Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-18
BURNING OF THE WAWASET.
Official Investigation of the Disaster.
TESTIMONY BEFORE The TREASURY board Fo-DlY.
Graphic Narratives by survivors.

The official investigation into the causes lead
ing to the Wawaset disaster was continued to-
day, in the rooms of the supervising inspector
general of steamboats,, In the Treasury depart
ment, being conducted by Commodore Rose, of
Savannah, and Johr Il. Edgar, inspector OF
boilers at Norfolk.
The FIRST WITNESS
this morning was Andrew Melville. He testified
as follows: Am32 years of age; live in Washing
ton; was a passenger on the Wawaset; was
standing on the forward deck when the fire
broke out; heard an order given to steer for
land saw some one shut the sliding doors which
divide the decks, and thus no one could get any
life preservers; witness commenced to throw
over peach boxes, and finally jumped in and
seized one of them; was carried under by the
wheel of the steamer; when he rose up saw
white woman calling for help, and some one
pulled her into a boat; witness was In the water
about twenty minutes, and during that time
most of the lives were lost.
Cross examination:-When the sliding doors
were closed the flames burst up amidships;
saw the doors were closed to prevent the draft
of air through the boat; the effect of closing
the doors appeared to have the effect to stop the
draft and force the flames to burst through the
decks above; noticed plenty of hfe-pre
servers before the doors were closed, but could
not see them afterwards; they were out of
reach; thinks there could not have been a
living soul saved had the boat been stopped
when the fire was first discovered when the
been seen above three minutes; saw the first
smoke issuing from the engine room and 1t in
creased very rapidly, there seemed to be no
steam with the smoke, but the smoke was
without any smell OF oil; noticed no
negligence on the part of officers of the boat;
the boat appeared to be in good condition 80
servers accessible before the sliding doors were
closed; saw but little effort made by officers or
passengers to save the ladies and children, wit
ness could give no opinion as to the efforts of
q rlsA.l cor hEau
soon in the water when he could see nothing;
every one seemed trying 70 save himself; witness
thought many life-preservers might have been
thrown out before the doors were closed; knew
OF only of one being used, this was after he had
got ashore; could not see to the stern of the boat
from where he was, and therefore saw no one
jump overheard from the stern.
q. "Did you notice any of the Off GERS or en-
ployes drinking-or about the bar?"
a. mo, sir"
Q. "DO you know the barkeeperT'
A. ono, SIR
Q. Would you know him if you saw hin?''
A. ono, SIR" In the morning witness went
to the bar and got drink of whiskey-thinks a
coored man waited on him.
Q. "Did you notice the conduct of the engi
neer at any time during the trip?''
A. "No, SIR"
Q. "Did you notice him away from his post?r
q. "Was there great deal of excitement?"
A. "Ihere was-much screaming OF women
and children"
Mrs. Laura Taylor, of Alexandria, testified
that she was passenger on the boat; before the
alarm of FIRE was given was standing near the
engine room; she was looking after her little
boy, and went back and took her seat, and af
forwards heard the alarm of fire given witness
thought 1T was on some passing boat-jumped
up, and found IL was the Wawaset everybody
was Jumping overheard, ard witness jumped
overheard too, with her little son. from the stern
part, and next the Maryland side of the boat;
witness never made a scream or screech at all;
before she jumped over she looked for the life
boat, but 1t was full Of colorod people, who ap-
peared to have thrown themselves into the bot
tom of it; the boat was suspended by the side OF
the steamer jumped from the railing by the
upper saloon deck; does not know how she got
saved, and thinks it was by the mercy of God:
when she reached the water she was in deep
water, and she struck out with her hands; saw
but one white gentleman, Mr.. Emerson, on the
boat; he had q life-preser yer; saw no negligence
on the part OF the captain, engineer, or any
was in liquor; know Mr.. Nash, the engineer;
he was at his post while witness was stand
ing by the engine looking for her little boy:
the steamer burned very quick; could smell
nothing like OIL or matches; witness could not
say from where she was whether the male pas
sengers aided the females in saving themselves;
she was compelled to jump overheard or burn;
the captain and officers were the last to leave
the boat; the boat that picked her up WAS near
the shore; she had got out of all danger; the lit
tie boy got her by the neck 50 tight at one time
herself and the little boy; her sisterin-lsw was
on the boat In company with her and was also
saved by jumping in and catching hold Of the
rudder chain; boat picked her up the boat
burned so quick that the officers could do
nothing to save her; her sister-in-law was cry
ing and taking on dreadfully and witness turned
to her and said "for Gods sake husb;" the lit
tie boy was also screaming to the top of his
voice; witness felt just as calm as she ever i'd;
when witness jumped overheard she had the
boy by the hand, and supposes that she held on
arufa hars hat
he got separated from her twice but he caught
her each time; did not notice whether OF not the
officers were getting out the other life boat; saw
the boat that had bursued to pieces, after 1t
ti0ated OFF.
CAPT. GEDSEY WAS RECALLED
and questioned as to the amount Of kerosene
oil he had on board, and said they had no kero-
sene oil; they had one lamp and one gallon OF
oil; this was kept in one corner of the wash
the Oil on board
OoLoRED WITNESS
Moses Gordon, colored, testified that he is a
abOrer, lives in Washington; was a passenger
On the Wawaset, on his way to Northumberland
county; was on the lower deck when the alarm
was given, passing by the engine room; saw no
life boat lowered, and a rush was made by the
colored people for her; got In her himself and
some one cut her bow rope; he, with his sister,
was in her; saved himself by swimming
rOss-examined:-Saw no one take any liquor;
saw no matches lighted; FIRST saw smoke and in |
a minute saw blaze; no effort seemed to be |
made by the male passengers to save the |
women; every one seemed to be for themselves:
smelt no Oil burning or steam, with the smoke; |
when witness got into the water swan until he |
reached boat and got into 1t; saw life pre-
servers in great plenty on the lower deck before
The IRE, but did not think to get one; they were
within reach Of everybody; witness thinks many |
more might have been saved IL the boat had been
stopped, as the wheels turned many under the |
water; many would have been saved as it was
had the life boat been lowered instead of being
suit loose; witness saw the man cut the bow
rope; did not know him; the fire was not hot |
when the boat was cut loose; witness tried to |
get forward, but could not on account OF the
smoke; did not notice the large metallic life
boat ct all; thinks every one In the life boat
would have been saved had not the bow rome
been cut; and that all would have been saved
bad the boat been stopped when the alarm was
nrst gwen; witness sister was lost.
ENGrHEER ROBERT NASH RECALLED.
Witness had q damper in the smoke stack; r. 1
was open; have never been troubled BY back
draft; the back draft would have to come out
of the furnace; to reach the galloWs from it,
I would have to come out Of the furnace six
rect; ran into engine-room and opened Ore ex-
tinguisher; saw no flames in hold; have been
engineer nine years about the boat; was stand
ing nve or SIX feet from the engine-room when
heard 6ra nkA hovsa rAg -