Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-08-22


the flames bursting up through the decks
and gahgWay, THUS cutting off all CON-
munication between the bow and aft
parts of the boat. In less than twenty
five miniites from the time the fire broke
out the steamer was destroyed. AS the
windows and doors were all open, the
draft was intense, and the doomed boat
was soon sheet Of flames.
Mr.. Robert Nash, the ChiefEngineer,
states that the scene of terror among the
women and children exceeds anything he
ever witnessed in his experience of thirty
years steamboat engineering; that the
situation was such that it was utterly i'm
possible to do anything to save them more
than was done; thai the fear of the women
of the fire caused them to jump pell-mell
into the water. He thinks several of the
children were burned to death.
The crushing blow that wiped nearly a
whole family out of existence in the case
of Officer Reed, of the Metropolitan Police,
appears to have been even more sweeping
in its effects than frsTreported. Mr.. Reed
not only loses his wife, three children,
and niece, Bette Reed, but also an aunt,
Miss Julia Kelley, whose name appears
elsewhere among the victims. The Mrs.
Reed who perished on the Wawaset was
his second wife, to whom he had been
married only about a year.
Among the victims was Mr.. George
Cook, grocer Seventh street southwest,
between D and E. He had two little
children with him, and while he was
struggling in the water making fight for
life, he was seen holding his youngest
child to the surface, crying, ooh, my God,
save my baby" twas supposed that the
older child had already perished. There
was a report that Mr.. Cook was subse-
quently seen alive on shore, but there has
been nothing received to confirm the
rumor, and it is probable that he and his
two children all perished.
1t may seem strange that so many
women and children were upon the Waw-
aset, as she was not running as an eXcur-
sion boat and was making only her regu-
lar trip to Gone River and intermediate
landings; but it seems that quite num-
Der of families were seeking country re-
sorts for the heated and sickly term dur
ing the present month. There were,
therefore, comparatively few male passen-
gers ON board, and the females, without
experience to guide them, and not know
ing what to do in the emergency, were
capable of little more than frantic but
useless efforts to save the lives of their
children.
The life-boat, which was in the stern of
the Wawaset as soon as the fire gained
headway, was crowded by excited men,
women and children. 1t was impossible
for the officers Of the vessel to reach it and
lower the same to the waters edge. It
finally broke under the weight of those in
it, and bulged in the stern and was
swamped Nearly all who had taken
refuge in it were lost. There was a sec
ond boat almost as large as the life-boat,
which was thrown overheard by the pas
sengers while the steamer was under head
way, and only few were able to reach it..
Some of the passengers jumped from
the steamer into il, while others who were
in the water were drawn in by those al
ready within it. In an attempt to jump
into it one passenger was struck by the
wheel and sustained slight injuries.
The origin of the fire seems to be a
question of doubt. The Captain thinks it
originated in the forward end Of the bow,
but his opinion conflicts with the state
ment of others. He thinks sparks from
the smokebox were blown into the hold,
and, coming in contact with the dry wood,
easily ignited into flames, and the boat,
being almost as dry as tinder, was soon
ignited. Taking all the statements pub
lished, it is generally conceded that the
fire broke out in the hold amidships, and
spread with alarming rapidity. From the
time Of the discovery of the fire, the boat
was burnt to the main deck and waters
edge within less than twenty minutes; in
deed, as the engineer told q reporter of
the Star, "in less time than l can give you
my statement"
The excitement which existed can be
judged from the fact that the boat had
nearly five hundred life preservers aboard,
and only two were used-one placed by
Mr.. Emerson upon small child (his
daughter), and one which he used him
self They were both saved. Mr.. Emer-
son felt so grateful for his preservation by
its means, that he took it with him to AL
exandria, and said to several friends who
congratulated him upon his lucky escape,
that he would keep it as long as he lived.
From the statements of those on board
the boat, it seems that the officers stood
firmly by their posts and did everything
in their power to save lives and allay eX.
citement. On all sides their conduct has
been commended, and no blame for the
disaster seems to attach itself to any OF
them.- Washington Star, august 8.