Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-08-16
The SyaWnSct Disaster.


W. Saylor, Acting Superintending Inspector
General of Steamboats,, YIN. Fl. Rose inspec
tor Of hnIIs at Savannah, Georgia, John f..
Edgar, Inspector of boilers at Norfolk, Virginia.
The main matters ofinquiry were:
First, the equipment of the steamer; second,
the origin of the fire. and third, the cond uct OF
the licensed officers both prior and subsequent
to the alarm being given. .----
The first witnesses examined were James ID.
Lowery, Inspector of hulls, aud William y. oa
vile inspector OF boilers at Baltimore, who made
the last inspection, from whose testimony tap,
pearcd the steamer was thoroughly Inspected
10 March last and everything which the law
requires was found there without single ex-
ceplion. There were three large boats, capa-
bic OF containing trom fifty to sixty persons
each: there was an abundance Of life prescrVers
in easy reach and fire extingushers, and all the
pumps were in good order; they considered the
boat A No. in all respects.
Captain Wood. of the Wawa>et, said he was
in rhe pilot. house at the time OF the alarm OF
fire. One of the iremeD gave the alarm. The
captain cried to the passengers to keep coo he
did not see any reason for excitement on boardf
he thought there would be time to put out the
| FIRE, but in less Time than he could now relate
the fact the flames burst out in a heavy vol
ume. He then knew the boat Was gone, and
his effort was to beach her, but this he could
not do, as the engines suddenly ceased work,
log. The pilot was discussed from the United
States, but the captain was not. he was lg-
norant Of the law that he was reqlred to obtain
license from the United States. 1t was
impossible Tor him to get att after the
| fire was discovered. What he did on
| that occasion he would repeat under future
similar circumstances. lie thought the ire
originated in the 6rcmen'S room; from what
cause he did not know, unless from, matches or
the ovcrturnirg Of a lamp. No doubt the ire
had been burning tor some tlme before the
DIOR was opened which gave draft to the
flames The engineer was driven from the room
in an instant. The mate and the clerk gencr-
ally have charge of passengers and freight, but
at the time Of the fire were trying to save pas.
sengcrs. Nobody was attending to the boat
aud life preservers at the time OF the fire. No
MESSENGERS excepting one were lost forward.
The freight was general merchandise, including
barrel of whiskey. The captain said there
we're on board l25 passengers, not counting
children.
The commissioner exhibited copy Of the
license, which showed the boat was permitted
to carry only fifty passengers; instead OF that
number he had three times as many. The cap
tain said he was under the impression that he
was allowed to carry one hundred aud fifty pas
seugers. Fifty passengers would not pay the
expenses Of the steamer He was not COM
mauder of the boat al the tue she was in
spected last March, He said the boat was pro-
yided with all the appliances f1r saving the
boat and lives. There we're between 400 and
800 life prcscrvcrs, only two Of which were
known to have been used. Not soul would
have been lost if the euginc had not suddenly
stopped.
Robert Nash, engineer of the boat, was cx-
amincd. The tiIIers were chain and rods, aud
part of rope, ten feet on each side OF the
wheel He had always found the firemcn at,
tentve to business. The steamer was as well
equipped as any boat could be. Nothlog what
ever was the matter with the boiler to cause
the fire. All that it was possible to do was
done to save the passengers. The tames ap-
peared so suddenly, and the boat was so soon
on fire, that no one had time to think.
Mr.. Sayie was recalled and said he had
known Mr.. Nash four years; he was strictly
sober and u competent engineer always fund
at his post, and bis character was as good as
that of any engineer in witness S district.
J. W. Wheeler, clerk of the boat, testified
he was on board the Wawaset when she burn
ed he tried to calm the fears of the passen-
gers, saying they could put the fire out, and it
not they could beach the boat there was at
forwards such panic that the passengers were
beyond control he gave clrcumstantlal ac-
count of his efforts to save life until he was
driven away BY the flames, which burst from
the wheel-house With difficulty they reached
the forward part of the boat. There were
about one hundred registered passengers on
board, not counting children. The boat had
all the appliances for saving life, and but for
the stopping Of the engines would have reach
ed the shore, and probably all the passengers
been saved Every mau connected with the
boat did the best he could under the clrcuu-
stances. Witness did not see any male pas>en
gers assisting others, with the exception of
Mr.. Reed, who threw some plank overheard
He thought it more than likely that majority
Of the passengers were males.
Robert w. Gravatt, mate OF the NaWaSet.,
testified us to bis knowledge Of the burning OF
the boat and his efforts to suppress the Il INES
He threw boxes aud planks overheard, The
clerk was trying to get the ladies forward over
the wheel house, but they were driven back by
they Humes Everything was done that could
be done to save the boat and passengers. There
was no neglect on the part OF any one counrc
with the vessel. Every rack was filled with tire
buckets; there were thlrty-slX OF them. Ihe
Witness having said he was not licensed, the
law not requiring it, the commissioner said he
mistook; license was necessary.
Robert Nash, engineer, testified that he was
momentary absent at the Tins OF the fire, but
returned in half minute and turned on the
water guage, but was driven out by the flames.
la his absence the fireman and the son Of Nash
an apprentice, we're always lett III charge; koe"
Dothing Of the origin Of the fire:
John ". Boswell, pilot, testified that he knew
nothing of the origin Of the fire; Was first 10
formed Of by the captain and advised that the
boat be run ashore, to which he assented. Saw
no male passengers assisting women:
j. w. Reed passenger gave evidence 10 &C
cordance with previous published statements
made by him, and stated his beliefth Us pas
sengers were aboard when the alarm was given.
Lorenzo Brown, Thomas Lewis, Samuel Ged-
ney and Charles Joues gave evidence without
eliciting any further facts throwing light on
the sub iects of inquiry, and ito day. the inyes-
tigation will be continued tomorrow.