Fearful visitation, the steamship fire of the general. General slocum steamboat tragedy newspaper and current. A spectacle of horror the burning of the general slocum the deadliest disaster in new york before 911 killed many women and children and ultimately erased a german community from the map of. History of the general slocum disaster by which nearly 1200 lives.
In the wake of the slocum tragedy, the little germany community seemed to fall apart, with widowers committing suicide and shrunken families moving away from this ethnic enclave, with its memories of missing relatives and neighbors. This list was originally deleted per vote at wikipedia. Remembering the general slocum a century ago today, the steamship general slocum and its 1,300 passengers began a journey up. Children of the ss eastland and general slocum disaster precious angels duration. The general slocum disaster is, simply put, one of the greatest tragedies in american history. They are both numbered 606 and titled slocum disaster. The top one has written in the sky of the image bodies washed ashore. Jun 15, 2009 the general slocum disaster today june 15, 2009 marks the 105th anniversary of the sinking of the general slocum, a steamship that had been hired by st. And then there were two catherine uhlmyer gallagher connelly photo new york times catherine connelly was born catherine uhlmyer april 4, 1893 in manhattan.
Newyork historical society the general slocum and little. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. The general slocum disaster was the new york areas worst disaster in. Marks evangelical lutheran church from the little germany section of lower manhattan embarked on an allday cruise on the paddle wheel steamboat general slocum. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Jun 12, 2016 the only remaining monuments to the general slocum disaster are a little fountain at tompkins square park and a slightly more prominent memorial emblazoned with both an english and a german. In 1904 the general slocum caught fire and sank in the east river of new york city. By midafternoon, those not yet reunited with their family members began to lose hope.
Up until 911, the general slocum fire of june 15, 1904 was the single greatest loss of life in new york city history. Published on jun 15, 2017 the history guy remembers the general slocum, new yorks worst maritime disaster. The story of the general slocum steamship disaster. A spectacle of horror the burning of the general slocum history.
Jun 15, 2011 on june 15, 1904 eight years before the titanic more than 0 immigrants of the lower east side boarded a steamboat called the general slocum. The slocum tragedy not only consumed 1,021 lives, but took with it an entire community as well. The book gives the reader a look into life in turn of the century new york city. Anna annie heckert age 10 sadly perished in the general slocum firesinking disaster with her baby sister julia on june anna annie heckert age 10 sadly perished in the general slocum firesinking disaster with her baby sister julia on june 15, 1904. As the vessels came together the deck of the slocum fell in and dozens of women and children their clothing ablaze, were literally pitched on to the wades decks. Diver going down for bodies in upper saloon, out of which over 175 were taken. On june 15, 1904, the streamboat general slocum caught fire while ferrying members of st. Marks evangelical lutheran church in kleindeutschland little germany to take its parishioners on their annual sunday school picnic.
I had never heard of the general slocum before i read odonnells book. It appears that the library does not yet own a copy of this book. It is the worst maritime disaster in the citys history, and the second worst maritime disaster on united states waterways. Small relics of a colossal disaster the new york times. In fact, before september 11th, it was the biggest disaster for new york city but it seems few people have heard of it. He is the author of several books, including visions of america and 1001 things everyone should know. Paul hashagen details what happened when a sundayschool picnic excursion turned into a flame. Under blue skies, the slocum steamed up river with a hired band playing.
Although overshadowed by ever greater disasters to come in the citys history, the burning of the general slocum and the loss of nearly. There were few experienced swimmers among over 0 lower east side. The general slocum disaster was the new york areas worst disaster in terms of loss of life until the september 11. This book is a detailed record of every aspect of the general slocum disaster of 1904. It is a holocaust, a burnt offering to the spirit of cupidity which keeps a floating fire trap in service as an excursion boat, to be crammed with all the people that can be inveigled on board of her, in spite of the fact that by her construction she is a mere tinder box, and that, if the fire which she invites. Jun 15, 2010 the morning of june 15 the steamboat smolders off of north brother island. Oct 09, 2012 no one in new yorks german community was untouched by the catastrophe. Sad to say this is the only book i found about the general slocum disaster here on ia. New yorks worst maritime disaster, the general slocum. The general slocum disaster was the new york areas worst disaster in terms of loss of life until the september 11, 2001 attacks. Message boards topics disasters united states general slocum disaster 1904 list of victims of the general slocum search for content in message boards names or keywords.
Slocum disaster wednesday morning june 15, 1904 youtube. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. New york city and the general slocum disaster by karen. I have two views of the disaster by universe views. Votes for deletionlist of general slocum victims, and moved to wikisource. This headline appeared on june 16, 1904 in the new york times. September 24, 1827 april 14, 1894, was a union general. The tragedy of the steamboat general slocum, wrote on the aftermath. On june 15, 1904 the ship was carrying german immigrants to a church picnic on long island. The general slocum disaster is remembered in the dean koontz novel \ innocence,\ where a character has lost his wife and children in the tragedy. The ps general slocum was a sidewheel passenger steamboat built in brooklyn, new york. Historian edward odonnell, in his book ship ablaze. On june 15 1904 the excursion boat, ss general slocum, caught fire on the east river of new york city. The 1904 general slocum disaster had survivors that lived.
