Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-08-10
Full Particulars Of The Wreck Of
the Potomac Steamer Wa
Wassett-The Cry Of
"Fire," and the
Panic.
Names of the LOst-The Captains
Statement-Heart-ReHC-
ing Details Flames
or Water.
About Thirty Persons LOst-In
their Panic the Passengers
Drown Each Other
The COrOner's In
quest.

NEW YORK, August "a special from
Washington says the best information
obtainable shows the number of lives
lost by the burning of the steamer Wa
wassett is probably not over twenty.
There is no wharf at Charleston Point,
where the steamer was burned, and
landing is made by the use of small
boats. One of these was being unshipped
for this purpose, when
THE CRY OF FIRE
was heard, and the flames came out
with such force that q panic ensued at
once. The passengers made a rush for
the boat that was being lowered, crowd
ing it full, when the tackling broke or
became unhitched, and all were precipi-
tated into the river. The terror-stricken
passengers were forced by the flames to
jump overheard, to whom Captain
wood and his crew threw -preservers,
calling upon those struggling in the
water to seize them and save them
selves. The people on shore did all they
could to assist in saving life, but their
means Of rescue were very unequal to
the terrible extremity.
LATER FROM WASHINGTON.
| WASHINGTON, August AT half
past four o'clock this morning the steam
er National arrived here from the scene
of the burning of the Wawassett, hav-
ing on board about twenty-five survivors
and eleven dead bodies, which were re-
cognized as those of Mrs. MuZe, who, it
is reported, had three children with her,
all of whom Were lost; Mrs. Kelly, of
| Virginia.; child of James Reed; Mrs.
Matilda Walker, of Washington; Miss
Juliana Mills, and four cOlored children.
Two are yet unrecognized.
| Captain Wood, Watson Wheeler, the
clerk, Mr. Nash, engineer, and Mr..
Reed, mate, of the steamer Wawassett,
arrived here this morning about seven
o'clock on the steamer Georgia. All of
| them were more or less burned or in
jured. The passengers all agree that the
officers of the boat did their utmost to
save life and property, but so sudden and
fierce was the fire that scarce anything
was saved. There are
KNOWN TO BE LOST
Misses Mosby, Patsy Tandy, Julia Kel-
ley, Bessie Read, Gambia Hobbs, Mrs.
Esther Griffin and two children, Mrs.
Joseph Read and three children, George
TIbbs, deckhand, chambermsid and
seven colOred persons.
In the opinion of Captain Wood there
are from ten to twelve ladies unrecov-
cred. In order to obtain them the su-
perintendent of the Potomac Ferry
company, and Others, started down the
river this morning in the tug, Louis,
provided with graphing irons.
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
Captain John p. Woods, commandant
of the Wawassett, makes the following
statement concerning the disaster: The
| fire broke out at twenty minutes past
twelve O'Clock, between Atoms Gut and
Chatterton. was in the pilot-house at
| the time of the fire. The mate told me
that the
BOAT WAS ON FIRE
below, when / Immediately came out,
found that the flames had reached to the
hurricane deck, along the walking beam.
l saw it was impossible to get to the life
boats, which were on the after quarters
on each side, or to lower them, although
they were full of passengers. / threw
water on the wheel-ropes to keep the
steerage all right, as l became satisfied
there was no hope of saving the vessel,
and the only chance to save the passen-
gers was to keep her going. The boat
reached the bank in twelve or thirteen
minutes after the alarm. In less than
five minutes after the alarm was given,
| the fire was in the rear of the pilot
! house.
THE ENGINES REFUSED TO WORK
about half minute before the boat
struck the shore and grounded in less
than five feet of water at her bow, re-
manned on the hurricane deck until the
flames had burnt the windOw-curtains
in my room, and were issuing from the
saloon windows below. then got on
the forward deck, and did what l could
to save the passengers. A great many
were afraid to jump overheard, until 1
| assured them they could safely do so.
Upon this assurance one or two made
the leap, and many others, seeing the
water was shallow, followed, and were
saved. 1t was with difficulty checked
them from jumping over in large num-
bers, and
DROWNING EACH OTHER.
/ am satisfied nearly all loss of life oc-
Cured at the stern of the boat, the
flames forcing the passengers to Jump
overheard or be burned. Just before I
left the boat / heard Mrs. Taylor, of
Alexandria, crying for help from the
rear of the vessel. saw her hanging
to the middle-chains, and sent boat to
her rescue and saved her. / am satisfied
that excitement caused undue loss ofl
life, and that every passenger was saved
who jumped overheard forward. A great |
many lives were
LOST IN THE LIFE-BoATS
by being overcrowded before the boat
stopped. One of them was crowded |
with colOred passengers, and when she |
was cut loose, the stern bulged out, and |
she was swamped. About dozen small |
children were aboard, and l think five
or six were lost. The fire caught in the |
hold. The boat was very dry, and the |
flames, when they struck the oiled ma
chinery, spread like torch. AT the |
time of the accident but few of the |
passengers were asleep, and none were
in their staterooms. The boat was val |
ued at about forty thousand dollars.
Captain Wood does not think the |
number lost will reach over thirty. A |
lady hanging to the rudder-chain was
saved by small boat that came to the |
wreck.
JOHN REED STATES
that he was busy throwing overheard |
some planks to the women when the |
flames burst up the gangway, forcing
him to jump overheard, and he swan |
ashore. He says also it was not above |
three minutes before all communication
was cut off between the bow and stern
of the boat. There Were about twenty |
children on board, exclusive of one hun
dred and seventeen registered passen-
gers. Several of those saved are badly
burned. Robert Nash, the engineer,
was saved by his son, the assistant-engi-
neer, who jumped overheard and swan |
ashore with his father. Captain Wood
was considerably burned about the head.
A CoRoNER's INQUEST
was held at Stewards wharf, on the Po-
tomae river, over those lost by the
burning of the Wawassett, and verdict
returned releasing the officers of the boat
from all blame.
MORE BODIES RECOVERED.
The bodies of three children were
brought here this evening. Twelve
bodies, all colored, were washed ashore
and buried to-day. The body of colored
woman was recovered by the men
engaged in graphing, who viii resume
their laboTs tomorrow. So far twenty
onesbodies have been recovered.
All the bodies brought to this city this
morning from the Wawassett have been