The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-10


by the fire, came to Chatterton's Landing, and
commenced searching for the dead bodies. Among
those found and brought to the city on the tug
boat National were:-
Mrs. Cora waters.
Miss Anna Wells
Mrs. Muse.
Miss Kelley
Mrs. Sandy, Of Currioman, Va.
The others were residents Of this city.
OTHER VICTIMS.
Miss Virginia Marbury was also lost. She Is
daughter of Captain Leonard Marbury, OF Glymont,
Md, and was also O relative OF the Georgetown
Marburys. She held clerkship in the Treasury
Department, and is described as a young lady Of
many attractions and accomplishments.
Among the victims also was Mr.. George Cook,
grocer, Seventh street. southwest, between d and
e. He had two little children with him, and while
he was struggling in the water, making q fight for
life, he was seen holding his youngest child to the
surface, crying, "Oh, my God, save my babyw It
was supposed that the Oldest child had
already persisted. There was report that Mr..
Cook was subsequently seen alive on the shore,
but there has been nothing received to confirm the
rumor, and 1t is probable that he and his two chill
dren all persisted.
WHOLE FAMILY DROWNED.
The crushing blow that wiped nearly whole
OF the Metropolitan police, appears to have been
even more sweeping in its effects than first re-
ported. Mr.. Reed not only loses his wife, three chill
dren and niece, Bette Reed, but also an aunt
Miss Julia Kelley, whose name appears elsewhere
among the victims. The Mrs. Reed who persisted
on the Wawaset was his second wife. to whom he
had been married only about year, and who at
the time Of her death Was near confinement.
THE ORIGIN Of ffE rrHE
seems to be question Of doubt. The Captain
thinks 1t originated In 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 ignited into flames, and
the boat being almost as dry as finder was soon
ignited. Taking all the statements published 1t Is
generally conceded the fire broke out in the hold
amidships and spread with alarming rapldlty.
From the time of the discovery of the nre the boat
was burned to the main deck and waters
edge within less tnan twenty minutes.
1t may seem strange that so many women
and children were upon the Wawaset. as she was
not running as an excursion boat and was making
her regular trip to Cone River and intermediate
landings, but it seems that quite number Of
families were seeking country resorts for the
heated and sickly term during the present month
There were, therefore, comparatively few male
passengers on board, and the females, without ex-
perience 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.
THE SCENE OF THE CALAMITY.
Chatterton Landing, the scene Of this dire
calamity, Is an obscure place IN ITSELF but great
convenience for shipping freight to the Virginia
farmers living in that locality. It is but few
miles from Fredericksburg, yet this will
serve to show how slow the news was in
reaching Washington. Mr. Beckley, after
consultation with the Captain, SAID he would 60 to
Fredericksburg and telegraph the fact OF the loss Of
the Wawaset. He took with him memoranda, fur
nisned by the Captain, to show that the announce
ment was not over exaggerated. His despatch
fell into the hands Of truly loyal operator, who
discounts 900 per cent everything q colored man
says The word passed over the wires that 20
Niger who had escaped from the Wawaset says
she has been burned and forty lives lost" This
Information, received here about ten O'CLOCK was
not generally credited, but o despatch came
shortly after confirming the report
OFF FOR cHArTERroNs LANDING.
Anxiety to reach the scene Of reported disaster
was very great. The manner In which the tele-
graphic Information came left no hope OF getting
anything direct. The next best thing was to pro-
coed to Quantico. fifteen miles above Chatterton's
Landing, and, If possible, catch the Potomac
steamer which stops there at midnight on her way
up to Washington. The Fredericksburg train left
at twenty minutes past eleven O'Clock last night
and your correspondent was the only one on the
train. Speeding through q fertile part of the Old
Dominion at the rate Of thirty miles hour landed
me safely in the unnhabited locality Of Quanttco.
Peeping through o window In the station
house could see an operator pegging
away at his kew, dOuble-barreled
shotgun at his right and towel with which to
remove perspiration on his left. / inquired II he
had heard the report of the loss of the Wawaset
Such report, he said, had been repeated along the
line. but he did not himself believe it to be true.
''Can you call FredericksburgS" asked.
The call was SENT but no reponse. "There is no
way then of getting at the truth falsity Of the
report with telegraphic communication at hand
in Washington"
"No sir. Why, stranger, it is one O'Clock in the
morning. Why don't you wait until daylight and
then 90 down by boat9"
Tomorrow" said, "in newspaper business
never comes I must have the news tonight
After consultation he lighted lantern and guided
me distance down the railroad to
QuANTICO WHARF.
1t was desoate place to seek news man half
asleep was guarding truck, and when spoken to
aroused with fright and wanted to know the
meaning OF this unexpected visit. He was waiting
for the Georgeanna to arrive and ship her freight
she was then more than two hours overdue. He
had heard about the Wawaset, but did not credit
the rumor. The boat had passed that landing
at about eleven all right, and II she had met
with disaster it was very strange the news
had not reached Quantico. Another telegraph
operator was aroused and washington was called
Communication was established at last, but 1t
was very slow work. 1t was evident that, in the
order Of nature, that once had never been
equipped for newspaper business, and it was too
late, at two O'Clock in the morning, forty miles
from civilization, to attempt to reconstruct It,
While partial effort was made, however,
THE FREDERICKSBURG TRAIN CAME ALONG,
with Mr.. Beckley, who had first given the news
and from him was learned the main facts already
gwen. It being important that the train should
reach Xashingtop as sonp "a nassihle the enndne