The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-25
The wawassct Disaster.


Aut snug thN
Capt. Wood, OF the burned steamer
Wawasset, makes the following state
ment:-
The fire broke out ut twenty-five min
ntes past twelve o'clock, between
Thorn's Gut and Chatterton. was in
the pilot house Mt the time. A fireman
came in and told mo that the boat was
on fire below. Immediately came out,
and found the flames reached quite to
the hurricane deck, along the walking
beam. l then saw it was impossible to
get to the liieboats, which were on after
quarters on each, to lower them,
although they were full Of passengers.
l threw water on the wheel ropes, so as
to keep her steerage all right, and
passed buckets of water from below to
the hurricane deck for the purpose, MS l
became satisfied there was no hope Of
saving the vessel, and 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 ran n
length before she came to a dead stop
and grounded in less than five feet Of
water from the bow. IremHined on the
hurricane deck until the flames had
burned the window curtain in my room,
and tho saloon windows, below, were
shooting forth fiery darts. then came
down on the forward deck and did what
could to save the passengers. A great
many were afraid to jump overheard. l
assured them they were safe in jumping,
as the water from the bow was not over
their heads, and upon this assurance
one or two made leap, aud many 9TH
ers, seeing that the water was shallow,
followed their example and were saved.
It was with difficulty l checked thcm
jumping overin large bodies and drown
ing each other during tho excitement.
| am satisfied that nearly all lives lost
were lost in the stern OF tho boat, the
flames driving that way and forcing tho
passengers TO jump or be burned.
Just before left the boat l heard n
lady-Mrs. Taylor, Of Alexandria-cry-
ing for help from the rear Of the vessel.
| saw her hanging to the middle chAins
and sent boat to her rescue and say1d
her. nm satisfied the eScitepent
caused undue loss of life, and that every
passenger was Bnyed who iumnsd over
board forward. A great many iives were
lost on the lifeboats by being oyercrowd.
ed. Before the boat stopped one OF
them was crowded with eolored passen.
gers, and when she WAS cut loose tho
stern bulged out andswamped 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 Vas very dry, almost like
finder, and tlle flames, when they strucl
the oiled ,nachinGry, spread Ikea torCl.
The cargo was Of a miscellaneous nat're,
and contained nothing infammnbl' ex'
cept two barrels OF whisky, which were
in clio forward hold and were among
the last things burned. 1t wWent1rely
lost. The passenger list anf manifest
4 Of the vessel were lost, it beng dmpos-
sible for the clerk to reach .he office to
obtain it. At the time Of theaccident,
but few OF the passenqn were asleep
and mono in the sta6 rooms. some
were lying down on Fi"s'