The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-11
The Burning Of the WaWassel

The Burning Of the WaWaSse'
Full and Narrowing Details
Statement Of the Captain.
The Loss Of Life Not So Great as al
First Reported.
New YoRK, August GA special from
Washington says the best information oh
tainabIe shows that the number Of live
lost by the burning Of the steamer Wa
wasset Is probably not over twenty. There
Is no wharf ct Chatterton, the point where
the steamer was burned, and the land
ing is made by the use Of ANAL boats,
One of these was being unHhipped for
that purpose when the cry Of fire was
heard, and the fAmeS came with such
force that q panic enSued at once. The
passengers made rush for the boat that
was being lowered, crowdingi it full, when
the tacklIDg broke or became untackled,
and oil were precipitated into the river.
The terror-stricken passengers were
forced by the flames 10 jump overheard
to whom Capt. Wood and his crew
threw lie preservers, calling upon them
to seize them and save themselves. The
people on shore did all they could to as
sist in saving life, but their means Of res
cue were very unequal to tho terrible ex-
tremity.
WASHINGTON, D. O., August 9.-At
half past four this morning the steamer
National arrived here from the scene Of
the burning Of the Wawasset, having on
board about twenty-five survivors and
eleven dead bodies. The bodies were
recognized as those Of Mrs. Muse, who, it
Is reported, had three children with her,
all of whom were lost, Mrs. Julia Kelly,
Of Virginia, q child Of james Reed, Mrs.
Matilda Walker, Of Washington, Miss
JulianR Mills, and four colored children,
two Of whom have as yet been unrecog-
nized. Captain Wood, Watson Wheeler,
clerk, Mr.. Nash, engineer, and Mr.. Reed,
mate Of the steamer Wswasset, arrived
here this morning ON the steamer Georgt-
ana. Ali OF them were more or less
burned or injured. The passengers all
agree the officers Of the boat did their ut.
most to save life and property, but 90
sudden and fierce was the fire that scarce.
ly anything was saved. There arc known
to be lost the Misses Maxbury, Patsy
Sandy, JulIa Kelly, Bessie Reed, Cordia
Hobbs, Mrs. Esther Gutfin and two chill
dren, Mrs. Joseph Reed and three chill
dren, George Tibbs, deck hand, cham.
bermaid, and seven colored PERSONS In
the opinion Of Captain Wood there are
from ten to twelve bodies uncovered.
| In order to obtain them the superintend-
ent Of the Potomac Ferry Company and
others started down the river thfS morn
ing in the tng.boat Lewis, provided with
graphing irons.
John Reed states that he was busy
throwing overheard some plankS to
the women, when the HGmes burst
up the gangway forcing him to jump
overheard, and he swan ashore. He says
also that 1t was not above three minutes
before all communication was cut of be-
tween the bow and stern Of the boat
There were about twenty children on
board, exclusive Of 1T registered passen'
gers. Several Of the saved are badly
burned. Robert Nash, Esq, was saved
by his son. The engineer, who jumped
overheard and swan ashore with his
father, was considerably burned about the
head. An inquest was held at Stewards
wharf, on the Potomac river, over the
bodies Of those lost by the burning Qi the
Wawssset, and the verdict relieved the
officers Of the boat from all blame.
WARRINGTON, August 9I-Evening.-
Captain John R. Woods, commandant OF
tho Wawasset, makes the following etate-
ment concerning the disaster: The fire
broke out Rt 20 minutes past 12 o'clock,
between ThomB Gut and Chatterton. l
was in the pilot house at the time. The
fireman told me the boat was on fire. l
came out and found that the flames reach.
ed to the hurricane deck along the walking
beam. l saw II was impossible to get the
| life boats which were in the after quarters
on each side of the ship, to lower them,
although they were full Of passengers. l
threw water on the wheel ropes to
keep the steersge all right, as I becamesat.
isfled that there was no hope Of saving the
vessel, and the only chance to save the
passengers was to keep her going. The
boat reached the beach in about twelve
lor thirteen minutes after tho alarm.
In less than five minutes after the alarm
was given, the fire was on the rear ol
the pilot house. The engine refused To
work about half q minute before the
boat struck the shore and grounded In
less than five feet Of water. l remained
on the hurricane deck until the flames
burnt the window curtains in my room
and issuing from the saloon windows be.
low, l then got on the forward deck and
did what l could 10 save the passengers.
A great many wero afraid to jump over
hoard until l assured them they could
safely do so. Upon this assurance one or
two made the leap and several Others see
ing tho water was shallow followed and
were saved. 1t was with difficulty
that checked them from Jumping
over in large numbers and drown.
ing each other. am satisfied thai
NEARLY all the loss Of life occurred at The