Morrisania 379 



On June 15, 1904, the excursion steamer, General Slocitm, 

 took on board about two thousand passengers from the German 

 Lutheran churches of the east side of Manhattan for a trip 

 up the Sound to a picnic ground on Long Island. While 

 passing through Hell Gate in the East River, the steamer took 

 fire; but her captain, instead of attempting to land at once, 

 headed her up the river and beached her on North Brother 

 Island, off Port Morris. The vessel was inadequately pro- 

 vided with life preservers, so that many of those who sprang 

 into the water to escape the flames were drowned. Notwith- 

 standing the heroic effort of many people who at once went 

 to the rescue, at least one thousand of the passengers, con- 

 sisting of men, women, and children, were either drowned or 

 burnt to death. The exact number has never been definitely 

 fixed ; but the disaster occasioned a greater loss of life than any 

 other accident that has occurred during the whole history of 

 the city. 



