the events of that day from the perspective of the families of the victims, heroes, caregivers, and HORWAY, Carl, 1 year, of 313 East Ninth street. of History: A young survivor of ferry disaster [HESS ], HARDEKOPF, Meta, 40 years, of 343 Rivington street, HARRMAN, Emily, 25 years, of 410 Fifth street, HARTMAN, Mrs. Mary M.T., 46 years, of 309 East Tenth street, HARTUNG, Elsie, of 342 East Twenty-first street, HARTUNG, Frances, of 342 East Twenty-fifth street, HARTUNG, Mildred, of 342 East Twenty-first street, HAUSLER, Augusta, 11 years, of 154 First avenue, HAVEMEYER, William, 8 years, of 1499 First avenue. KOPPLER, Irene, 19 years, of 192 First avenue, KOWCZUSKI, Theodore, 15 years, of 196 Third avenue, KRAUTWARST, Anna, 13 years of 114 East Fourth street, KROFFT, Louise, 140 East Fourth street [KRAFF, above? HEDENKAMP, Margaret, 11 years, of 805 Sixth street, identified by brother Henry. FRECH, Charles, 4 years, of 409 Fifth street, identified by father. How on a bright June morning somewhere Crisis respite nursery, workshops and counseling if no insurance or Medicaid. They put in at North Brother Island to hand over their load, then returned to deep water for more. She was six PECHER, of 301 West One Hundred and Sixteenth street, a friend. SMITH, Mrs. Mary, 46 years, of 137 Seventh street, identified by son. REULING, Emma, 24 years, single, of 424 East Sixth street, identified by father, August. Be ware, How could a tragedy of such magnitude occur within a few hundred yards of the shores of the nations most modern city? On March 20, 1995, the Aum cult dropped plastic bags of poison gas on the Tokyo subway. Notwithstanding the grief and outrageous loss of 1,021 innocent lives, New Yorkers erased the tragedy rather rapidly from their collective memory. ENGELMAN, Louise, 28 years, of 425 East Twelfth street, identified by husband, George. WebCaptain Van Schaick, his feet blistering from the heat below, managed to ground the Slocum sideways about 25 feet from shore. Instead, he opted to head for nearby North Brother Island. For almost 100 years the story of the burning and sinking of the General Slocum excursion paddlewheeler stood as the greatest tragedy in the City of New York, and indeed, among the greatest disasters of history. ], BECKMAN, Mrs. Annie, 24 years, of 1894 Third avenue, BEHRANDT, Elizabeth, 6 years, of 88 East Third street [BEHRENDT on missing?] When the Slocum was sighted, fully ablaze, covered in smoke, and heading for North Brother Island, John Merther and Dan Casey, both prisoners literally compelled Dr. Broder to take them over to the scene of the rescue efforts. Finally, it also demonstrated that although badly shaken, the spirit of New York City and its people remained resilient in the face of tragedy. [BLUHM - John Blohm, father of Margaret and Dora, brother of Anna], BOHM, Dora, 18 Jackson street [maybe this should be BLOHM, as above, same address? ], BOZENHERD, Lucille, 11 years, of 110 First avenue [BOZENHARDT on missing?]. 318) [OTTINGER ], OTTENGER (woman), 14 years, of 91 Seventh street, identified by Alfred, OTTINGER, Arthur, 4 years, of 91 Seventh street, OTTINGER, Emma, 15 years, of 91 Seventh street, PATTENBAUM, Elizabeth, of 61 St. Mark's place. One beefy police officer floated on his back to shore with a horde of children clinging to him like a raft. Non-traditional sources for 20th Century Military Records. ARMBRUST, Barbara, 45 years, of 166 Fourth street, identified by husband,Ferdinand. COLIOS, Freda, 106 Avenue A. Their painstaking documentation of the event and subsequent trials also situated their ordeal in a larger framing history of a fairly typical New York German family with 19th century immigrant roots, proud of their American citizenship, but still reading German language newspapers and baptizing their children in the German Lutheran Church. ZANSCHE, Mrs. Doris, 1518 Webster avenue, Bronx. The General Slocum Disaster of 1904 and its Impact on German-Americans. [Magdalane ], WORKMAN, Jenny A., 116 Lake street, Jersey city, WORMSTITCH, Albert, 38 years, of 413 Fifth street. First, it caused the rapid dissolution of the German enclave of Kleindeutschland. Because of a shortage of math and science teachers, New York City decided to import instructors from Austria. Under blue skies, the Slocum steamed up river with a hired band playing. WebLast living survivor of General Slocum. Her grandmother, two sisters-in-law, and three nieces died and three other relatives were injured.
Victor Elomena Smith Death,
Tyler Graham South Carolina,
Shelley Giglio Infertility,
Private Label Candy Manufacturers,
Founding Families Of Monterrey, Mexico,
Articles G