Evening Star Newspaper, August 9, 1873, Page 1

suostwarsinnpeicusins THE EVENING STAR. | Che Published Daily, Sundays Exeepted AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, Yivania Avenne, cor, Lith St. BY THE EVENING STAR NEWSPAPER COMPANY, & He MIUEP MANN, Prevt. re eatin acta THE EVENIS STAR is aervedt by enrrisrs to T PER WEEK, oF FORTY ‘Copies at the c t—three months, §1 tay—91.50 i heases, and BO paper sent longer th EF Ratea of adver EVENIN Washingtor News and Gossip. The receipts from this 490. . Mivtenwat Kevexre to-day wer be here and resnme 1 of Con on of a certain time m custody. a YS. p * The Attorney General the ng dispatch from G attorney at Holly Springs. Miss. deputy United States marshal. was assassinated » bis room at Corfnth last nig! of MR. SEVELLON A. Brows, who has heen ap- pointed by Secretary Fish chief clerk of the State department, vice R. S. Chew, deceased, was first appointed a clerk . nt by Secretary Seware, aad ix c mar. Tue fe port of the special commission on the abuses of the { anch of the Vi- enna Expositio ihere. conclusions are no ty to Gen. Van Buren and his confi Mayer, and son ‘Tue re the Presi Prof. Fr March, Pic wherever he was nd though his death was not unex- Ouncement will nevertheless he a mains will he interred at Oswezo, former place of residence. Rear Ad- the South Pacitic fired list in Sap- tember, and relieved from that command by Rear Admiral Jobn J. Almy, who has already received the preparatory orders. In November Rear Admiral Wm. Rogers Taylor, command- ing the South Atlantic flect, will be retired and re.ieved of bis command by Rear Admiral Jas. H. Strong. Rear Admiral Jenkins, command- ing the Asiatic fleet, will be retired in Decem- ber, Ce his successor has not yet been desig- nated. Tre Svevey or THe Tenertortes.—Prof FV. Hayden’s sixth annual report of the United States geological survey of the territories, em- Dracing portions of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. port of progress of ‘the ex- plorations for | s about to be issued from the Governmert Printing office. It will bea Volume of over 80) pages, il . table wood engravings, 12 lithogrep and quite anamber of” very interesting idiagrams. The work is divided into neludes the report of Prof. Hay- den on the G: it Mad tin, Yellowstone an¢ valleys; the L Mirai ing Star. ver. 42—N2. 6,361. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1878 \G STAR. THE WAWASET HORROR! FIFTY PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH OR DROWNED! | THE TERRIBLE STORY OF THE DISASTER !! SCENES AT THE POINT OF THE TRAGEDY, DISTRESSING SCENES IN THIS CITY ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE BODIES. Last night about half past eleven o'clock great excitement was produced by the report Wat the well-known Potomac steamer Wawaset had been burned down the river, and that most of the passengers on board had perished. As the news flew from point to point in the city the excitement increased, and many hastened to the foot of 7th street to ascertain the particulars. The report was snbsequently confirmed by an Associated Press dispatch from Fredericksburg stating that the Wawaset took fire about 11 o'clock yesterday morning at Chatterson’s land ing, Prines George county, and was entirely destroyed. The dispatch also stated that “she had about one hundred and fifty passengers on board, and between forty and fifty lives are lost. Six bodies were found up to 2 o’clock yes- ternay afternoon—thre@ white ladies, one white child, and two colored children. Mias Virgiuia Marbury, of Glymont; Miss Bettie Saunder: and @ child from Qyrrioman are among ti dead. Othershave ngepeen recognized. G W. Cooke, of Warsaw, YWu., is missing. Captain Wood did not leave thg boat until forced to do so by the lames. Thefire was first discovered in the engine room.” At about midnight several of the surviving ngers of the uafortunate Wawaset arrived his city on the steamer Express, and from them it was learned that she left Washington on Ler regular trip to Cone river, and that ail was well until near her arrival at Chatterton landing. When abont to land for passengers mes were seen issuing from the hold of the 1, and before anything conld be done to extinguish them the entire steamer was con- sumed, and nothing remained of her but a oken shaft and smoke-stack to mark the place where she went down, about two hundred yards from shore. e number of passengers registered on rd is estimated when she left Washington at one hundred and ten, and she took on others at various landings on the Potomac. The crew numbered tweive. Out of this number pr. ably fitty passengers and two members of the crew perished by water and fire. Messrs. Dummer and McGuiggan, emplovs at the Chronicle office, Mr. Massey, Doc. Mc- Kenna, barkeeper on the Wawaset,a son of Mr. Wise, No. 22) 44 street, Engineer Nash and son, and Clerk Watson Wheeler were among the saved. The survivors report the scene as heart-rending in the extreme during the burning of the vessel. The air was filled with the piercing shrieks of women 'and chil- dren, while strong men stood aghast at the hopelessness ot their situation. Most of those who were lost met their deaths by water, leap- ing mto the river as the flames became unen- durable. Capt. John Wood, the commander of the Wawaset, behaved