The grim commander
Subject(s): Accidents, Grim Reaper (Symbolic character), School field trips, Steamboats
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The Grim Reaper, dressed as a steamboat captain, holds a scythe and directs crowds of people on an “Annual Sunday School Excursion” through the entrance to the “Wooden Steamboat Co.” to board an old wooden steamboat that is in disrepair and carrying outdated life preservers.
Comments and Context
Only weeks previous to this cartoon’s publication, a steamship disaster in New York City’s East River occurred, and the inquest was convened when cartoonist J. S. Pughe memorialized the situation. The sidewheel excursion boat General Slocum caught fire and sank despite being close to shore, and 1021 people died of the full passenger and crew of 1342. It was New York’s worst loss of life until the 9-11 attack.
The P.S. [Paddle Steamer] General Slocum was carrying German-Americans of the Lower East Side, mostly members of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, to their annual picnic on Long Island. The inquest resulted in a prison sentence for the captain, and few citations against the steamship company. Horrible violations, however, were revealed, including life preservers, lifeboats, and fire hoses so old that they were disintegrating.
The captain, William van Schaick, was denied a pardon by President Theodore Roosevelt, but was pardoned by President William Howard Taft near the end of his term.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1904-07-06
Creator(s)
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
The grim commander. [July 6, 1904]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277835. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909. The grim commander. [6 Jul. 1904]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. August 3, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277835.
APA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909., [1904, July 6]. The grim commander.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277835.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. August 3, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
