Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-08-15
After the excitement became gen

"
eral advised the passengers to keep cool,
as the boat I knew would ground in low
water. Many jumped overheard before she
struck, and I threw planks to them.
don't think single person was drowned
off the forward deck after the boat struck.
Capt. Wood was the last man that left the
boat. I don't think there was live pas.
senger afoat when Captain Wood left the
boat. I don't think anything was left un-
done by officers to save lives and the boat.
I told many Of the passengers, "For Gods
sake don't jump overheard we will be
aground in low water soon, and you can
wade ashore" They would not heed me,
but jumped excitedly into the water. had
a cousin who jumped overheard before the
boat stopped, who was lost. If we could
have got all the planks overheard many
would have been saved. The shrieks Of the
women and children were enough to appal
the stoutest heart.
STATEMENT ON THE STEWARD.
Charles Tolson, steward of tho Wawaset,
states that finding it getting too hot for him,
he climbed over the stern and slid down
the rudder shaft, catching hold of the curve
in the top part, where he seated himself I'M
til the fire burned him out, and struck
out the best he could Not knowing how
to swim be went to the bottom and gave a
kick toward shore that he sank twice,
when some one in boat caught hold Of him
and pulled him in. During the time he
was on the rudder some six women caught
hold of the chain, and were pulled off by
others trying to save themselves; that the
screams and cries were so pitiful that it
nearly made him frantic, but he could do
nothing. The Goals began to fall on his
head, and the smoke and fames forced him
of, and when he got ashore he was insensi-
BILE for some time.
AT ALEXANDRIA.
AT Alexandra, as soon as the news Of
the d; " ter spread, the excitement was
very great, and multitudes thronged the
steamboat VIII rves to obtain intelligence.
The body of Mrs. Charles Griffin was
brought down on the steamer in the course
of the morning, and carried to her resi-.
dence on the corner Of Prince and Pitt sts.,
followed by large crowd. Soon after.
wards the father, who was at work at Coco
guam, arrived at home to find himself bereft
Of wife and children. He became frantic
with grief.
ADDITIONAL FACTS.
Miss Virginia Marbury, daughter of the
late Francis A. Marbury, and granddaugh-
ter Of the late James Irwin, of this city,
was among the lost. She had been lately liv-
ing in Petersburg, Va, and had embarked
on the boat at Glymont, with friend Miss
Mcpherson, to make visit to Miss Grymes,
at Eagles Nest, near Chatterton.
Mrs. Overton Taylor, Of this city. lady
who has had several sad experiences during
the past year, child others having been kill.
ed while in bed and her husband shot, was on
board with her little nephew. and managed
to save herself and little boy aud to assist
in saving thirteen others. She says the
rush to the rear railing of the boat was SO
great that many were mangled at the rail
ing in the mad efforts of those behind to es-
cape the flames behind them. She leaped
with the little boy into the water and swan
ashore, with the little boy clining to her
neck The little lad held a small package
in his hand WHEN the fire began, and he
brought it to the shore with him
Chatterton, the locality of the accident, is
nearly opposite Maryland Point, and about
six les below Aqua Greek.
Up to yester lay, IS bodies had been re.
covered, but many of the faces were SO eat.
en- away Ivy the crabs and fish that identif'
cation was difficult