The General Slocum

Radio Diaries

Radio Diaries & Radiotopia

Documentary, Society & Culture

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 3 June 2022

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On June 15, 1904, a steamship called the General Slocum left the pier on East Third Street in New York City just after 9 AM. The boat was filled with more than 1,300 residents of the Lower East Side. Many of the passengers were recent German immigrants who were headed up the East River for a church outing, a boat cruise and picnic on Long Island. They would never make it.

We interviewed the last survivor of the General Slocum, Adella Wotherspoon, when she was 100 years old. Today, we’re bringing you her story.

This story originally aired on NPR in 2004.

Transcript

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0:57.8	Guys, if you ever need the restrooms in Tomkin Square Park between the girls' room and the boys' room
1:03.8	is a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Slokom disaster in 1904.
1:09.8	That's Robin London, a New York City tour guide, showing a group of tourists from Louisiana around the East Village.
1:15.8	We're in Tompinsville Park right now standing in front of a six foot pillar
1:19.8	and etched into the marble are these words dedicated to the victims of the steamship General Slokom.
1:25.8	It says it right here on the side and there's a lion that's pouring out water to remind you how they drowned.
	...

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