Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-09
STEAMER BURNED.
Forty to Fifty Lives Lost.
Women and Children among the
Victims

FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Aug. 6.-The
steamer Wawasset, running on the Potomac
river between Washington and Carriman,
took fire about II O'Clock to day, at Chata-
lon, and was destroyed. She had about 15C
passengers on board, and between 40 and
SO lives are lost. Six bodies were found up
to 2 O'Clock, three white ladies, one child
and two colored children. Mrs. Virginia
Warburg, of Clymont, Miss Belle Saunders
and a child, from Carriman, are among the
dead. The others have not been recog-
nizsd. Geo. w. Cock, of Warsaw, Va, is
missing. Capt. Ward did not leave the
boat until forced to do so by the flames.
The fire was first discovered in the engine
room. -
Details from an Eyewitness.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. S.-The re-
porter of the Associated press at midnight
had an interview with Doc. Kenpey, bar
keeper of the Wawasset, who is the
only one of the passengers or crew of that
vessel that reached Washington tonight.
He came up to this city on the steamer Ex-
press with an excursion party from Piney
Point. The latter vessel sighted tee wreck
about P. NJ , and picked up Kenney, who
had been sent out in small boat to come
up to Washington. The passengers and
crew of the Wawasset were, a. that
time, all cared for at Stewards wharf, near
the scene of the disaster. -s-s1
Kinney states that the Wawasset left
here at 6 A. M. on her regular weekly trip
to Core river with 1T registered passengers
and quite large cargo of freight for river
landings. Just before reachiug Chatalon's
Landing, on the Virginia side of the Po-
tomsc, about three miles below Acquia
creek, and after the whistle Of the boat had
been blown as the signal of her approach to
that landing, the steamer at that time be-
ing about third of mile from shore, fire
was discovered in the hold and the hose
was attached Immediately, but before the
men could reach it, the confagration be-
came general, as the fire had been burning
for some time. The fire had been smould-
ering, it is supposed, for some hours, and
upon opening the matches it burst forth with
great fury, driving the men from the hold
and completely battling all attempts to sub
due it. In an instant the widest confusion
prevailed, the passengers becoming panic
stricken and
Frantic with Fear,
Very few having the presence of mind suf-
fcent to take care Of themselves. The
steamer was without seconds delay head
ed for the shore on the Virginia side and in
few minutes ran aground about 200 yards
from the Virginia side. At this time the
steamer had spread with fearful rapidity
and in the excitement many
Jumped Overheard.
Several of them jumped in the water before
the steamer struck bottom. She was pro-
vided with two small boats, and in the fren-
zy Of the moment one boat was thrown over
board and lost by The passengers, wh6
uncontrolled, were endeaVo-ing to launch
her. Captain Wood of the ILL.,
fated vessel, and his assistants
are said to have used every effort
to control the passengers but without avail,
and bu1 for disobedience of orders many
who were lost would have been saved.
The vessel was well provided with life pre-
servers, but in the panic il seems none of
he passengers secured them, and this fact
also added to the
LamentabIe Loss OF Life.
Over forty passengers were drowned,
among whom were Mrs. Ried and three
children, the wife and children of Police
man Ried, of this city, and his niece, whose
name has not yet been ascer aimed, Adeliue
Jenkins, a ehambermaid, Mrs. Virginia
Marbury, of Glymont, Miss Berthe Sanders
and child, of Currkman, Va.
Up to the time that the narrator of this
statement left the scene, FIVE or six bodies
had been recovered and the confusion was
so great that further list of names could
not be obtained.
Mr.. Kenney ststes that Capt. Wood
was the last man to leave the steamer and
the rilot Mr.. Boswell was surrounded by
flames before he left the plot box which
was not till after he run the steamer
sground. The flames spread with such
rapidity that the
TIIler Ropes Were on Fire
before the vessel struck ground. All those
lost were its supposed drowned, having jum-
ped overboard to escape the flames.
The vessel lies where she was run
aground, burned to the waters edge. About
one-half of the passengers were women
and children. There was qcite number
of colored people among the passengers.
The Wawasset was insured for $4,000.