Book one by joshua gayou, a life unencumbered by t. Remembering the general slocum disaster, one of the greatest. Jun, 2011 the general slocum disaster occurred on june 15, 1904. This tragedy is much less well known compared to the triangle shirtwaist factory fire of march 25, 1911, and the titanic disaster of april 15, 1912.
Ogilvie, history of the general slocum disaster by which nearly 1200 lives. What started as a pleasant excursion on the east river ended in disaster. The ss general slocum catches fire in the east river and sinks. The tragedy of the steamboat general slocum kindle edition by. Marks german lutheran church located at 6th street and second avenue. Listen to our podcast on the general slocum disaster. Jun 12, 2014 on june 15, 1904, hundreds of residents of the lower east sides thriving german community boarded the general slocum excursion steamer to enjoy a day trip outside the city. Although koontzs details of the disaster are real, i believe the victims mentioned in this novel are fictional. September 24, 1827 april 14, 1894, was a union general during the american civil war and later served in the united states house of. History of the general slocum disaster by which nearly 1200 lives were lost by the burning of the steamer general slocum in hell gate, new york harbor, june 15,1904 by ogilvie, j.
The general slocum disaster of june 15, 1904 the new. History of the general slocum disaster by which nearly 1200. Now, a similar list which was also moved to wikisource per requests here was vfdd on wikisource, with people saying that it belongs here. Perhaps these two shocking events happening within a year focused peoples attention elsewhere. Remembering the worst disaster in nyc maritime history. Today is the anniversary of undoubtedly one of new yorks most tragic events, a disaster that famously eradicated a neighborhood and became the citys single largest loss of life in the 20th century the explosion of the steamboat general slocum. George cortelyou, the secretary of commerce and labor, announces a federal commission to investigate the slocum disaster. A spectacle of horror the burning of the general slocum. June 15, 2014 marks the 110th anniversary of what had been new yorks biggest disaster and loss of life until the september 11 attacks occurred. On june 15th, 1904, 1,342 people the numbers vary according to what you read but somewhere between 1,300 1,400 boarded the passenger steamboat the ps general slocum. She put off and waited to get alongside as soon as the slocum touched the rocks. Remembering the general slocum a century ago today, the steamship general slocum and its 1,300 passengers began a journey up the east river for a church picnic on long island. The best overall telling of the general slocum tragedy is edward odonnells book ship ablaze.
The ps general slocum was a sidewheel passenger steamboat built in brooklyn, new york, in 1891. The general slocum disaster, ny harbor, 1904 jeffrey kraus. The events surrounding the general slocum fire have been explored in a number of books, plays, and movies. The wade was lying at the north brother island pier when the blazing slocum hove in sight. The general slocum disaster of june 15, 1904 the new york. Even the citys italian and jewish communities felt the effects of the general slocum disaster, as many secondgeneration germans had married into their families. The general slocum has been part of my life for as far back as i can remember my great grandmother, amelia, 20 in 1904, lived in little germany. The ship caught fire on the east river and tragedy ensued. The deadliest disaster in new york before 911 killed many women and children and. Over 1,000 people perishalmost all are women and children. During her service history, she was involved in a number of mishaps, including multiple groundings and collisions. It is the worst maritime disaster in the citys history. Thousands rushed uptown to the east 23rd street pier that was designated as a temporary morgue. The author has done an enormous amount of research about the german.
History of the general slocum disaster by which nearly 1200 lives were lost by the burning of the steamer general slocum in hell gate, new york harbor, j. New york, ny steamer general slocum disaster, june 1904. The tragedy of the steamboat general slocum odonnell, edward t. The above is an excerpt from our book the bowery boys adventures in old new york. History of the general slocum disaster by which nearly. The burning of the general slocum was the worst disaster in new york city history until september 11, 2001. History of the general slocum disaster by which nearly 1200 lives were lost by the burning of the steamer general slocum in hell gate, new york harbor, june 15, 1904 ogilvie, j s. This was huge loss of life for nyc and the worst until 911. She knew, or knew of, many of the principal players in the events of june 15, 1904 and as a child obsessed with both history and ships i would often ask her to tell the story of the disaster and its aftermath. On june 15, 1904, a disaster of unprecedented proportions took place in new york city, resulting in the loss of over 1,000 lives, mostly women and children. The 1904 general slocum disaster had survivors that lived into.
On june 15, 1904 one of the great disasters in american history occurred in the hell gate area of new york citys east river. On june 15, 1904, general slocum caught fire and sank in the east river of new york city. Built in 1891 and owned by the knickerbocker steamboat company, the general slocum was made of white oak, locust and yellow pine and licensed to carry 2,500 passengers. An estimated total of a thousand dead, besides several hundred injured, is the record of the fire disaster which yesterday destroyed the big excursion steamer general slocum, which was burned to the waters edge before her captain succeeded in beaching her on north brother island. The ship carried that many life preservers, and just a month before a fire inspector had deemed its fire equipment to be in fine working order.