Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-09
LATER.
Statement of Cant. Woods

statement of Capt. Woods.
A reporter of THE STAR this morning called
on Capt. John r. Woods, commanding officer
of the burnt vessel. He is burned around the
neck and ears slightly. His account is substan-
tally as follows: The fire broke out at twenty
five minutes past IL O'Clock, between Thorn's
gut and Chatterton. 1 was in the pilot-house
at the time. A fireman came in and told me
that the boat was On fire below. 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 the life.boats, which were
on after-quarters on each, to lower them
although they were full of passengers threw
water on the wheel ropes so as to keep her steer
age all right, and passed buckets of water from
below to the hurricane deck for the purpose, as
became satisfied there was no hope of saving
the vessel, and that the only chance to save the
passengers was to keep her going, she heading
for the beach. The boat reached the
beach in about twelve or thirteen
minutes after the alarm was given-in less than
five minutes after the alarm was given the fire
was in the rear of the pilot house-the engine
refused to work about half minute before
she struck the shore, and the boat run length
before she came to a dead stop, and grounded
in less than five feet of water from the bow. l
remained on the hurricane deck until the flames
had burnt the window curtain in my ROOM and
the saloon windows, below, were shooting forth
Hery darts. 1 then came down on the
forward deck and did what I could to save
the passengers. A great many were afraid to
jump overheard. i assured them they were
safe in jumping, as the water from the bow
was not over their heads, and upon this assur-
ance one ortwo made leap, and many others
seeing that the water was shallow followed
their example, and were saved. 1t was with
difficulty 1 checked them jumping over in
large bodies, and drowning each other during
the excitement. am satisf ed that near ly all
lives lost were lost in the stern of
the boat, the flames driving that way. and
forcing the passengers to jump or be burnt.
Just before left the boat heard lady Mrs.
Taylor, of Alexandria) crying for help from the
rear of the vessel. 1 saw her hanging to the
middle chains, and sent a boat to her rescue
and saved her. i am satisfied the excitement
caused undue loss of life. and that every pas
senger was saved who jumped overheard for
ward. A great many lives were lost
on the life-boats by being oyercro wded.
Before the boat stopped one of them was
crowded with colored passengers, and when she
was cut loose the stern bulged out and swamped
the craft. About 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,
almost like finder, and the flames, when they
struck the oiled machinery, spread like a torch.
The cargo was of a miscellaneous nature, and
containing nothing inflamable except two bar
rels Of whisky, which were in the forward hold,
and were among the last things burned. 1t
was entirely lost. The passenger list and man
fest OF the vessel was lost 1t being impossible
for the clerk to reach the Office to obtain it. AT
the time Of the accident but few Of the passen-
gers were asleep, and none in the state
rooms Some were lying down on sofas. The
Georgeanna came along, on her way from Bal
timore, and brought up few Of the passengers.
Many went down through the country, and
others are awaiting other boats to come home
All were well taken care Of. The steamers
value estimate at e40, 900.
The Clerks Statement.
Mr.. j. W. Wheeler, the clerk, states that after
leaving Alexandria they took aboard q white
man at Liverpool Point named Robert Olive,
bound for Longwood wharf, and this man he
thinks was lost. At Glymont they took on board
Kate Mcpherson and Miss Jennie Marbury.
The latter was lost and the former saved. One
colored man got on at Transport and was lost.
Those landed were as follows One at ely
mont, two or three at Sandy Point. Of whom he
thinks one was colored woman and two chill
dren; four white ladies and two or three chill
dren, and one OF two white men and six col
ored men and women, also Q white boy
named Braxton, at Smiths Point. He
also states that there were some adults on
board not registered, and that no children
younger than or 10 years were on the register
List; these are not charged with fare, and he
| thinks there were about twelve Of them. He
| thinks there must have been above thirty lives
lost, and 10 afraid there is more; that about
O'Clock, after all had got ashore that could, an
attempt was made to collect the passengers to-