Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-08-13

The Potomac Steamboat Disaster.
Friday noon last the steamboat Wawasset
which was upon the Potomac below Wash
ington took FIRE and burned, about five miles
below Aqua Greek. The loss of life was
great, no less than seventy of her passengers
being burned or drowned in attempting to
escape from the flames, The Wawasses was
of 348 tons burden and had over one hundred
passengers on board. The loss of life was
owing to the life preservers, with which the
boat was amply supplied, being placed so
that the flames cut them off and made them
unavailable, and to the panic created by the
fire.
On Monday sixty-seven bodies had been
recovered and it was thought m ore were
yet to be found. The fire was discovered
when near Chatterton's landing, and the
Wawassst was then third of mile from
the shore. She was Immediately headed for
the Virginia bank aud grounded in FIVE feet
of water
Captain John R. Woods, the commander,
who was burned around the neck slightly,
says The fire broke out at 90 minutes past
IL o'clock, between Thom's Gut and Chat
terton. l was in the pilot-house at the time;
a fireman came in and told me that the boat
was on fire below. when l Immediately came
out and found the flames reached quite to
the hurricane deck, along the walking beam.
then saw that it was impossible to get to
| L. g. h44 .oLx.
tiers on each side, to lower them, although
they were full of passengers. | threw water
on the wheel-ropes so as to keep the steerage
all right, and passed buckets of water from
below to the hurricane deck for the purpose.
as became satisfied that there was no hope
Of saving the vessel, and that the only chance
to save the passengers was to keep her going
The boat reached the beach about II or IL
minutes after the alarm was iven.
In less than five minutes after the alarm
was given the fire was in the rear of the pilot
house. The engine refused to1work about
half minute before she struck the shore,
and the boat ran length and grounded 10
less than five feet of water at the bow. | re-
NAMED on the hurricane deck until the
flames had burnt the window curtains in my
room and the saloon windows below were
shooting forth fiery darts. then came down
on the forward deck aud did what could to
save the passengers; great many were
afraid to jump overheard until | assured
them that they could safely do 50, as the
water from the bow was not over their heads.
Upon this assurance one or two made a leap,
and many others, seeing that the water was
shallow, followed their example and were
saved. 1t was with difficulty that checked
them from jumping over in large numbers
and drowning each other. | am satisfied
that nearly all the loss of life occurred in the
boat, the flames driving that way and forcing
the passengers to jump overheard or be burn
ed. just before [ lett the boat | heard a
la 1y, Mrs. Taylor of Alexandria, crying for
help from the rear OF the vessel. saw her
banging to the middle chains, and sent a
board to her rescue and saved her.
l am satisfied the excitement caused undue
loss OF lie, and that every passenger wa
saved who jumped overheard forward. A
great many lives were lost in the lIfe-boats
by being over-crowded. Before the boat
stopped one of them was crowded with color
ed passengers, and, when she was cut loose,
the stern bulged out and swamped the craft.
About u dozen small children were aboard,
and | think FIVE or six were lost. The fire
caught in the hold, but it is impossible to
tell just where. The boat was very dry, al
most like finder, and the flames, when they
struck the oiled snachinery, spread like a
torch. The cargo was of miscellaneous
nature. At the time of the accident few of
the passengers were asleep and none were in
the state-rooms. Some were lyin, down on
the sofas.
The pilot says: The fireman came to the
wheel-hOuse and told me that the boat was
on fire. The captain was standing outside
OF the pilot-house at the time !; 1 SAID, - Cap
tain, the best thing We can do is to run her
ashore at the nearest place ,Chatterton's land
ing L headed her for the shore, and she
struck in FIVE feet of water | remained in
the pilot-house until the wheel ropes broke
in two, and the fire was burning into the
pilot-house | then jumped overheard and
swan ashore with two ladies, whom saved
| then brought out and landed six or eight
passengers; | male a second trip with the
boat and took 10 three c)lorei women with
a child, who were hanging to the rudder,
and landed them safely; [ than swan out
again and made two unsuccessful attempts
to rescue Officer Reeds wife. but she twisted
away from me IN each instance, [ presume
not knowing what she was doing through
fear. When came b ok to the stern of the
boat for the last time, three children, two
white and one colored, were there; tired to
get at them, but the flames prevented me,
and they were all burned l think two wee
Mr.. Reeds children. | then went astern
and bailed out the lite-boat, and took nine
dead bodies to Stewards wharf, four white
and FIVE colored remained at Stewart
wharf and placed the bodies on the steamer
National, which brought them to Wash. ny
ton. | kept the deck hands pouring water
on the wheel ropes until the fire drove them
on deck. The fireman told me the first place
he saw the fire was in the bow don'G think
any but Mr.. Reeds child, Miss Bessie Reed,
was lost in jumping off the bow of the boat;