The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-14

/ MS AlROAltE4 EDluG lofty CLNAlaul lo cELDuu
ieutenants In the regular army, and as
signed number Of cadets TO duty.
The President has appointed S. H.
Smithers receiver Of MONEYS at Necoe-
doches; o. 7. Patlee, postmaster at War
reutOn, Virginia
Col. Hughes, Congressman Plant and
Col. Fitzhugh, Of Virginia, called upon the
President, who gave them assurances of the
support Of the administration in the coming
canvass In that State
The President has signed the postal
treaty with Japan. The postage is fifteen
cents each way.
The Disaster on the Potomac.
WAsHIseTos, August 9.-The Wawosset
horror is fully confirmed. Most of the pas
sengers persisted She left Washington on
her regular passenger trip for Cane river
She burned off Chatterton Landing, where
there is no wharf, the passengers and freight
being landed by small boats
A boat had been lowered for this purpose
when the flames burst out, and the vessel
was 200 yards from the shore. Nothing
remains but a broken shaft and smoke
stack.
The passengers were registered when she
left Washington, but she received and dis
charged some at various landings, of whom
no record was kept.
The crew consisted of twelve, and there
were probably fifty passengers.
The cause of the fire is unknown. As
soon as discovered, the boat headed for the
shore, but struck on a bar on the Virginia
side. Many ladies and children were on
board, visiting friends at the adjoining
places of resort down the river; many col
ored people were also aboard.
Ten bodies were washed ashore, five of
whom are unknown.
All accounts applaud the gallantry of the
captain and crew.
STATEMENT OF CAPT. WOODS.
''The fire broke out at 10 20 o'clock. was
in the pilot house, and a fireman came and
told me the boat was on fire below, 1 i'm
mediately came out and found that the
flames had reached quite to the hurricane
deck, and saw it was impossible to get to the
| the life boats, which were on the after
quarter on each side, to lower them, although
they were full of passengers. / 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 there was no hope of saving
the vessel, and that the only chance to save
the passengers was to keep her going, head
| ing for the beach. She reached the beach
in twelve minutes after the alarm was
given; in less than five minutes after the
| first alarm the fire reached the pilot house.
''The engines stopped working about
| half a minute before she struck the shore,
and the boat run length and came to dead
stand and grounded in less than five feet
water at the bow. remained on the hurri-
cane deck till the window curtain in my
room and saloon windows were burnt, then
came down on the forward deck and did
what l could to save the passengers. A
great many were afraid to jump overheard,
though l assured them the water was not
over their heads. One or two made leaps
and the rest seeing that the water was shall
| low, followed, and were saved. 1t was with
difficulty prevented their jumping over in
large bodies and drowning each other dur
| ing the excitement Nearly ali that were
lost were in the stern of the boat; and the
flames driving that way, forced them to
! Jump overheard or be burnt.
''Just before l left the boat 1 saw Mrs.
Taylor, of Alexandria, hangingito the mid
die chains crying for help. l sent boat
and rescued her. l am satisfied the excite
ment caused undue loss of life. Many were
lost by the life boats being over-crowded.
Before the boat stopped each of them was
crowded with colored passengers. The
stern of one bulged out when she was cut
loose and swamped her. About dozen
small children were aboard of that one. l
think five or six were lost. The fire caught
in the hold, but it is impossible to say eX-
actly where The boat was very dry
almost like tinder-and the flames when
they struck the oiled machinery spread like
torch. The cargo was miscellaneous.
''The steamer Georgiana came along from
Baltimore and brought few of the pas
seneers who were well taken care Of. The
steamer was valued at $40, OOO."
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-Another steamer
arrived here at Z. p. NJ, bringing up three
bodies of those who persisted at the burning
of the Wawosset. They were: Miss
Bette Reed, child of Ginnas Reed, and a
colored child whose parents reside on Mad
ison street. Twelve bodies have been re-
covered, nine of them being colored women,
and three children, who were not identified.
They were all buried on shore, after a de-
scription of each body had been made for
gagged in graphing to-day about the wreck,
but only one body was fished Gp-that of
colored woman who could not be identified.
Another steamer goes down tomorrow to
resume the work of graphing for the bodies.
So far only twenty bodies have been recoy-
cred, and it is thought there were at least
fifty persons persisted.
The vice President.
BosToX, August 11.-Vice President Will
son was in Boston to-day. His improved
appearance indicated steady progress to-
ward restored health, which has been
brought about by his cessation of all active
duties.
Democratic Conventions.
COLUMBUS, O., August r. Senator Thur
man made a brilliant speech, in which he
predicted the success of the Democratic
ticket.
Mr. Allen in reference to his nomi-
nation, says l accept the nomination, and
desire the convention to accept my graft
tude. I accept because the convention by
bestowing upon me the nomination, ex-
press the belief that / may be of some
service in promoting the success of the
great Democracy, upon whose success and
upon that alone rests the prosperity and
happiness of the American people.
/ RICH4oND, Va, August 5.-Conserva-
tiveS State Convention met to-day at noon
at the theatre, the interior of which, espe-
cially the stage, was decorated with flags of
various nations, also State and national colors.
Orchestra chairs and psrquette filed with
delegates, nearly four hundred IN number;
the remainder of the building was crowded
with spectators. The stage was occupied
by large number of prominent personages,
representatives Of the press from the city
and other points in the State and out of it.
The convention was called to order by Hon.
/ R. T. Daniels, chairman of State Committee,
on whose motion, NJ G. Harmon, of Au-
gusta county, was chosen temporary chair
man.
A committee consisting of two from
each Congressional district, was appointed
on credentials. During the absence of the
committee the Hon. Robert Ould was called
upon and addressed the convention, and
reviewed Hughes speech at Lynchburg and
the repudiating platform. Other speeches
were made by the Hon. A. Kelley, mayor Of
Richmond and ex-Lieutenant Governor
Robert L. Montague, and Others.
| A. ~,