Built in 1891 by the yard of Devine & Burtis, Brooklyn, New York for Knickerbocker Steamboat Company, New York.
Launched under the name of GENERAL SLOCUM, named after a general of the civil war.
Tonnage 1.283 gross, dim. 71.9 x 11.6 x 2.1m.
Powered by a beam steam engine 1.400 ihp., speed 12 knots.
Built as an iron hulled excursion steamer with four decks. Superstructure and decks built mostly of wood, looking in appearance the typical American steam ship. 15 June 1904, she embarked 1.360 children and their escorts, sponsored by St Mark's, German Lutheran Church for a trip to Locust Point, the Bronx where the East River meets Long Island Sound. In command of the vessel was Capt. William van Schaick, with a crew 30.
On the morning of that day she left the landing stage at the Third Street, East River for the Sunday School outing. Most of the passengers came from the poor and thickly populated districts of New York East Side. After a half hour steaming the vessel neared the Hell Gate channel, at a point opposite the end of 138th Street, a small fire was discovered in a foreword storage room, which was packed with combustible material, paints and tins with oil. Fanned by the wind, the flames spread very quickly to the superstructure. The fire safety apparatus was in a poor condition and defective, water had to be pumped by an auxiliary engine, and when there was pressure the cloth hoses ruptured. The lifeboats of which ten were on board could not be launched easily, she were tied fast to the ship.
Capt van Schaick made at once for the banks, but he was afraid that the burning vessel would set alight the nearby oil tanks, and he decided to beach the vessel at North Brother Island, about a half mile ahead. The fire had then gained already firm hold amidships, and most of the mothers and children gathered aft, panic broke out, the pressure on the rails got so strong that they bursted, and precipitating scores of unfortunates into the water. Mothers lashed their children on any object which would float and throw them overboard, then jumped self in the water. Still the engine was running and the vessel now covered in flames and smoke drew nearer to the shore. A tug lashed herself to one of the paddle boxes of the GENERAL SLOCUM and took many passengers off the burning vessel. When the tug got on fire she had to cast off. Fire-floats arrived and poured water on the flames but without making any impression. When the decks collapsed many people died, and when leaping from the burning wreck were beaten to dead by the still turning paddlewheels. At least the GENERAL SLOCUM grounded in a rocky bay of the North Brother Island, but to late for many passengers which were already dead.
According to the U.S. Steamboat Inspector Service, whose head was cashiered by President Roosevelt, 938 people died by the catastrophe, The New York police estimated 1.031 people lost their life. Two crewmembers lost their life. 175 passengers were wounded and 5 crewmembers.
Less than 30 minutes elapsed between the discovery of the fire and the total destruction of the vessel after going aground. Not one of the lifeboats was lowered and not any attempt was made by the crew in life saving. Capt. van Schaick was found later in the inquiry guilty of first-degree manslaughter, and was sentenced to ten years in the Sing Sing prison in Ossining, New York.
The hulk of the GENERAL SLOCUM was sold in 1906 to Peter Hagen, who converted her in a barge and renamed her "MARYLAND".
04 December 1911 on a voyage from Camden to Newark with a cargo of coke, she sprang a leak off Atlantic City and sank off Ludlam Beach.
Sources: Shipwrecks of New Jersey by Gentile. Burning of the General Slocum by Rust. Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam by Hocking.