The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-09
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
TERRIBLE DISASTER ON THE
TOafAC. E.t,
!. BURNING OF THE, STEAMER
WAWASETT.
FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE. I /.
Especial telegram TO the Dispatclh,, ,l,..

- - ~@NAAS~> 49, A1SS0 SV4 LIZ
- ,,, Especial telegram to the Dispatch
johannesburg, Va, August s.-The
steamer Wawasett took fire aboutt12 Mite
day at Chattaton landing, with about one
hundred and fifty passengers on board.
Between forty and fifty lives were lost Six
bodies have been found up to 2 O'clock
three white ladies and one child and two
colored children. Miss Virginia Marbury,
of Glymont; Miss Bette Saunders and small
child, of Carrioman, are among the dead.
Others are not recognized. Mr.. George w.
Cooke, of Warsaw, Va, is missing. Captain
Wood did no. leave the boat until forced by
the flames. The fire was first discovered In
the engine-room.
TE3y Associated Press.J
FURTHER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE
BAR-KEEPER. T
The reporter of the Associated Press al
midnight had an interview with "Dac'
Kenney, the bar-keeper of the Wawasett
the only one of the passengers or crew ol
that vessel who reached Washington tonight.
He came up to this city on the steamer Ex'
press with an excursion party from Piney
Point, the latter vessel having sighted the
wreck about 4 o'clock this afternoon, and
picked up Kenney, who had been sent out
in small boat to come up to Washington
the passengers and crew of the Wawasett
being at that time all cared for
at Stewards wharf, near the scene OF
the disaster. kenney states that the Wa
wasett left here at O'Clock this morning on
her regular weekly trip to Cone river with
1T registered passengers and quite large
cargo of freight for river landings. just
before reaching Chatteton's 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 stretched Immediately, but before the
men could reach it the confagration became
general as the fire bad been burn.
ing for some time. The fire bad
been smouldering, it is supposed, for
some hours, and, 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 boat, the passengers becoming panic
stricken and frantic with fear, very few
having presence of mind sufficient to take
care of themselves. The steamer was with
out a seconds delay headed for the shore on
the Virginia side, and in few minutes run
aground about two hundred yards from the
Virginia side. At this time the flames had
spread with fearful rapidity, and In the ex-
element many jumped overheard, several of
them jumping into the water before the
steamer struck the bottom. She was
provided with but two small boats,
and in the frenzy Of the moment one of
these boats was thrown overheard and lost
BY the passengers, who, uncontrolled, were
endeavoring to launch her. Captain Wood,
of the ill-fated steamer, and his assistants,
are said to have used every effort to control
the passengers, but without avail, and but
for this disobedience of orders many who
were not would have been saved.
The vessel was well provided with life
preservers, but in the panic it seems that
none of the passengers secured them, and
this fact also added to the lamentable loss OF
life. Over forty passengers were drowned,
among whom were Mrs. Reed and three
children; the wife and three children of
policeman Reed, of this city, and his niece,
name not yet ascertained Adeline Jenkins,
chambermuid q deck hand, name un-
known: Mrs. Virginia Marbury, OF ely
mont; Miss Bette Sanders and child, OF
Currioman.
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 confusion was so
great that a further list of names OF those
lost could not be obtained.
Among tue saved was a Mr.. Wise, OF this
city, and J. Wilkin Massey. kenney states
that CAPTAIN Wood was the last man to
leave the steamer, and the pilot, Mr. Bos-
well, was surrounded by the flames before
be left the pilot-boX, which was not until
after he had run the steamer aground.
The flames spread with such rapdity that
that the tiler-ropes were on fire before Tue
vessel struck ground. All of those lost, 1t
is supposed, were drowned, having jumped
overheard to escape the flames. The flre
was first discovered about twenty minutes
before II o'clock, and Kenney states that III
| less than ten minutes the vessel was ellVel-
oped in flames, and now lies where she was
run aground, burned to the waters edge.
Chattetons Point is just opposite TO
Maryland Point, and the survivors of the
| disaster have been made as comfortable as
possible at, SIewart's and near that place
where they will remain until about9 O'Clock
| this morning, at which time the steamer
Georgianna will take them on board, eX.
| pecting to reach this city about o'clock. :
: About one-haif the passengers on the Wa.
| wasett were women and children, many oil
| whom were en- route to country2p places along
| the Potomac to spend short time pleasur
ING with their friends. There were mum
Der of colored people among the passengers
The Wawasett was small side-wheel
steamer of about $50 tons, and was engaged
! in running between Washington and thi
landings along the Potomac. She was IN
sured for $4,000. When she left here thl:
morning it was supposed she was In perfec,
| order, and the origin Of the fire is at presen
! unknown.
New York Items.