The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-08-16
ANOTHER STEAMBOAT M0RHOR
Great Loss Of Life

WAsnINCToN, Aug. 9.-Thc Wawas-
sctt horror is fully confirmed. Most of
| the passengers perishcd. She left Wash
ington on regular passenger trip for
Cone River. She burned off Chatter
ton landing, where there is no wharf.
The passcngcrs and freight for that
point being discharged by small boats,
| one boat had been lowered when the
flames barst from the vessel two huns
dred yards from shore. Nothing re-
mains but tho broken shaft and smoke
stack.
The passengers registered when she
left Washington wcrc 10, but she re-
ceived and discharged passengers at
various landings, of whom no record
has been received. The crow consisted
of twelve. Tho loss will probably be
fifty passengers and two of the crew.
The cause of tho fire is unknown. AS
soon us tho fiams were discovered tho
vessel was headed to shore and shc
struck on q bar on the Virginia side.
Many ladies and children We're
aboard visiting friends soiourning in
the places OF resort down the river.
There arc also many colorcd people.
unknown. All accounts applaud tho
gallantry of the captain and crew.
Capt. John II. Woods, of Wawassctt,
Is burned around the neck and cars
slightly. His account is substantially
as follows:
The fire broke out at twenty-five
minutes past - O'Clock ,betwccnTiorn's y
Gut and Chattcrton. l was in the pilot
house at the time.
Tho boat reached the beach in about
twelve or thirteen minutes after the
alarm was given; in less than five min-
utcs after the alarm WAS given,
the fire was in the rear of the
pilot house. The engine refused
to work about q half minute before shC
struck the shore, and the boat ran Il
length before she came to 4 dead stop
and grounded in less than five fuct of
water. AT the bow, l remained on
the hurricane deck until the flames had
burned the window curtains III my
room, and the saloon windows below
were shooting forth fiery darts. l tilCn
came down on the forward deck and
did what l could to Save the passengers.
4 great many were afraid to jump
overheard. l assured thcm they were
safe in umping, as the water from tho
bow was not over their heads, and upon
this assurance ono or two MadOn leap
and many others seeing that the water
was shallow followed their example and
were saved.
1t was with difficulty that l checked
them in jumping over III large bodies
and drowning each other during tho
excitement. I am satisfied that nearly
all tho lives that were lost were lost in
the stern of tho boat, the flames driving
that way and forcing the passengers to
jump or be burnt. Just before l left
the boat heard Il lady, Mrs. Taylor of
Alexandria, crying FOX help at tho rear
of the vessel. l saw her hanging to
tho middle chains, and sent Il boat to
her rescue and saved her. am salts
fed that the excitement caused undue
loss of life, and that every passenger
was saved who jumped overheard for-
ward. A great many lives were lost
in the lifcboat5 by being ovcrcrowdcd.
Before the boat stopped ono of them
was crowded with colorcd passc,lrcrs,
and when she was cut loose the stern
bulgcd out and swampcd the craft
About dozen small children were
aboard, and / think five or six were
lost.
The fire caught it the hold, but it
WAS impossible to tell just where. Tho
boat was very dry, almost like tindcr,
and the flames, when they struck the
oiled machinery, spread like Il torch.