The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-08-14
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., August 7, '73.

About half past eleven o'clock last
night news reached this city Of terri
BILE 9isaster-the burning of steamer
on the Potomac. People were just re-
turning from the schuetzenfest and the
news spread rapidly through the city.
Even at that late hour crowds soon
gathered at the street corners and news
Offices anxious to obtain some definite
information. The steamer burned, the
Wawaset, was well known as an excur-
sion boat, and it was feared she had on
board large party of peasure-seekers,
but dispatch from Fredericksburg an
nouuced that the clerks list numbered
only about one hundred and fifty pas
sengers.
The boat started on her regular trip
down the river yesterday morning, most
of her passengers intending to stop at
various points for weeks holiday in
the country. About eleven o'clock, just
as she was stopping at the landing at
Chatterton's Point, where there is no
wharf, all on board were startled by a
cry of "Fire! Fire!"' and the flames
were seen issuing from the hold Of the
vessel, The captain and crew made
every effort to maintain order among the
panic.stricken passengers, but in vain.
They then turned their attention to the
fire and endeavored to extinguish the
flames, but it was too late. In fifteen
minutes the fire had made such head
way that it was entirely beyond control.
There were two boats belonging to the
steamer, and one was Immediately filled
and lowered, but by some mishap the
entire party were pitched into the water
and the boat lost. The vessel was headed
tor the shore and struck about 200 yards
from land on the Virginia side. And
now, as the boat rapidly became wrapped
in sheets of flame, the scene is described
as terrible. AS the passengers leaped
into the water the crew stood on deck
and threw down to them stools, barrels,
aud anything that would float, while
the people of the neighborhood, who
had by this time perceived the disaster,
stood on shore powerless to render any
assistance. The captain was the last
man to leave the boat and is said to have
maintained his self-possession through
out the trying scene.
The number of lives lost cannot be
positively stated as yet. 1t was placed
as high as forty or fifty this morning but
that was doubtless an exaggeration
Many conflicting rumors are circulated
and it is impossible to ascertain the truth
A steamer arrived this morning bring.
ing twenty-five survivors and eleven
dead bodies. The scene at the wharf
was mournful beyond description
Three of the dead were babies who
have been identified. Another was Q
little boy of four years, who lay beside
his aunt, white and still as marble. Neal
this child lay the bodies of four colored
children from two to five years old who
were unclaimed. Whether their parents
lost their lives at the same time or are
still at the scene of the wreck searching
for their little ones is unknown.
One case in particular is SO sad as tc
awaken sympathy in the hardest heart
The wife, three children and aunt o!
Officer Reed of the police force were on
board, and it is feared are all lost. The
bodies Of the aunt and one child have
been recovered and brought to the city
Strong hopes are entertained that some
of the others may be found safe. Many
of the passengers on board were coloreC
people, and the excitement among theil
friends in this city is intense.
The cause of the fire is unknown, bu
it is thought to have originated in The
engine-room. The matter will bt
thoroughly investigated at once and thc
result Of tha inquiry given to the pub
lie. The Wawaset has been running
about eight years and was recently re
fitted and supposed to be in perfec
order. She was valued at $4,000 anC
insured for $4,000. This terrible dis
aster has cast gloom over the Who'll,
city, and ell hearts are filled with sym
pathy for those who are the creates
sufferers.
The Dead Letter Office Of th'
Post Office Department has been full o
business. During the month of Jul,
the business done was as follows: Ordi
nary letters received, 221, ,745; drop let
ters received, $4,000; letters held fo
postage received, 27,252; wrougly-di
rected letters received, 4,75l; hotel let
ters received, 2,252; letters directed t.
fictitious persons, 500; registered letters
47O; returned from foreign countries
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