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

SpIeau very rapiuly. captain WOOD ana most OF the
crew remained on board until It was Impossible
for them to remain longer. got to the shore after
twelve O'Clock, and when l jumped overheard
the steam struck me and Knocked me senseless,
but boat picked me up and recovered. When we
reached shore some OF the passengers had been
taken of by the neighbors, who had been attracted
by the smoke from the burning boat, and we were
all treated kindly the people offering every assist
ance In their power
CAPTAIN WOODS STATEMENT.
This morning the Georgiana arrived, bringing
the captain and other officers, from whom the fol-
lowing was obtained:-
The nre broke out at twonty-Ave minutes past
twelve O'Clock, between Thorn's Gut and Chatter
ton. Twas in the pilot house at the time. fire.
man came In and told me that the boat was on fire
below. ! Immediately came out, ana found the
danes reached quite to the hurricane deck along
the walking BEAM then saw that IL was impos-
sble to get to the lifeboats, which were on after
quarters on each, to lower them although they
were null OF passengers l threw water on the
wheel ropes, 80 as to keep her steerage all
right, ana passed buckets Of water from
below TO the hurricane deck for the purpose, as
became satisfied there was no hope OF saving the
vessel, and that the only chance to save the pas
sengers was to keep her going she heading for the
oSoSsss w."
or thirteen minutes 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 half minute before she struck the shore,
ana the boat ran length before she
came to dead stop and grounded in
less than five feet OF water rom the
bow. l renamed on the hurricane deck
until the names had burned the window curtain in
my room, and the saloon windows. below, were
shooting forth fiery darts. l then came down on
the forward deck and did what could to save the
passengers.
GREAT MANY WERE AFRAID TO JUMP OVERHEARD.
l assured them they were safe in jumping, as the
water from the bow was not over their heads ana
upon this assurance one or two made o leap and
many others, seeing that the water was shallow
followed their example and were saved. 1t was
with dtffculty checked them jumping over In
large bodies and drowning each other during the
excitement. 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 BURNED.
Just before left the boat l heard q lady-Mrs
Taylor, OF Alexandra-crying for help from the
rear of the vessel. saw her hanging to the middle
chains and sent boat to her rescue ana saved
loss OF life, and that every passenger was saved
who jumped overheard forward. great many
lives were lost on the lifeboats by being over
crowded Before the boat stopped one Of them
was crowded with colored passengers, and when
she cut loose the stern bulged out and swamped
the craft. About dozen small children were
aboard, and think five or six were lost.
THE FIRE CAUGHT IN THE HOLD,
but 1t is impossible to tell just where. The boat
was very dry almost like finder, and the names,
when they struck the oiled machinery, spread like
torch. The cargo was OF miscellaneous nature
and contained nothing innammable except two
barrels OF whiskey, which were in the forward
hold and were among the last things burned. It
was entirely lost. The passenger list and manifest
OF the vessel was lost 1t being impossible for the
clerk to reach the ONCE to obtain 1t. At the time
OF the accident but few OF the passengers were
asleep and none in the state rooms. Some were
lying down on sofas.
THE CLERK's STATEMENT.
Mr.. J. W. Wheeler, the clerk, states that after
leaving Alexandria they took aboard white man
at Liverpool Point, named Robert olive, bound for
Longwood Wharf, and this man, he thinks, was
lost
At Glymont they took on board Kate Mcpherson
and Miss Jenny Marbury. The latter was lost and
the former saved.
One colored man got on at Transport and was
lost.
Those landed were as follows lone at Glymont,
two or three at Sandy Point, Of whom he thinks
one was colored woman and two children four
white ladies and two three children, and one or
two white men, and six colored men and women.
Also, white boy named Braxton, at Smiths
Point.
He also states that there were some adults on
board not registered, and that no children
younger than nine or ten years were on the regis
ter list These are not charged with fare, and he
thinks there were about twelve OF them. He thinks
there must have been above thirty lives lost and
is afraid there are more. He says that at about
one O'Clock, after all had got ashore that could an
attempt was made to collect the passengers to-
gether to get correct list Of the saved but many
were wandering about the shore and some had
started OF through the country, SO that 1t Is not
possible to arrive at the correct number lost at
present. as 1t Ia believed that many reported lost
are among those named
Mr.. Wheeler states that he was among the last
to leave the boat.
ROBERT NASH, THE ENGINEER.
Robert Nash, the engineer Of the boat, says the
first ntimltion he had OF the fre was. from the
fireman. He said he had seen smoke, but thought
IL came from the COOK room. He subsequently dis
covered the IRE and reported It; tried to get in
the hold to discover the place burning, but the
smoke was so thick he could not He then turned
in fire extingulsher; went on the forward deck
and used buckets Of water. After he saw he was
Of no further service jumped overheard, and chung
to peach box until rescued by his son.
Many were saved by clinging to the peach
boxes which were thrown overheard. The
excitement was intense. Thinks the fire
originated in the back smokebox from some I'M
known cause. The fireman says he is certain it
originated in the back smokebox. When in the
water saw a man and q small child struggling;
tried TO save the child by placing 1t on the peach
box, but by some means both got away from me-
and it was the last he saw of them and presumes
both were drowned. The boats could not be used
because the fire broke out amidships and the names
prevented us from reaching them. One of the boats
was 80 crowded before being cut away that she
broke upon striking the water and swamped. He
thinks many lives could have been saved II the life
boat could have been reached by the passengers