Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-09


Statement OF Henry Lewis, Deck
Henry Lewis, colored, one of the deck hands
of the steamer Wawasset, came up on the
steamer Georgiana this morning to Alexandria,
and took the first ferry boat to this city. He
states that two colored women, Mrs Shankland.
living on Capitol Hill. and Mrs. Mahala Fleet,
residing somewhere near the City Hall, came
up as far as Alexandria from Taylor's Landing,
and that each of them lost q child and were
bound up to try and recognize the bodies. The
ferry boat City of Washington arrived at 7:SO
O'Clock from Alexandria, and brought up Susan
Parker, Mary Blackwell, and Hiram Black
well, colored, who belong in westmorelaud
county, Va. They were on board the wawas-
set, and all three were
BADLY BURNED,
Mary Blackwell was badly burned on the
neck and hands, which we're covered with large
blisters; Susan Parker, hands badly burned;
and Hiram Blackwell, badly burned on arms
and hands, and clothing nearly burned Off him.
STATEMENT OF MR.. JOHN REED.
MI John Reed, brother of Policeman Reed,
also came up on this boat. He was on the
Wawaset, and got badly burned on the face and
head. He states that he was busy throwing
overheard some planks for the women to catch
hold of, when the flames burst up the gangway
and nearly smothered him, and he jumped
overheard and swan ashore. His clothing was
burnt, and he had a narrow escape with his life
He also states that when the fire was discovered
the women and children were in the deck saloon.
and 1t was not above three minutes before all
communication was cut Off between the bow
and stern of the boat He states that there
were III registered passengers, besides 20 chill
dren not registered and the officers and crew of
the boat, on board; and, in his opinion, not less
than 50 were lost. One body of a woman was
recovered after the National left last night,
and it is thought that most of the bodies will be
recovered during to-day.
Lieut.. Gessford, with Sergeant Larrabee and
Officers King, Auldridge, Shea, Dodge and
SmoOt, were in attendance this morning. and
assisted in the removal of the bodies and in
keeping order.
At1:40 the Georgeanna arrived at the mail
boat wharf, bringing Captain Wood and Engi-
neer Nash, with some of the hands of the boat.
The Scenes at the Wharf.
The scenes at the eth street wharf last night
as different persons arrived who had lost rela
tives and friends, were truly distressing. Among
the first TO arrive was Officer Reed, of the Me-
trOpolitan police force, who had a wife, three
children, and niece on board the wawaset
His agony, as he ran frantlcally around irving
to CLEAN some ray of hope that some of his loved
ones were saved, was fearful to witness. See
ing group about Mr.. Mckinney, the BAR ten
der ON the Wawaset, who was giving particu-
lars of the tragedy, he inquired in hoarse
broken tones: mckinney, for Gods sake can
you not tell me something about my family?''
MIR. Mckinney replied feelingly, 4" Would to
heaven could give you some encouragement;
but it would be cruel to deceive you. Your
family were all lost" Mr.. Reed thereupon
broke into wall of despair, wringing his hands
and showing such marks of hopeless agony as
to bring tears to every eye. 1t was indeed a
household wreck for Mr.. Reed, who, at one fell
swoop, loses his wife, three children and niece.
The children were all under eight years of age;
and the niece, Bette Reed, was a beautiful
and amiable young lady. about eighteen years
of age.
ANOTHER DISTRESSING SCENE,
following upon Mr.. Reeds terrible display of
agony, was presented on the arrival of Mr..
William Muse "a neighbor of Mr.. Reeds) who
had wife and two children on the wawaset
His distress was shown In a somewhat quieter
form, but was almost more painful to witness
from the convulsive workings of his face in his
ate mpts to bdue violent express ions of grief
and, from the silent tears running down his
face, and his almost inarticulate attempts to
frame words of inquiry.
List Of the Saved.
List of passengers saved, (white.) -McAsh-
ton, j. b. North, o. Eddy, }. H. Wise, A. Mel
vim, Benjamin Bartlett, A. j. McGuiggan,
Thomas Massie, Thomas Owen, W. T. Emmer-
son, E. Nash, John Rud, G. Emerlvie.
List Of colored: X. ID. Beckley, j. Tate, VIM.
Saunders, james Brooks, Henry Street, George
Parker, Samuel Blackwell, Charles Shankland-
John Hughes, John Scott, Thomas Coxton,
Lewis Scott, Robert CASTOR, H. Taylor, VIM.
HaNw fxRrt L
TOPPER, M. Walker, A. Strout, j. H. Wood, boy,
Thomas Rich, H. Biackley, WIN. johnson, VIM.
Brooks, Lewis woodie, James Newman, Lind
ley jackson, Mrs. Ogleton Taylor, Laura Tay-
loa, Kate Mcpherson, Mrs. Price and child.
The above were all saved, and some Of them
badly burned.
Susan Parker, May Blackwood, Eliza Mat
thews, Laura Barnard, Julia Christopher,
Mary Campbell, Matilda Dunlop, Daffrey Win
tiers, Mary Norman, Julia Shankland, Clara
jackson, Nancy Baylor, Sarah Payne, M. Ball,
were also saved and more or less burned.
The white ladies and children known to be
lost are Patsey Sands, Julia Kelly, Esther
Griffin and two children, Mrs. j. w. Reed and
three children, Miss Z. Reed, Cordelia Hobbs,
and Miss Marbury.
George Tibbs, colored deck hand was lost,
and Adeline jenkins, the chambermala
George W. Cook, grocer, on It'll street, be-
tween ID and f southwest, is thought to be lost,
with little child; he was seen to jump over
board with his child in his arms, and has not
been heard Of. One Of his sons, a boy about 10
years of age. was saved. An old man named
Henry Hazen, about 70 years Of age, was on
board, and is supposed to be lost.
Robert Nash, the engineer, came up this
morning; he was saved by his son, Samuel
Nash, young man, who jumped overheard
and swan ashore with his father. The son was
assistant engineer on the Wawaset.
The captain was the last person who left the
boat. He was on the bow, and did all-in his
power to render assistance TO the panic-stricken
women. Finally the flames and smoke drove
him overheard, considerably burned about the
head and face, and he swan ashore.
An inquest was held by the authorities near
the scene Of the disaster yesterday, and YER
dict rendered in accordance with the facts.
The jury entirely exonerated Capt. Woods from
all blame in the matter, and gave him q certif-
cate to that effect. When the captain saw
there was no hope Of extinguishing the flames,
he took his station at the wheel and heading