with commendable cool- ness throughout, and was the last to leave the burning steamer. The Wawaset took fire from some unknown cause. As soon as she was discovered to be on fire she was headed for the shore, and strack on the Virginia side about two hundred yards from the shore, the pilot remaining in the ptlot-box until completely enveloped by the flames. ort of N. P. gti intendent of the Yellowstone park, : sources of the Snake river valley; Protessor H. C. Peale’s report on Colorado, Utah, the mud Yoleamoes of the Yellowstone valley, and the ; yser basins of the Fire hole and Madison Tivers, the geology of the ditferent localities explored by Mr. F. H. Bradley, and to the agriculturists of this coantry, the very import- ant report of Prof. Cyrus Tuomas on the physi- cal geograp) «agricultural resources of jinuesota, Dakota and Nebraska. second contains special reports on aleontology, by Professors Meek, Cope, Leidy and Thomas. ‘report on the Extinct Vertebrata “3 eport on the Ke- he Bridger Basin of report of Prof. nds of Dakota, will d_ readers, both in nt detighte they tren: greatest importance to scient 1 abroad. d special reports on papers on ca'eo)- i descript . Will be for «i botany. Also, thoptera, odonata, species of ow allophaga. new paras orms found in brain and other paris of birds, ard new specres of insects. Part toucth is devoted to astronomy and try. Two new species of minerals, plants, ifty-one af fossil fossil reptiles, and eleven sertbed. r itis one of the most inter overnment bas ever issued ssor Hayden ant ble manner in which aru sous labors. x position. FOR THE AMERICANS. lowing ‘san extract from a letter re- «i from a gentleman of this city traveling = Europe :—The American department of the exhibition is the most wretched of failures, ‘The Japanese, Moorish aud Egyptians have Furpassed us infinite’y. At every step in the ground do you comé across “American Bar, #0 that the impression must be left on foreigners that the manafacture and cor tion of vile Yum are the only character $s of our country. We four whole days at the exposition, and yet saw about half of it. The main build: ing, although 900 feet long, with a dome 60 feet higher than St. Peter's, is but a small part of it. Even the Austrians have excelled us in the school house, which was intendsd to amaze them. I am’ afraid our centennial will be & sorry concern compared with thi: It certainly ‘WILL it falls into the hands of the same class of men who have been appointed United States commissioners to Vieuna—Americans are re- emmended to keep clear of the whole crowd. One remarkable feature in the Austrian ex- Bibition is the great number of pavilions, which are all separate and distinct exhibitions. The sanitary pavilion of the committee of the “ So- ciete de secours aux blesses” is alone for one It contains everything— ’s hard work. from a ceps to an ambalance iret bullet fc train—that can pe thourht of for the relief of wounded men. Every -ountry is represented except our own. The c: | gene the names of all . eg > should be taken to label every article in French, German, Italian <5 aes Great Fire im Portiand, Me. Just Sanwwe goine tyres we received a tele. gram stating great fire is raging in Port- land, Me., this afternoon, Tee CHOLERA IN THE West.—There were five new cholera cases in Chattanooga yester day; three fatal. The cholera has in the country near Memphis. There was one fatal case of cholera at Terre Haute, [nd., yes- terday. - There were many colored people on board, and many ladies and children who were en route to visit their friends at the different landings on the river. There were two boats belonging to the Wawaset, but in the excitement one of them was pitched overboard and lost, and of the life- preservers with which the boat was provided none seemed to have been secured in the panic and excitement. The burning steamer was discovered at a lit- tle after 11 o'clock yesterday morning by the steamer Express, Capt. Jas. T. Barker, who was returning from Point Lookout to Washing- ton, with a party of excursionists, composed of the “Painter's Unien” and their friends. A short time after, the steamer National, which had gone to ther lief of the fated veasel, came alongside with the rescued passengers trom the Wawasset. The Wawasset was built at Wilmington in 1863, bought by the Potomac Ferry Company in ISG, and was brought to these waters, and ever since has been making regular trips to Cone river. She was insured tn several companies for $25,000. She was considered the finest ex- cursion boat ever placed upon the Potomac. A Sorrowfal Burden. About 5.30 o'clock this morning the stern- Wheel boat “National,” Captain Cregg, bropgit up ten bodies, five women and five children; four colored chikiren and one white child, the latter a little son of Joseph Reed, policeman; Muse, whose busband lives on the corner ‘h and G stre.ts southwest; Mra. Julia Kel- y, an auntof policeman Reed’s who had been visiting bis family and was on her return to her home at Currioman. Three of the white women and the four colored infants were not recog- nized. On arriving at the wharf THE CROWD RUSHED AROUND THE noaT, but were kept back, while some wharf hands brought them to the landing, and their bodies were ranged side by side in the warehouse of the ferry company. The features