Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-11
STATEMENT OF A SURVIVOR.

Hiram Smith, 4 coiored man who was saved.
states that he was present and witnessed the
loss Of the life boat. As soon as she " as lowered
to the main deck the colored Jmen took posses
sion OF her by force, and no threats or persua-
sion OF the officers could prevent them. The
boat was heaped fun Of baggage and men, and
he saw yellow man cut the bow rope, and
she fell headlong down with such force as 70
tear out the stern, because Of the dayit holding
at that end, and all in her sunk; that the boat
fioated of, some two or three persons hanging
to her; he was forced by the flames 70 jump
overheard, and saved himself by swimming.
The vanderbilt, after cruising about the river,
sent boat on shore with Capt. Wood, who CON-
manded the wswaset, and gentleman from
Alexandria, cousin of Miss Marbury, the lat
ter to look for the remains of his relative, and
the captain to aid in taking care of the dead
and perform such other missions as circum-
stances may suggest. II. .. n.
A Distressed Mother.
This morning Mrs. Margaret Lewis called at
The STAR Office and stated that she had been
to the steamboat landing, where she was told
that reporter of THE STAR had returned from
Chatterton last evening and might give her
tidings Of her four children who were on board
She seemed in great distress OF mind, and said
she had walked from Laurel, Md, on Saturday
last TO W Washington, having heard of the disas-
ter; that her daughter, sbont IA years of age,
and three sons younger, were on board the Wa
waset and she had no tidings Of them. No hope
could be extended her, and she returned 10 the
adding to watch and wait for tidings. She
stated that she has twin infants remaining TO
her husband was returned to her crushed be-
yond the possibility Of recognition by a rail-
road accident.
statement Of Boy who was Saved.
GRAPHIC NARRATIVE.
Leslie Cook, son of George W. Cook, one of
the victims, about thirteen years of age, was
with his father on his way to see his mother.
who was visiting some of her relatives near
Stewards wharf, about five or six miles below
the scene of the disaster, and he reached Wash
ington last night with his mother in the
steamer Columbia. He is quite a smart
talking lad, but seems to be greatly depressed
in spirits by the loss of his father. He this
morning made to a representative of The STAR
the following statement IL was right in front
of the engine-Ioom a little before II O'Clock
when l saw smoke coming out, and just as /
noticed II man came running out
and said to one of the engineers, who WAS
standing by the bar-room, Z" The boats afre."
got frightened and ran back towards the sa-
loon, and the place was full of smoke, and sa9
father when he came down the steps, and we
went on that place round by the stern and
came on the waist. We got on the rudder
chains and held to them, and we could see the
smoke and flames above All this time the
people were screaming and halloong, and We
were both frightened. The people kept jump
ing over the stern and getting on the rudder
chains. and was crowded OFF; but | got hold
of father and clasped hum round the waist, but
we were both showed off and sank. let 90 nv
hold and went to the bottom, but / rose in
abont the same place, and got hold of the chain
again. Hooked around for father, but did not
long-but it seemed long time-before a boat
took me on, and when / got to shore went
over towards the Rappahsnnock, and DIR. Price
sent me to where my mother was"
Mr.. Cook was a member of Harmony Lodge
knights of Pythias, as also member of Ry-
land chapel, and during the war was in the
confederate service, serving as captain in the
18th Virginia cavalry. He has been in the gro
Gerry business latteriy on 18th street southwest,
and had just rented a stall in Center market TO
go into business there. His funeral took place
this afternoon.
The Search Continued.
A party started down at 6 O'Clock thu
morning on the tug Mary Lewis, and will
spend the day in cruising about fer bodies, re-
turning late this evening. They took down with
them some cofhns and boxes, also lumber with
President Howison, of the Ferry company
was on visit st Fredericksburg when the dis
aster occurred, for the purpose of bringing to
her home in Alexandria his invalid wife, who
came at once to Washington, arriving here late
on Saturday. Knowing well that Captain Ged-
ney and his crew, who had gone down with the
tug boat, would spare no exertion in extending
succor TO all who had escaped, and that there
could be no hope of the drowned rising until
the third day, he declined the proffer made by
Capt. Hollingshead Of his boat, and accepted
the offer of the Vanderbilt, and himself, Capt
Gedney, and his crew, went down to the scene
OF the disaster, and spent the entire day, as al
ready stated.
Further Particular.
The failure of the boats of the wawaset is
explained as follows: Mrs. Reed and children
and one or two others were to have landed at
Chatterton, that place being miles from her
fathers, Mr.. Walker, and one of her brothers
was at the landing awaiting her landing. The
boat had been lowered so that parties
could have stepped direct from the deck,
and the packages, baggage, &C., had been
placed in it while the clerk had gone up to bring
the ladies. The Wawaset had perhaps i've min
utes to run before the boats would be lowered
and in the meantime the cry of "firei was
raised, the panic commenced, and the
boat was taken possession of by the
hrst comers.the eolored people. The
crew were all forward fighting the fire, and the
parties in the boat vanity called for some one 20
lower it, and finally some person in 1t getting
impatient cut the ropes at the bows, and it fell
whole load was lost probably, and the boat
rendered useless, being store in.
There were on board the boat 40 six-pound
cork life preservers and IS fOur-and- half pound
preservers.
Last winter when the boat was being over.
hauled Capt. Gedney was requested to super
wise the repairs, and he superintendent them
personally, using the greatest are The OPEN
ing in which the boiler was placed was enlarged
one foot, and lined with iron, ard a new Jacket
was also laced in it.
An Investigation Ordered.
The supervising inspector OF steamboats, fox
this District was at the Treasury department
this morning examining the papers of the Wa
waset, and will commence the investigation of
the disaster on "Wednesday morning. The GER
tifcate of inspection on fle in the Treasury
department shows that the wswaset was only
authorized, on her regular trips, to carry ffty
passengers, with officers and crew, numbering
fifteen, making altogether sixty five persons
and was required TO have nfeboats to accommo-
date all. For excursions she was authorized 70
carry more passengers whenever a special per-
NIT was asked for and obtained, but il was then
required that she should have a sufficient num-
Der of plank floats and life-preservers placed
where they could be accessible in any emer-
gency. The investigation will De held in
Washington, and will be conducted by the local
board, Messrs. j. ID. Lowry and W. b. Sayille
II will be their province, by the examination or
witnesses, to determine whether the Officers OF
the boat did their duty, and whether the CONN.
ment of the boat was properly distribnted
po f.,rx L