The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-11
THE WAWASET DISASTER.
investigation Ordered by the
Government.
rnTY-sU BODIES RECOVERED.
Alleged Violations in the Equip
ment of the Wawaset.

WASHINGTON, August 10, 1878.
The farce OF investigation into the cause of the
disaster to the steamer wawaset has been ordered
ny the Treasury Department Whenever a steam
Boat blcws up or Is run ashore inquiry is made why
the accident happened. 1t appears in the case Of
the Wawaset that she exceeded the privilege
given by the steamboat inspector in carrying III
passengers when fifty was the maximum, but she
was allowed to carry 500 passengers on excursion
trips, being fully equipped with lile-saving ap
paratus. The enforcement Of the penalty OF $40
0ne for each passenger carried in excess OF the
number will not account for the fire or restore the
victims. The law was intended to prevent the
0vercrowding OF passenger steamboats, running at
night. In this case nearly all the passengers
would have been landed by dusk. The investiga-
ton will be conducted by Inspector Saville, OF this
district, who came from Baltimore yesterday
to examine the papers OF the Wawaset and re-
ceive instructions. The funeral OF the aunt, niece
and two children OF Oncer Reed took place to-day
from his residence in South Washington. The
assemblage OF mourners and sympathlzing friends
was very large. The funeral Of other Victims
brought to the city yesterday also took place this
afternoon.
The steamer Charlotte Vanderbilt, of the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac line, left here
at an early hour this morning for Chatterton Land
ing the scene OF the destruction Of the steamer
WaWaSet on fTlday. a large IOrce nau Deen ell
ployed by the Potomac Ferry Company to assist
In placing the senes and in using the drag, with
which 1t was hoped
TO RECOVER THE BODIES
Of the passengers on the Inflated steamer. She ar
rived at Chatterton about eleven O'Clock. when the
men labored in the hot sun rowing the boats con-
tanning the drags, and in pulling the seine Eight
hours were spent in this labor, resulting in the
covery of thirty-twO more bodies, most OF whom
were colored and unrecognized. or this number
twenty-siX were buried on shore, full descrip-
zion first being taken OF their features and wearing
apparel. The larger NUMBER were women. The
authorities Of King George county were present,
and provided wooden collins for such as were not
to be brought to Washington. Six bodies were
brought to this city, and among them George W.
Cooke (white), VINO was grocery dealer in South
Washington; George nbbs (colored), deck hand;
Richard Murray (cOlored), Mary Blackwell (col-
0red) and girl supposed to be the daughter of
Mrs. Grant. whose body was recovered on
Saturday. The interest in the recovery of the
lost has not abated. large crowd thronged the
wharf Tor hours, patiently awaiting the return of
the Vanderbilt. Altogether, ffty-six bodies have
been found, and it is now believed that the total
loss will exceed seventy. Ofiicer Reeds wife was
recovered and the remains taken charge OF by her
father at Chatterton. One of his children is still
missing. He left this afternoon for Chatterton to
recover. II possible his third child, the
only one now missing to complete the
list OF six who bade him farewell on Friday morn.
Ing last in the best OF health and spirits 1t is
stated tonight that there were serious defects in
The equipment OF the Wawaset and that the steam
boat law was violated in many particulars. If the
investigation should sustain this charge the blame
will fall directly on the Inspector whose duty it is
10 see that every steam passenger vessel is duly
equipped as provided by the act of 1871.