, 1873-08-09
A RIVER HORROR.
Burning Of the Steamer Wa
Wasset on the Potomac
River.
4 Fearful Scene Of Panic and Con-
fusion on Board.
Forty Out Of One Hundred and Fifty
Passengers lump Overheard
and Are Drowned.
Partial List Of tho Lost--Excitc-
ment i'll Washington.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8.-stcamor Wawasect. Of
Washington, with II largo number Of passengers
OH board, was burned OF Acquia Crock this
evening. Report sayB fifty to sevonty-five por-
sons wero lost. Particulars expected aoon.
FnEpEn1orsDuno, W., Aug. 8.-Stoamor W.
wasaott, running on tho Potomac River. botwoon
Washington and Cnrriman, took fro about IL
o'clock to-day, ut Ohatalon Landing, anil Was
destroyed. Sho had about 100 paBHonEors on board
aud between forty md fifty 1ivos aro lost. Six
bodies wore found up to o'clock, thrco white
ladies', ono child, and two colored ohidron. Miss
Virginia Warburg, Of Glymont; Hiss Dottio
Saundors, and a child from Curriman, arc among
the doad. Tho others llRvo not boon recognized.
George ". Cook, OF Warsaw Va., is missing.
/ Capt. Wood did not leave the boat until forced
to do so By tho flames. Tho fro WAS frat discoy-
orod in tho ongino-room.
I WASHINGTON, Aug 8.-Tle reporter Of tho
Associated Press at midnight had an interview
with Doc Konnoy. bar-koopor Of tho WawaRaet,
who is tho only one Of the passengers or crow Of
TINT vessel that roachod Washington tonight.
Ho came up to this city On tho Hteamor ExprosH,
with an excursion party from pinoy Point. The
latter vessel sighted the wreck about o'clock
t this afternoon, and picked up KouneY,
who had been sont ont in q small boat
to come up to Washington. Tho passengers and
crew Of tho Wawassot wero at that time all carcd
for. at 6towart'a wharf, near the aceno of tho
disaator.
Kenny atatos that tho Wawasset left hero at 9
O'Clock this morning on her regular weekly trip
to Conc River with III registered passengers,
and quito large cargo Of freight for tho river
landings. Just before reaching Chattarton's
Landing on tho Virginia Bide Of tho Potomac,
about Eve miles below Acquia Crock, aud
aftor tho whistle Of tho boat had
boen blown as tho signal Of hor approach to that
landing, tho steamer ut that time being about o
third Of d milo from tho shore. fire was tliBcov-
cred in tho hold, and tho hose waa attached i'm
mediatoly, but boforo tho mon could reach 1t tho
conaagratlon became goneral. as tho fro had
been burning for some time. Tho fro had boon
smouldcring, it is supposed, for some hours, and.
upon opening tho matches, 1t burst forth with
great fury, driving tho mon from tho
hold aud completely battling oil attempts to
Bubdue 1t. In an instant great confusion pro-
vailed On the vessel, tho passengers becoming
panic-Btricken and frantic with fear, very fow
having presence Of mind sufficient to tako care
Of themselves. Tho steamer was without
seconds delay, headed for tho shore on
utes run aground about 200 yarla from
the Virginia sido At this time tic flames had
Hproad with fearful rapidity, md In the excite
mont many jumped overheard. Several of them
jumped into tho wator before the stoamor struck
bottom. She WIS provided with but two small
boats, and in tho frouzy Of tho mo-
nlont ono Of these boats was thrown
overheard and lost by tho passengers, who, u1,-
controlled, wero trying to launch her.
Capt. Wood, of the Inflated steamer, and his
assistants. aro said to havo used ovory effort to
control tho passengers, but without avail, aud,
but for tho disobedienoe Of his orders, many WHO
woro lost might have been saved. The
vessel WAS we'll provided with life-preservors, but
in tho panic 1t aeomB that none Of the paBson-
gors secured thom, aud this fact also added to
tho lamontable loss Of life.
Over forty passengers wero drowned, among
whom wore Mrs. Reed aud three chill
dren, wifo and ohlldren of Policeman
Heed, of this city, nnd Ills niece,
whose nama has not yet been ascortainod Ade-
line Jonkius chambernaid, and dock-hnnd,
namo unknown; Mrs. Virginia Marbury, OF
dlYmont; 1Iias Bertio Sanders, and child, Of
Currioman, Va
Up to tho timo that the expreBs in which tho
narrator Of this statement arrived, left the Bceno
Of tho wrock, but five or six bodies had been re-
covorel and tho confusion was SO great that
further list of tho names Of tho lost could not
bo obtained. Among the saved WIS d hIr. Wise,
| Of this city, and J, Wilkin Massey. Kenny atates
| that Capt. Wood wa8 the last man to leave the
vessel, and tho pilot, Mr. Boswell, was surround
ed by aames before ho left tho pilot-hox, which
| WAS not until aftor ho had run tho steamer
aground. Tho flames spread With such rapidity
that tho tller-ropes wore on fire before tho yos-
sol struck ground.
| ALL those lost woro, it is supposed, drowned,
having jumped overheard to eacapo tho flames,
The fro was first discovered about twenty
| minutes before II o'clock, and Kenny states
that In less than ten minutes tho vessel was on
velopod In flames, and now lies whore 1t was
| run aground, burned to the waters odgo.
| Ohatterton's Point Is just opposite Maryland
Point and tho survivors Of tho disaster Aayo
boon made as comfortable "a possible ut Stew
art's, and near that place, whore they
will remain till about 0 o'clock this (8atur-
day. morning, at Which time the steam
or Goorgiana will take thom on board,
expecting to roach this city about o'clock p. m.
About ouo-Aalf tue passengers OH the Wawaasot
woro womon and children, many OF whom were
on routo to country places along tho Potomac to
spend short time with their friends. There
worc quite number Of colorod people atnong
tho passengers.
Tho Wawassos is sido.wloel stcamor, about
$50 tons, aud was engaged in running between
Washington and tho landings along tho Potomac.
ello was insured for s28, 900. When sho loft hero
this morning 1t was supposed blo was In porfoot
ordor, aud tho origin Of tho fro is at present un-
| known,
Az tho particulars OF tho dlaastor bocamo
known tonight, groat crowds COLLECTED about