of the chil- dren and some of the women presented a calm and natural appearance, but in others there were signs of pain. Most all were somewhat bloody about the face, and on some were spots resembling bruises. The bodies were laid cz some planks in the warehouse and the police guarded the door. THRSE BODIES WERE PICKED Ur / at Chatterton and carried to Stewart's wharf, about one and a half miles below, and the National took them aboard at that wharf. These were ali that had been recovered at 9.30 last night, the time the National left. Captain Reed, from Police headquarters, arrived at the wharf about Go’clock and at once recognized the little son of Joseph Reed, his nephew; also, his aunt, Mrs. Kelly. About this time Mr. J. W. Barker, under- taker, came atid took the bodies of the two last named away in cases, to prepare them for burial. The bodies of the adults were quite rigid, but those of the children were pliable, as if just dead. : About 6:30 o'clock Mr. Cobaugh and his wife eame to the wharf, and recognized one of the dead bodies of the women as ‘TRE SISTER OF HIS WIFE AND HER NIECE, thetr names Mrs. Cora Walker and Miss In- diana Wills, whose family reside at the corner of 8th and I streets. The sobs and lamentations of Mrs. Cobaagh could be heard for some distance, snd finally she was persuaded by her Mhsbond to be ted away. About this time several ladies from South Washington came in and recognized the body which Mrs. Cobangh had just before | shore from the impetus gained, it was several thought to be that of her sister as that of ‘MRS. PATTY SANDS, of Westmoreland county, Va., who had been visiting friends in this city. Statement of Fei Lewis, Deck Henry Lewis, colored, one of the deck hands of the steamer Wawasset, came up on the steamer Georgiana this morning to Alexandria, and took the first ferry boat to this city. He states that two colored women, Mrs. Shankland, living on Capitol Hill, and Mrs. Mabala Fleet residing somewhere near the City Hall, eame up as faras Alexandria from Taylor's Landing, and that each of them lost a child and were bound up to try and recognize the bodies. The ferry boat City of Washington arrived at 7:20 o'clock from Alexandria, and brought up Susan Parker, Mary Blackwell, and Hiram Black- well, colored, who belong in Westmoreland county, Va. They were on board the Wawas- set, and all three were BADLY BURNED. Mary Blackwell was badly burned on the neck and hands, which were covered with large blisters; Susan Parker, hands badly burned; and Hiram Blackwell, badly burned on arms and hands, and elothing nearly burned off him. STATEMENT OF MR. JOHN REED. Mr. John Reed, brother of Policeman Reed, also came up on this boat. He was on the Wawaset, and got badly burned on the face and head. He states that he was busy throwing overboard some planks for the women to catch hold of, when the flames burst up the gangway and nearly smothered him, and he jumped overboard and swam ashore. His clothing was burnt, and he had @ narrow escape with his life. He also states that when the fire was discovered the women and children were in the deck saloon, and it was not above three minutes before all communication was cut off between the bow and stern of the boat. He states that there were 117 registered passengers, besides 20 chil- dren not registered and the officers and crew of the boat, on board; and, in his opinion, not less than 50 were lost. One body of a woman was recovered after the National left last night, and it is thought that most of the bodies will be recovered during to-day. Lieut. Gessford, with Sergeant Larrabee and Officers King, Auldridge, Shea, Dodge and Smoot, were in attendance this morning, and ssisted in the removal of the bodies and in keeping order. At7.40 the Georgeanna arrived at the mail- boat wharf, bringing Captain Wood and En neer Nash, with some of the hands of the boat. The Scenes at the Wharf. The scenes at the 7th street wharf last night as different persons arrived who had lost rela- tives and friends, were truly distressing. Among the first to arrive was Officer Reed, of the Me- tropolitan police force, who had a wife, three children, and a niece on board the Wawaset. His agony, as he ran frantically around trying to glean some ray of hope that some of his loved ones were saved, was fearful to witness. See- ing a group about Mr. McKinney, the bar-ten- deron the Wawaset, who was giving particu- lars ot the tragedy, he inquired, in hoarse broken tones: “McKinney, for God's sake can you not tell me something about my family?” Mr. McKinney replied feelingly, « Would to heaven I could give you some encouragement; but it would be eruel to deceive you. Your family were all lost.” Mr. Reed thereupon broke into a wail of despair, wringing his hands and showing such marks of hopeless agony as to bring tears to everyeye. It was indeed a household wreck for Mr. Reed, who, at one fell swoop, loses his wife, three children and niece. The children were all under eight years of age; and the niece, Bettie Reed, was a beautiful and amiable young lady, about eighteen years of age. ANOTHER DISTRESSING SCENE, following upon Mr. Reed’s terrible display of agony, was presented on the arrival of Mr. William Muse (a neighbor of Mr. Reed's), who had a wife and two children on the Wawaset. His distress was shown in a