The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-08-19
THE WAWASSET DISASTER,
Twenty-Five or Thirty Lives Lost
Statement OF the Captain--
Panic stricken lsass eng ers..
Fearful Scenes.

Panic stricken I'ase eng ers.-
Fearful Scenes.
WASHINGTON, August 9.-At half past
4 this morning the steamer National
arrived from the scene of the burning
Wawasset. having on board about TWEEN
ty-tiye survivors and eleven dead
bodies.
Captain John R. Woods commander
Of the Wawasset, make. the following
statement concerning the disaster:
"The fire broke out at twenty min
utes pest twelve, between Thoms Cut
and Chatterton l was in the pilot house
at the time of the fire. A man told me
The boat was on fire below, when i'm
mcdiately calne out and found the flames
reached to the hurricane deck along the
walking beam. l saw it was impossible
to get to the lifeboats, which were on
the after quarter on each side, to lower
them, although they were full of pass
engers. | threw water on the wheel
ropes to keep the steerage all right, as
| became satisfied that there was no
hope of saving the vessel, and the only
chance to save the passengers was to
keep her going. The boat reached the
beach in about twelve or thirteen min
utes after the alarm. In less than five
minutes after the alarm was given the
fire was in the rear of the pilot house
The engine refused to work about half
minute before the boat struck shore,
and grounded in less than five feet of
water at the bow I remained on the
hurricane deck until the flames had
burned the window curtains in my
room, and we're issuing from the saloon
windows below. | then got on the for
ward deck and did what l could do to
save the passengers. A great many
were afraid to jump overheard until 1
assured them they could safely do so.
Upon this assurance one or two made
the leap, and many others, seeing the
water was shallow, followed and we're
saved. 1t was with difficulty l checked
them from jumping over in large num-
bers and drowning each other. / am
satisfied nearly all the loss of life oc-
CURED at the stern of the boat, the
flames forcing passengers to jump over
board or be burned.
"Just before l left the boat, I heard
Mrs. Taylor, Of Alexandria, crying for
help from the rear of the vessel. saw
her hanging to the middle chains, and
sent boat to her rescue and saved her.
l am satisfied that the excitement caus-
ed undue loss of life, and that every
passenger was saved that jumped over.
board forward. A great many lives
were los. in the lifeboats by being over
crowded before the boat stopped. One
of them was crowded with colored
passengers, and when she was cut loose
the stern bulged out and she was swan.
ped. About a dozen small-children
were aboard, and think five or six
were lost.
"The fire caught in the hold. The
boat was very dry, and the flames whe
they struck the oiled machinery spread
like torch. At the time Of the acci
dent but few of the passengers were
asleep, and none were in the staterooms
The boat was valued at about $40, ,000."
Captain Wood does rot think the
number lost will reach over thirty. A
lady hanging to the rudder chain was
saved by a small boat that came to the
wreck.
John Reed states he was busy throw
ing overheard some planks to women
when the flames burst up the gangway
forcing him to jump overheard, and h'
swan ashore.
He says also, it was not above tbre,
minutes before all communication was
cut off between the bow and the sterl
of the boat, and there were abou
twenty children on board, exclusive o
III registered passengers Several o
the saved were badly burned.
Robert Nash, engineer, was saved b,
his son, assistant engineer, who jumpet
overheard and swan ashore with hi
| father.
Captain Wood was considerably burn
ed about the head.
! WASHINGTON, August 12.-Additiona
reports from the scene Of the Wawasset
disaster now place the number lost a
seventy-two. The friends Of DAME
Lynch, tailor doing business in thi
city, are certain he is among the lost
Judging from the description Of an IN
known man, published yesterday
Lynch was engaged to be married t.
a widow lady who, with her two chi
dren, were also among the lost Tn
investigation into the cause of the dis
aster begins to morrow and will assum
the. form Of sui, against the owners G
the Wawassett by the Supervising Ir
spector of steamboats, of the Treasur
Department.
It appears that in her last eventfr
trip the owners Of the Wawassett faile
to ask or receive special permit t
carry more passengers than her certif
cate Of inspection allowed, viz, fifty
II her owners had been granted sue
request, they would have been compel
ed to have procured an additional outf
in the matter of extra license. Th
! owners having neglected to procure th
necessary papers, they have violate
n