The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-08-22
ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL DISASTER.

BURNING OF A STEAMER on THE POTOMAC
OVER FoETY PASSENGERS JUmr OVERHEARD
n ARE DROWNED.
The steamer Wawasset, Of Washington. with
$50 passengers on board, was burned OF Ac-
quia Creek, Va, on the 9Th inst. Doc Kenny,
the bar-kceper Of the boat, who arrived in
Washington the same evening, furnished the
reporter Of the Associated Press with tho fol-
lowing particulars Of the disaster: Just before
reaching Chatterton's Landing, on the vir-
Sinia side Of the Potomac, about Ave miles be-
low Acquia Creek, and after the whistle Of the
boat had been blown as the .ignal OF her ap-
proach 20 that landing, the steamer at that
time being about n third Of a mile from tho
shore, fire was discovered in the hold, and the
hose was attached Immediately, but before the
men could reach it the confagration became
general, as the fire had been smouldering, il ID
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 subdne it. In an in
slant great confusion prevailed on the vessel,
the passengers becoming panic-stricken 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 the Virginia side. aud in . few
minutes run aground about 2UO yards from the
Virginia side. At this time the flames had
spread with fearful rspidity, and in the cx-
element many jumped overheard. Several Of
them jumped into the water before the stcam-
or struck bottom. She was provided with hut
two small boats, and in the frenzy Of the mo-
ment one Of these boats was thrown over BOARD
and lost by the passengers, who, uncontrolled,
we're trying to launch her.
Capt. Wood, Of the Inflated steamer, and
his assistants. are said to have used every ef-
fort to control the passengers, but without
avail, and, but for the disobedience Of his or
ders, many who were lost might have been
saved. The vessel was well provided with
life-prsservers, but in the panic 1t seems that
none Of the passengers secured them. and
this fact also added to the lsmentable loss Of
life.
Over forty passengers were drowned. Capt.
Wood was the last man to leave the vessel,
and the pilot, Mr.. Boswell, was surrounded by
flames before he left the pilot-box, which was
not until after he had run the steamer
aground. The flames spread with such rapid
ty that the tiller-ropes were on fire before tho
vessel struck ground.
ALI those lost were, it is supposed, drowned,
having jumped overheard to escape the
flames.
TIL fire was first discovered about twenty
minutes before IL O'Clock, and Kenny states
that in less than ten minutes the vessel was
enveloped in flames, and now lies whore it was
run aground, burned to tho waters edge.
About one-hslf the passengers on the Wa
wssset were women and children, many Of
whom were on route to country places along
the Potomac TO spend . short time with their
friends.
The Wawasset was a side-wheel steamer,
abont $50 tons, aud was engaged in running
between Washington and the landings along
the Potomac. She was insured for cas-, 900.
Miss MCPHERSON, q passenger, describes tho