somewhat quieter form, but was almost more painful to witness from the convulsive workings of his face in his attempts to subdue violent expressions of grief, and, from the silent tears running down his face, and his almost inarticulate attempts to frame words of inquiry. List of the Saved. List of passengers saved, (white.) —-McAsh- ton, J. B. North, 0. Eddy, J. H. Wise, A. Mel- vin, Benjamin Bartlett, A. J. McGuiggan, Thomas Massie, Tho1 Owen, W. T. Emmer- son, E. Nash, John Rud, G. Emerlvie. List of colored: R. D. Beckley, J. Tate, Wm. Saunders, James Brooks, Henry Street, George Parker, Samuel Blackwell, Charles Shankland- Jobn Hughes, John Scott, Thomas Coxton, Lewis , Robert Gaston, H. Taylor, Wm. Herring, Moses Gordon, Ed. Hawkins, J. Chris- topher, M. Walker, A. Strout, J. H. Wood, boy, Thomas Rich, H. Blackley, Wm. Johnson,Wm. Brooks, Lewis Woodie, James Newman, Lind- ley Jackson, Mrs. Ogleton Taylor, Laura Tay- loa, Kate McPherson, Mrs. Price and child. ‘The above were all saved, and some of them badly burned. Susan Parker, May Blackwood, Eliza Mat- thews, Laura Barnard, Julia Christopher, Mary Campbell, Matilda Dunlop, Daffrey Win- ters, Mary Norman, Julia Shankland, Clara Jackson, Nancy Baylor, Sarah Payne, M. Ball, were also saved and more or less burned. The white ladies and children known to be lost are Patsey Sands, Julia Kelly, Esther Griffin and two children, Mrs. J. W. Reed and three children, Miss E. Reed, Cordelia Hobbs, and Miss Marbury. George Tibbs, a colored deck hand was lost, and Adeline Jenkins, the chamberma%. George W. Cook, grocer, on 7th street, be- tween D and E southwest, is thought to be lost, with a little child; he was seen to jump over- board with his child in his arms, and has not been heard of. One of bis sons, a boy about 10 years of age, wassaved. An old man named Henry Hazen, about 70 years of age, was on board, and is supposed to be lost. Robert Nash, the engineer, came up this morning; he was saved by his son, Samuel Nash, @ young man, who jumped overboard and swam ashore with his father. The son was assistant engineer on the Wawaset. ‘The captain was the last person who left the boat. He was on the bow, and did all-in his power to render assistance to the panic-stricken women. Finally the flames and smoke drove him gyerboard, considerably burned about the head and facd, and he swam ashore. An inquest was held bythe authorities near the scene of the disaster yesterday, and a ver- i i minutes before her bow struck the bottom. During this time many of the women who had Jumped overboard sank, aad were all iost Everything movable about the decks was thrown out to the women in the water, but very few had presence of mind to avail them- selves of these aids. Most of TRE LIFE PRESERVERS were in the gangway, and could not be reached by reason of the smoke and flames. The wife of Mr. J. W. Reed, who was lost, was on the bow deck, and could fo doub: have been saved, but for her alarm and anxiety about her chil- dren. It is believed that she jumped overboard with them. A YOUNG LADY BURNED TO DEATH. Miss Cornelia Hobb, a beautiful young lady, residing on K, between 4th and 5th streets, was under the protection ef Mr. MeGuigan, and he went to her assistance; but before he could get her to the side of the boat her clothing took gre, and he was forced to leave her. She perished in the flames, and Mr. McGuigan swam ashore. Doubtless numbers were drowned owing to their frantic efforts to save themselves, as within a few yards the water was shallow enough to wade in, and the clerk of the boat,.Mr. Wheeler, saved himself by wading. MISS BETTIE REED, the niece of Officer Reed, was a young lady 17 years of age, and worked at Lansburg’s. She was on her way to pay a visit to her relatives in Westmoreland county. She is spoken of as & most interesting and industrious young lady. ‘MRS. HESTER GRIFFIN, (a daughter of Capt. Ragan, of South Washing- ton,) now residing in Alexandria, was drowned, as also her two children. Her body was brought up, but the children are missing. The scene at the identification of the remains by the mother ‘was one which brought tears to many eyes. Mrs. Taylor, a widow lady, with her child with a small valise, jumped overboard, and was seen to feach shore, swimming and floating al ternately. The other child is believed to have been lost. Miss Marbury, of Glymont, who is among the lost, is a connection of the Marburys, of George- town, and the unfortunate young lady had many friends in that place who will mourn her sudden demise. AN APPECT§NG PUNERAL. The funeral of the members of Mr. Joseph W. Reed’s family who were victims to the acci- dent of the steamer Wawaset that have been recovered will take place at the Mount Vernon Place church at 4 o'clock p. m. Sunday, the 10th inst. Friends and relatives invited to at- tend, Search for the Bodies, Capt. Gedney started down at 6 o'clock this morning, on the tug “Gedney,” with grappling irons and all the necessary means to drag for the bodies, and witl send up those which he is fortunate enough to find on every passing steamer bound up. His intention was to return with the tug about 4 o’clock to-day. LATER. Statement of Capt. Woods, A reporter of Tue STAR this morning called on Capt. John R. Woods, commanding ofticer of the burnt vessel. He is burned around the