Connecticut western news., 1873-08-29
The WaWasset Disaster.
The Story of the Captain.

lhe story or the Capta1ns
 Capt. Wood, of the burned steamer Wawasset, makes the following state ment:- i...
 The fire broke out at twenty-five min utes past twelve o'clock, between Thorn's Gut and Chatterton. I 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. I then saw it was impossible to get to the ifeboats, which were on after quarters on each, to lower them, although they were full of passengers. I 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, as I 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 @ length before she came to @ dead stop and grounded in less than five feet of water from the bow. Iremained on the hurricane deck until the flames had burned the window curtain in my room, and the saloon windows, below, were shooting forth fiery darts. I 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 assurance one or two made leap, and many oth- CTS, seeing that the water was shallow, followed their example and were saved. It was with difficulty I checked them jumping over in large bodies and drown ing each other during the excitement. I am satisfied that nearly all lives lost were lost in the stern of the boat, the flames driving that way and forcing the passengers to jump or be burned.
 Just before left the boat heard a 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 saved her. I am satisfied the excitement caused undue loss of life, and that every passenger was saved who jumped over board forward. A great many lives were lost on the lifeboats by being overcrowd- ed. Before the boat stopped one of them was crowded with colored passen- gers, 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 @ torch. The cargo was of 8 miscellaneous nature, and contained nothing infammable ex- cept two barrels of whisky, which were in the forward hold and were among the last things burned. It was entirely lost. The passenger list and manifest of the vessel were lost, it being impos- sib1e for the clerk to reach the office to obtain it. At the time of the accident, but few of the passengers were asleep and none in the state rooms. Some were lying down on sofas.