Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-08-15

N&S SIlli, Gn1nK, near nall mile rom the
shore, It reached the shore long way a.
head of me, but got there safe with my
little niece
statsUasAs Of s2isa kate MePAeroen.
Miss Kate Mcpherson, whose statement
Is furnished by tho reporter of the Wash
ington Star, is the daughter Samuel w.
MCPHERSON, Esq, of Pomonkey district, in
Charles county. Miss Virginia Marbury,
mentioned in this statement, was of Peters
burg, Va, and a daughter of the late Frank
Marbury, Of Alexandria. She was @ beau
tiful and most Interesting young lady, full
Of life and hope,
Miss Mcpherson states that she went a.
board the Wawaset with Miss Marbury at
Glymont, and kept with her during the
first part Of the excitement, until the smoke
drove them down the gangway; that she
missed her on the main deck, and the rush
OF colored people was 80 great towards the
life-boat that she could not turn to find her:
that she was hustled overheard after the
life-boat was stove in, with many others,
by the rush Of the colored people toward
the gangWay that she immediately sunk
and rose twice, and knew nothing more
until she found herself in a boat and being
carried ashore. She was taken to the res
idcnce Of Mrs. Grimes, when it was found
that she was uninjured, with the exception
OF slight burn on one shoulder. She de-
| scr1bed the scene on the burning boat as
most terrible to witness. The flames burst
out oil around and swept aft, driving
women and children over into the water.
She saw four little children hanging by
their hands on the waist of the steamer.
and one after the other drop into the wa
ter, the flames driving them Off The col
ofed people were perfectly wild, and no re-
monstrance on the part of the officers was
needed, they jumped into the boat, piling
1t full, and declared that it was the color
ed peoples boat; refusing al whites ad-
mission when Invent down all were dump
ed into the water together and many 9th
ers followed, being pushed overboard.-
The flames burst into the main deck, set
ting fire to the clothing of women and
children, who were hoping for some relief;
that no one could pass the gangway for
the flames, and the screams of the women
and children were deafening.
| During the recital of her experience,
Bliss Mcpherson. could not refrain from
bursting out into sobs, especially when al
fusion was made to Miss Marbury, who
was near and dear friend. Her anxiety
seemed to be great about her people, who
live in Charles county, and her uncle,
Henry Marbury, ESQ.,, of Aloxandria, think
| ing of the distress of mind they must be in
Oh account of her absence since the disas-
ter.
hTSpo AoDl,o-1o-, So S,,4o !
could picture very wildly the distressing
scenes she witnessed on board the steamer.
She was pulled up out Of the water some
ten yards from the boat, just as she was
sinking the last time, by Mr. Robert Adams
and taken ashore in an insensible condi-
ton, and she feels that her escape was al
most miraculous.
Statement OF a asoy who vvAa Saved.
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 rel
atlves near Stewart wharf, about FIVE or six
miles below the scene of the disaster, and
he reached Washington Sunday night with
his mother in the steamer Columbia. He
IS quite slaaTt-talking lad, but seems to
be groatly depressed in spirits by the loss
OF his father. He made to representative
Of the Star the following statement :-"I
was right in front Of the engine-room al
little before IL o'clock, when [ saw smoke
coming out, and just as noticed it a man
came running out and said to one of the
engineers, who was standing by the bar
room, "The boats afire." Igot frightened
and ran back towards the saloon, and the
place was full of smoke, and saw father
when he came down the steps, and we
went on that place round by the stern and
climbed over. believe they call the place
we came on the waist. We got on the rud-
der chains and held to them, and we could |
see the smoke and flames above US. ALL
this time the people were screaming and
hallooing, and we were both frightened.
The people kept jumping over the stern
and getting on the rudder chains, and |
was crowded off; but got bold of father
and clasped him round the waist, but we |
were both showed off and sank. I let go |
my hold and went to the bottom, but I rose |
in about the same place, and got hold of
the chain again. looked around for IA |
ther, but did not see him again. was
not Oh the chains very long-but it seem
eel long time-before boat took me of, |
and when got to shore I went over to-
wards the Rappahannock, and DR.. Price
sent mo TO where my mother was"
NJ. Cook was member of Harmony |
Lodge, knights Of Pythias, as also a mem
Der Of Ryland chapel, and during the war
was il the Confederate service, serving as
captain in the 18th Virginia cavalry. He
has been in the grocery business lattorly
on 18th street southwest and had just rent |
ed g stall in Center market to go into bus
mess there. His funeral took place Mon
day afternoon.
Thus far seventy-two bodies of the vic
tins have been recovered. It would seem
that the number Of the passengers lost far
exceeds the number saved. The invcsti- |
CATION into the cause of the disaster will
soon begin, and will assume the form of |
suit against the owners of the Wawaset by
the Supervising Inspector of Steamboats,
of the Treasury Department. It appears
that on her last eventful trip the owners
of the Wawaset failed to ask or receive a |
special permit to carry more passengers
than her certificate of inspection allowed.
If the owners had been granted such re-
quest, they would have been compelled to
procure an additional outfit. In the mat
ter of an extra license, the owners having
to procure that necessary paper,
have v;0Iafn1 tho law Tho ,ooDol;kx- 10 n