neck and ears slightly. His account is substan- tially as follows: The fire broke out at twenty- five minutes past 12 o’clock, between Thorn’s gut and Chatterton. I was in the pilot-house atthe time. A fireman came in and told me that the boat was on fire below. I immediately came out, and found the flames reached quite to the hurricane deck along the walking beam. I then saw that it was impossible to get to the lifesboats, which were on after-quarters on each, to lower them. although they were full of passengers. I threw water on the wheel ropes so as to keep her steer- age all right, and passed buckets of water from below te the hurricane deck for the purpose, as 1 became satisfied there was no hope of saving the vessel, and that the only chance to save the passengers was to keep her going, she heading for the beach. The boat reached the beach in about twelve or thirteen minntes after the alarm was given—in less than five minutes after the alarm was given the fire was in the rear of the pilot-house—the engine refused to work about a half @ minute before she struck the shore, and the boat run a length before she came to a dead stop, and grounded in less than five feet of water from the bow. 1 remained on the hurricane deck until the flames had burnt the window curtain in my room, and the saloon windows, below, were shooting forth fiery darts. I then came down on the forward deck and did what I could to saye the passengers. A great many were afraid to jump overboard. I assured them they were safe in jumping, as the water from the bow was not over their heads, and upon this assur- ance one or-two made a leap, and many others seeing that the water was shallow followed their example, and were saved. It was with difficulty I checked them jumping over in large bodies, and drowning each other during the excitement. I am satisfied that nearly all lives lost were lost in the stern of the boat, the flames driving that way, and forcing the passengers to Jump or be burnt, Just before I left the boat I heard a lady (Mrs. Taylor, of Alexandria) crying for help fromthe rear of the vessel. I saw her hanging to the middle chains, and sent a boat to her rescue and saved her. I am satisfied the excitement caused undue loss of life, and that every pas- senger was saved who jumped overboard fur- ward. A great many lives were lost on the life-boats by being overcrowded. Before the boat stopped one of them was crowded with colored passengers, and when she was cut loose the stern bulged out and swamped the craft. About a dozen small children were aboard, and I think five or six were lost. The fire caught in the hold, but it is impossible to tell just where. The boat was very dry, almost like tinder, and the flames, when they struck the oiled machinery, spread like a torch. The cargo was of a miscellaneous nature, and containing nothing inflamable except two bar- rels of whisky, which were in the forward hold, and were among the last things burmed. It was entirely lost. The passenger list and man- ifest of the vessel was lost, it being impossible for the clerk to reach the office to obtain it. At the time of the accident but few of the passen- gers were asleép, and none in the state- rooms. Some were lying down on sofas. The Georgeanna came along, on her way from Bal- timore, and brought up & few of the colored man got on at Evansport and was lost. Those landed were as follows:—One at Gly- TWO CENTS many were wandering about the shore, and some had started off through the country, so that it is not possible to arrive at the correct number lost at present, as itis believed that Many reported lost are among those named. Mr. Wheeler states that he was among tke last to leave the boat. . Statement of the Pilot. A reporter ot THE Stax also called on John W. L. Boswell, the pilot of the vessel. He ix burned about the arms and legs. Hisstatement isas follows: I have beena pilot onthe Poto mac upwards of nine years. The fireman, at 20 minutes of 12, came to the wheel-house and told me the boat was on fire. The captain was standing outside of the pilot-house at the time. I says, ‘Captain, the best thing we can do is to Tun her ashore the nearest place—Chatterton's landing.” I headed her for the shore, and she struck in five feet of water. I staid in the pilot house until the wheel ropes broke in two and the fire was coming into the pilot-house. I then jumped overboard and swam ashore with two ladies, whom [ saved. I then brought out and landed six or eight passengers. I made a second trip with the boat, and took in three colored women, with a child, who were hanging to the rudder, and landed themi safely. I then swam out again and made two unsuc- cessful attempts to rescue Officer Reed’s wife, but she twisted away from me in each instance, I presume not knowing what she was doing through excitement. When I came back to the stern of the boat for the last time, three children—two white and one colored—were tnere. I tried to get at them, but the flames Prevented me, and they were all burnt. I think two of them were Mr. Keed’s children. I then went astern, and bailed out the life-boat, and took nine dead bodies to Stewart’s wharf, four white and five colored. I remained at Stew- art’s wharf, and placed the bodies on the steam- er National, which brought them to Washing- ton. I came up