Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-08-13
Terrible Steamboat Accident.

Terrible Steamboat Accident.
FREDERICKSBURG. Va. August g.
The steamer Wawasset, running on the
Potomac river between Washington and
Currioman. took fire about IL o'clock
to-day at Cbatterdon landing. and was
destroyed. She had about $50 passen-
gers on board, and between 40 and so
lives were lost Six bodies were found
up to o'clock, three white ladies, one
child and two colored childred. Miss
Virginia Marbury, of Glynmost Miss
Bessie Saunders and child from Cur
riotain, are among the dead. Others
have not been recognized. George w.
Cook, of Warsaw, Va, is missing
Capt. Wood did not leave the boat until
forced to do so by the flames. The fire
was first discovered in the engine room.
WAsHINGToN. August S.-The repor-
ter of the Associated Press at midnight
had an interview with doc" Kenney.
the barkeeper of the Wawasset. the only
one of the passengers or crew of that
vessel who reached Washington tonight
He came to this city on the steamer Ex-
press. with an excursion party from Pin
ey Point. the latter vessel having sighted
the wreck about four o'clock this after
noon, and picked up Kenny, who had
been cent out in small boat to come up
to Washington. the passengers and crew
Of the Wawasset being at that time car
ed for at Stewards wharf, near the scene
of the disaster.
Kenny states that the Wawaeset left
there at six o'clock this morning. on her
regular weekly trip to Cone river, with
III registered passengers and large
cargo of freight for the river landings.
Just before reaching Chatterdon landing
on the Virginia side of the Potomac,
about FIVE miles below Aqua creek. and
after the whistle of the boat had been
blown as a signal of her approach to
that landing-the steamer at that time
being about third of mile from the
shore-fire was discovered in the hold,
and the hose was attached Immediately.
but before the men could reach it the
couaasration became general. a, the FIRE
had been burning 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 battling all attempts
to subdue it, In less than an instant the
widest confusion prevailed on the ves-
sci, the passengers becoming panic strick.
en- and frantic with fear. very few having
presence Of mind sufficient to take care
of themselves.
The steamer was without q seconds
delay headed for shore on the Virginia
side, aud in few minutes ran aground
about two hundred yards from the shore
At this time the flames had spread with
fearful rapidity, and in the excitement
many jumped overheard. several of them
jumping into the water before the steam
er struck the bottom She was provided
with but two small haas, and in the
frer1T o. the moment one of these boats
was thrown overheard and lost by the
passengers, who, uncontrolled, were en-
deavoring to lunch her. Captain Wood.
of the i'll fated steamer, and his assis-
tants, are said to have used every effort
to control the passengers but without
avail, and but for the disobedience of
orders many who were lost would have
been saved. The vessel was well pro
vided with life preservers. but in the
panic it seems that none of the pass
gers secured them, and this fact also
added to the lamentable loss of life u
Over forty passengers were drowned,
among whom we're Mrs. Reed and three
children, the wife and children of police
man Reed of this city, and his niece,
whose name has not yet been ascertained !;
Adelina Jenkins, chambermaid, and
deck hand. name unknown Mrs. Vir.
ginia Marbury, Of Glymont Miss Ber-
tee Sanders and child, of Currioman,
Virginia.
Up to the time that the express in
which the narrator of this statement 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
names of those lost could not be obtain
ed. Among the saved was Mrs. Wise,
of this city, and j. Wilkin Massey.
Kenney states that Capt. Wood was the
last man to leave the steamer, and the
pilot, Mr.. Boswell, was surrounded by
the flames before he left the pilot box,
which was not until he had to run the
steamer aground.
The flames spread with such rapidity
that the till ropes were on fire before the
vessel struck ground. All of those lost,
it is fsupposed, were drowned, having
jumped overheard to escape the flames
The fire was first discovered about
twenty minutes before II o'clock, and
Kenney states than in less than ten min
utes the vessel was enveloped in flames,