New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-12
THE WAWASET DISASTER.
INCIDENTS OF THE CALAMITY.
TATRMENTs OF PAssENGERs-ROUGH CONDUCT OF


Virginia tho scene Of the wawsset disaster gives an
account of his trip from that point ana relates
interesting incidents OF the sad occurrence HIS report
states that boatmen living on the no OF the river say
the of the and children could 90 heard
for miles that all the boats available were at once
brought into service and every effort made 10 extend
relief On the way up 70 Chaterton several bodies OF
colored men and women passed. which had been
araeged ashore the night before The wreck Of the ill
tatad steamer lies about $50 yards below the landing
and probably $50 from the shore. The boiler smoke
stack aud ali the metallic portion to rest firmly
tina bottom nearly all the machinery is exposed to
xiev at low water. Not o particle OF combustible
material remains OF her. and the iron work
IA burned to O whitsh tint Tho shaft seems
20 have either bent broken in the middle,
Allowing the work Of the wheels On arriving at
CbaertOn only two row-boats could be found one OF
vhch we secured and party proceeded to the
reek The tide being high the thought 1t i'm
dent TO attempt board her. fearing some iron snag
might damage the bottom Of the boat, and we made
circuit around her. stopping safe distance. At this
time two bodies were seen floating at some distance
northeast and the Of the other boat seem to have
got the toward them, and boat returned to the
shore. where Mr. Laurocup the artist took sketch OF
the wreck During the boat landed the bodies
Of two oOlored men just below Their faces and ears
we're completely eaten of by crabs leaving the teeth and
bones OF the face clean In the pocket of Of these
was found q memorandum book from which
II appeared tnat MS name was RhOOa hlCe WASH
iDgton. lie evidently young man. silver watch
with god.plsted chain attached found in his vest
pocket He had on linen pants and black coat The other
han was so much sfred about the face that recogn
would have been impossible by his nearest friends
He dressed in dark clothing and CATERS.
While sitting log Of driftwood where Mr.. Lautro
cup engaged in sketehng the wreck, the body of
colored boy drifted ashore by and was dragged
out on the sand. BY this time the shore dotted for
miles with people watching for bodies afoat and all the
row and sallboats available were manned and put out
% pick them up. The wind fresheued making the water
rough. which had the tendency to bring up the
bodies. and for hours the boats were necessarily
occupied in grabbing them and towing them in
between Boyd's Wall and Chatterton The shore
lined with pieces Of the wreck; among other things
many peaoh-boxes and henCoOps, and half way between
the points named the Inflated life-boat with her
entire stern OUT shreds of clothing hats and bonnets
fans and small articles, floating about in the surf
During the morning five more bodies Of coiored women
caught and towed in. At the nterment Of the
dead correspondent says, Col Lewis, neghborlng
farmer. present, and hailed colOred man named
Dan, who was looking while the men at work
digging graves. Dan came up, and Col Lewis asked him
why he did not jump in and assist in Ourryng his own
color. Dan shrugged his shoulders and replied, can't
get up the heart TO do it,"
Said Col. Lewis You mean that you are afraid to
work" NO." said Dan, al never would have any
more luck If should touch one OF them poor corpses"
1t appears TO be the general belief among the cOlored
people in this section that bad luck will follow them if
they touch dead person.
The following statement by Miss Kate Mcpherson one
OF the rescued passengers is given by the reporter
Miss Mcpherson states that she went aboard the Wa
waSet with Miss Marbury at Glymont, and kept with
her during the first part OF the excitement until the
smoke drove them from the gangway that she missed
her the main deck and the rush Of cOlored people
great toward the eboat that she could to
nd her. hat was tha
boat stove in with many Others by the rush OF the
colored people toward the gaDgway that she immedi
atey sank and twice, and knew nothing until
she found hersein boat and being carried ashore She
taken the residence OF Mr.. Crimes when it was
found that she uninjured, with the exception of
slight burn one shoulder
She described the scene the burning boat most
terrible witness The flames burst out all round. and
swept aft, driving women and children over into the
water. She saw four little children hanging by their
hands to the burning steamer and one after the other
dror into the water the flames driving them off, The
coored people perfectly Wild and remoDstrance
on the part OF the officers needed They jumped
into the boat filing IL full and declared that 1t was the
coored peoples boat refusing all whites admission
When IL went down all were dumped into the to-
gether and many others followed, being pushed
board The flames burst into the main deck setting fire
TO the clothing of women and children who hoping
for relief but could pass the gangway for
the flames, and the Of the women and children
were deafening.
During the recital Of her experience Miss Mcpherson
could refrain from bursting into sobs especially
when allusOn made TO Miss MarburY, who was a |
and dear friend Her anxiety seemed be great
about her people who live in Charles County, and her
Uncle Marbury, Of Alexandria, thinking Of the |
distress OF they be in on account Of her alb
the disaster Miss Mcpherson is very intel
tgent and could picture very viyidY the distressing
scenes she witnessed on board the steamer. She
pulled up out OF the water ten yards from the boat
Just as she sinking the last time, by Mr. Robert
Adams and taken ashore in insensibe condition.
One of the worst features among the shore scenes yes
terday was the disposition among both white and col
ored sraggers TO plumber and rob dead. Several
instances Of this kind could not be pre-
vented by Mr. McCelland, who was authorized to
take charge Of any article Of value that may be found
owing to the long extent Of shore many OF the bodies
could not DO reached by him until they had been ried
and the guilty parties had escaped.
Hiram Smith, colOred man. states that he was pre-
sent and witnessed the loss Of the eboat As
she was lowered the aiu deck the colored took
possession Of her by force persuasions
OF the officers could prevent them. The boat was
hesped tuh OF baggage and men, and he yellow
man cut the bOw rope when she fell headlong down with
force as to tear out the stern because OF the dav
holding at that end, and all in her sunk.
The Vanderbilt after cruising about the river. sent
boat ashore with Captain Wood who commanded the
Wawaset, and gentleman from Alexandria, cousin OF
Miss Marbury the latter look after the remains Of his
relative, and the captain 10 aid In caring for the dead
and TO perform such other duty might be required.
An accurate reckoning of the dead bodies already re-
covered makes the number e. Ths of nearly, If
not quite all who have been identified, have already
been published
THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.-Secretary Richardson
mas decided not 20 ntrust the investigation Of the cir