in the Georgeanna. I kept the deck hands pouring water on the wheel ropes until the fire drove them off deck. The fire- man told me the first place he saw the fire was in the forward bow. I don't think any but Mr. Reed's cousin, Miss. Bettie Reed, were lost in jumping off the bow of the boat. She jumped before the boat struck, and was lost. Statement of Robert Nash. Am engineer of the boat, The first intima- tion I had of the fire was from the fireman; he said he had seen smoke but thought it camo from the cook-room; he subsequently discovered the fire, and reported it. I tried to get in the hold to discover the place burning, but the smoke was so thick [could not. I then turned ina fire-extiuguisher; I wenton the forward deck and used buckets of water. After I saw I was of no further service 1 jumped overboard, and clung to a peach box until rescued by my son. Many were saved by clinging to the peach boxes which were thrown overboard. The ex- citement was intense. I think the fire originated inthe back smoke-box from some unknown cause. The fireman says he is certain it origi. nated in the back smoke-box. When in the water I saw @ man and small child struggling. I tried to save the child by placing it on the peach box, but by some means both got away from me, and it was the last I sawof them. 1 presume both were drowned. The boats could not be used because the fire broke out amid- ships, and the flames prevented reaching them. One of the boats was so crowded before being cut away that she broke upon striking the wa. ter and swamped. I think many lives could have been saved if the life-boat could have been reached by the passengers after she was finally thrown overboard. Statement of Samuel A. Nash. Am &n apprentice engineer aboard the boat. Abont half hour before the fire, was in the pilot-house talking to the captain. A fireman came up and stated the boat was on fire. [t was some time beture twelve o’clock. Iran down below, and found I could not get to the engine- room, because the smoke was in the gangway. I went on the forward deck and commenced throwing buckets of water on the fire; remained there until it grew so hot that I couldn’t stand on the deck, so I jumped overboard. 1 did not swim ashore, but remained in the water to see what I could do. Anold man jumped off about the same time I did, and asked me to help him. I got a peach box and gave it to him, and led him to where his feet could touch bottom. I then got a second peach box, and went after my father, who was about exhausted, and took him to a safe place, where he eould wade ashore. The pilot, Mr. Boswell, and myself, then got a small boat to pick up such passengers as we could. We res- cued four from the rudder,three colored women and a colored child. I cannot give any idea as t6 the origin of the fire. I don’t think anybody but Miss Reed and a man named Mr. Gook were drowned who jumped off the forward part ofthe boat. The engine stopped just before she struck, but was under fair head of steam. The small boats were useless, because we were getting ready to land passengers and had the little boat down at the side, with the block and tackle attached. There w.re two small boats aboard the boat, Statement of the Steward, Charles Tolson, stewardothe Wawaset,states that finding it getting too uot for him, he climbed over the stern and slid down the rudder shaft, catching bold of the curve in the top part, where he seated himself until the fire burned him out, and he struck out the best he could. Not knowing how to swim he went to bottom and gave a kick towards shore; that he sank twice, when some on> in a boatcaught hold of him and pulled bim in. During the time he was on the rudder some six women caught hold of the chain, and were pulled off by others trying to save themselves; that the screams and cries were so pitiful. that it nearly made him frantic, but he could do nothing. The coals began to fallon his head, and the smoke and flames forced him off, and when he got ashure he was insensible for some time. Statement of Mr. McHenny, Mr. Peter McKenny, the bar keeper, states as follows:—I was in the bar, ana about 11:25 o’clock heard the cry of ‘‘fire;” rashed up on deck and then to the hurricane deck, and saw ning back towards the stern, screaming and i Ty a s ‘until ee Statement of J. W. Reed. ‘Was @ passenger on the boat. Get on in ‘Washington for Currioman. The fire, I think, broke out about five or ten minutes before twelve o'clock. After the excitement became general | advised the passengers to keep cool, as the boat I knew would ground in low water. Many jumped overboard before she struck, and I threw planks to. them I don’t think a single person was drowned off the forward deck after the boat struck. Capt. Wood was the last man that left the boat. I don’t think there was a live passenger atloat when Capt. Wood left the boat. I don’t think anything was left undone by the officers to save lives and the boat. [ told many of the passengers, “‘For God's sake, don’t jump overboard; we will be aground in low water soon, and you can wade ashore.” They would not heed me, but jumped excitedly into the water. Thad a cousin who jumped over- board before to boat stopped, who was lost. If we could have got all the planks overboard many would have beensaved. The shrieks of the women and children