Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-08-09
The Potomac River Steamer Va
wassett Destroyed by Fire
Fifty Lives Lost.
The Steamer and Cargo a Total
LOss-PartiaI List of the
Victims.
Statement of the Steamers Bar
Keeper-a Fearful Picture
of Horrors.

FREDERICKsBURG, August S.-The
steamer Wawassett, running on the Po-
tomac river between Washington and
Curriman, took fire about twelve
O'clock to-day at Chatalon, and was de-
stroyed. She had about one hundred
and fifty-five passengers on board, and
between forty and fifty lives are lost.
Six bodies were found up to two o'clock
three white ladies, one child and two
colored children. Miss Virginia War
burg, of Glymont, Miss Bette Sam
ders and a child, from Curriman, are
among the dead. The Others have not
been recognized. George W. Cook, of
Warsaw, Virginia, is missing. Captain
Wood did not leave the boat until forced
to do so by the flames. The fire was
first discovered in the engine-room.
A reporter of the associated press, at
midnight, had an interview with Doc
Kinney, barkeeper of the Wawassett,
who is the only one of the passengers or
crew of that vessel who reached WASH
ingtOn tonight. He came up to this
city on the steamer Express, with an
excursion party, from Piney Point. The
latter vessel sighted the wreck about
four o'clock this evening, and picked
up kenney, who had been sent out in
small boat to come up to Washington.
The passengers and crew of the Wawas-
sett were at that time all cared for at
Stewards wharf, near the scene of the
disaster. Kenney states that the Wa
wassett left here at six o'clock this moTn-
ing, on her regular weekly trip to Cone
river, with one hundred and seventeen
registered passengers, and quite large
cargo of freight for the river landings.
Just before reaching ChattertOn's land
ing, on the Virginia side of the Potomac,
about five miles,below Acquia creek, and
after the whistle had been blown as
signal of her approach to that landing,
the steamer at that time being about
third of a mile from shore, fire was
discovered in her hold, and the hose was
attached Immediately, but before the
men could reach it the eOnfagration be-
came general, as the fire had been burn
ing for some time. The fire had been
smouldering, it is supposed, for some
hours, and upon opening the matches it
burst forth with great fury, driving the
men from the hold and completely baf-
fling all attempts to sub
due it. In another instant the
widest confusion prevailed on the YES
sci, the passengers becoming panic
stricken and frantic with fear, very few
having presence of mind sufficient to
take care of themselves. The steamer
was, without a seconds delay, headed
for shore on the Virginia side, and in a
few minutes ran aground, about
two hundred yards from the Virginia
side. At this time the flames had
spread with fearful rapidity, and in the
excitement many jumped overheard.
Several of them jumped into the water
before the steamer struck bottom. She
was provided with but two small
boats, and in the frenzy of the
moment these boats were thrown
overheard by the passengers,
who, uncontrolled, were endeavoring to
launch her. Captain Wood, of the i'll
fated steamer, and his assistants are said
to have used every effort to control tie
passengers, but without avail, and but
for disobedience of orders many who
We're lost would have been saved. The
vessel was supplied with life-preservers,
but, in the panic, it seems none OF the pas
sengers secured them, and this fact also
added to the lamentable loss of life.
Over forty passengers were drowned,
among whom were Mrs. Reed and three
children, the wife and children of
Policeman Reed, of this city, and
his neice, whose name has not
yet been ascertained; Adeline Jenkins,
a chambermaid; deckhand, name un-
known; Mrs. Virginia Marbury, of ely
mont; Miss BERTHE Sanders and child, Of
Currioman, Virginia. Up to the time
that the Express, in which the narrator
of this statement arrived, had left
the scene of the wreck, but five or six
bodies had been recovered, and the con-
fusion was so great that further list of
the names of those lost could not be OBJ
tanned.
THE particulars were received too late
to appear in full.-EDS. APPEAL.