were enough to appa! the stoutest heart- The Wawaset is a total wreck. She lies in about 12 feet of water at high tide, with her bow stuck fast on the gravel bottom, at about four or five feet iow tide. The Wawaset was 129 feet long, 26 fect wide, 9 feet depth of hold, and was 323.90 tons, custom-house measurement. She was fitted up tosuit both freight and passengers. She was built in 1863 at Wilmington, Del., for the per pose of running fruit from Duck creck and Smyrna to Philadelphia, but was chartered by the government and brought to this river to be used as a transport for troops. ‘The ferry company purchased her from the government, and she had been used on the line between this city and Cone river for freight and passengers. Last spring she was completely overhauled on the ways at Baltimore, a saloon cabin put on her upper deck aft, new furnished and newly upholstered and painted throughout, making her one of the most convenient as well as stauch boats onthe river. Captain Wood is an experienced seaman, and the full corps of officers and men are old and careful bands at steamboating. No one can give any information as to how the fire originated, but all agree that it started in the boiler room below about her machinery, and that in two or three minutes all about mid- ships was on fire,the flames bursting up throngt the decks and gangway, thus cutting off all communication, butween the stern and att parts of the boat. In less than twenty-five min- utes from the time the fire broke out the steam- er was destroyed. As the windows and doors were all open the draft was intense, and the doomed boat was soon a sheet of flames. THE LIST OF THE OFFICERS of the boat is as follows: John R. Wood, cap- tain; Robert Nash, engineer; J. W. Wheeler, clerk; Robert Gravett, mate; John W. Boswell, pilot; and Samuel Nash, 24 engineer. There were also four deck hands, two firemen, one steward, one cook and the chambermaid. One of the deck hands and the chambermaid of the number mentioned were lost. Mr. Samuel Nash, assistant engineer, swam ashore with an old man before he returned and saved his fatner. He does not know the name ef the old gentleman, but describes him as short and stout. Mr. Robert Nash, the chief engineer, states that the scene of terrdr among the women and children exceeds anything he ever witnessed in his experience of thirty years steamboat engi- neering; that the situation was such that it was utterly impossible to do anything to save them more than was done; that tne fear of the women of the fire caused them to jump pell-mell into the water. He thinks severs!of the children were burned to death. THE INSURANCE ON THE WAWASET amounts to $25,000, distributed as tollows:—In- surance company of North Ameriea, Philadel- phia, $2,500; Pheenix, of Hartford, 5,900; Vir- ginia Fire and Marine Insurance company, of Richmond, 32,500; tna, of Hartford, $5,000; Atlantic, of New York, $5,000; Potomac, of Georgetown, $5,000. Scenes at the Wharf To-day. By early morn the news of the terrible disas- ter had received general publicity, and, either to gratify cu iosity or to receive intelligence of friends krow:: to be on board, thousands flocked to the whar!. The stern-wheel steamer Na- tional, a dilapidated craft, which had brenght the bodies of the dead to the city, was the object of general ob-ervation. Groups collected here and there dis. ussing the probable cause of the fire and the fital results arising from it. The early boats trom Alexandria brought up hun- dreds each trip to augment the already ex- pectant and excited multitude. Women, and men, wi'ked to and fro with a distract- ed look, awai ing anxiously the arrival of some further detai’s from the holocaust. Toward eight o’clock the crowd became so great as to render it necossary to close the large gates of the wagon entrance to the Alexandria boats, and without stood a packed assembly of men, women, and children, waiting, aye, many wait- ing for tidings which would pierce fie heart. THE DEAD BODIES. The bodies of the dead were placed in a small wooden house 6n the company’s wharf, on a wide wooden platform. Cold in death, at & o’clock this morning, lay six bodics, four hay- ing been previously removed. The most touch- ing appeal to the sympathetic yas perhaps the body of a little girl not over two years of age, who lay in the center. Around its mouth play- ed a smile, and the features were most perfect in compose. if g g i g 5 eu iit; tH Dr Hartigan arrived at the wharf about o'clock with the view of holding an inquest, Dut as the disester took place outside of the ju— risdiction of the District, has not mined what to do. 8 free excursion to Mount Vernon. He, how- ever, got the Charlotte Vanderbilt in readiness and left for the scene of the disaster about {12 o'clock to-day to render any aid in his power to sufferers and bring up both the dead and living who may be feund in the vicinity; also to take down persons who desire to look for the bodies of their deceased friends, and care for them. He will return about ¢ or 7 o'clock this evening. An Artist on Hand. An artist of the New York Graphic arrived at the wharf, in company with Col. Hinton, the correspondent, and sketched the sceneof the bodies at the 7th street wharf. He left on the Vanderbilt to takesketches of the sce ne of the disaster and the wreck A Household Wreck. The crushing biow that wiped nearly a whole family out of existence in the case of Oficer Reed, of the Metropolitan Police, appears to have been even more sweeping im its effects than first reported. Mr. Reed not only loses his wife, three children and niece, Bettie Reed, but also an aunt, Miss Julie Kelley, whose RAMe appears elsewhere among the victims. The Mrs. Reed who perished on the Wawaset was his second wife, to whom he had been mar- ried onty about ® year, and who at the time of her death was near confinement. An A@ecting Incident. Among the victims was Mr. George Cook, gtocer, 7th street southwest, be en D and E He had two little children with while he was struggling in the water » king a fight for life, he was seen holding bis \ ungest child to the surface crying “Oh my ‘ol, save my baby!” It was supposed that t! » older child had already peri hed. There was \ report that Mr. Cook was subsequently scen alive on the shore, but there has been nothin, received to confirm the rumor, and it is probable that he and his two children all perished. A Sad Death. The Mise Marbury who was lost was a dangh- ter of Capt. Leonard Marbury, of Glymont, Md.. and was also a relative of the Georgetown Marburys. She held aclerkship in the Treas- ury Department, and is described as a young lady of many attractions and accomplishments Why so many Women and Children were Lost. It may seem strange that so many women and children were apon the Wawaset, as she was not running as an excursion boat and was mak- ing only her regular trip to Cone river and in- termediate Jandings; but it seems that quite a number of families were seeking country re- sorts for the heated and sickly term during the Present month. There were therefore compara tively few malo passengers on board, and the females, without experience to guide them, and not knowing what to do in the emergency, were capable of little more than frantic but useless efforts to save the lives of their children, Arrival of the Keyport, The excitement, which had nearly quieted down in the vicinity of the wharf, became aroused about half-past twelve o'clock, when the United States mail steamer Keyport was seen off Alexandria. Quite a crowd gathered on the whart of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, and in order to keep back the surging multitude the gates had to be closed and guarded with policemen. Expectation, which ran high, was quieted upon her arrival and the fact being known that she brought no additional tidings from the scene of the disaster. Why the Boats were Useless. The life-boat, which was inthe stern of the Wawaset,as soonas the fire gained headway, Was crowded by excited men, women and chil dren. It was impossible for the officers of the veesel to reach it and jower the same to the water's edge. It finally broke under the weight of those in it, and bulged in the stern, and was swamped. Nearly all who had taken refuge in it were lost. There was a second boat almost as large as the life-boat, which was thrown overboard by the passengers while the steamer was under headway, and only a few were able to reach it. Some of the passengers jumped from the steamer into it, while others who were in the water were drawn in by those already within it. Inan attempt to jump into itone passenger was struck by the wheel and sustained slight in juries. The Origin of the Fire. This seems to be a question of doubt. The Captain thinks it originated tn the forward end of the bow, but his opinion conflicts with the statement of others. He thinks sparks from the smoke-box were blown into the hold, and coming in contact with the dry wood easily ig- hited into tlames Jand the boat being almost ax dry asa tinder was soon ignited. Taking all the statements published, it is generally con- ceded the fire broke out in the hold amidships, and spread,with alarming rapidity. From the time of the discovery of the fire, the boat was burnt to the main deck and water's edge within less than twenty minutes—inded, as the engi. neer told a reporter of Tax Sra, ‘“in less time than I can give you my statement.” Anxious Enquirers. The steamer Keyport, Captain Carter, ar- rived here about 12:30 from Fredericksburg, and Captain Carter states that he tendered to Mr. Howison, president of the Potomac Ferry company, who came up with him from Freder- icksburg to Alexandria the use of one of his boats belongsng to the lower Potomac steam- boat company, to render any assistance in his power to the friends of the deceased persons, but that Captain Howison did not think it necessary to send another boat down, as Cap- tain Gedney was at the scene of the disaster, and would attend to all that was nece: As President Howison knew but very little of the extent of the Giraster and only what was told him by the passengers on the Keyport, considerable dissatisfaction was minifest»1 by those who were anxious to hasten down to hunt for their friends. Captain Hollingshead, who had generously tendered his services to pilot the Vanderbilt down, of course then declined to go with her. Mr. Howison had not arrived in this city at 2 o’clock, but Captain Carter, of the Keyport, decided to keep up her fires until his arrival, which is anxiously looked for by many distressed relatives of passengers on the Wa- waset. Heedlessness of the