Connecticut western news., 1873-08-22
The Potomac Disaster.
Sad Scenes Connected with the Burning f~' of the Wavasset.

Sad Scenes Connected with the Burning r. of the Wawasset.
 The scene at the wharf of the Potomac
 Ferry Company in Washington when
 the remains arrived was of the most
 narrowing description. Hundreds of
 persons, of all ages, color, sex, and al-
 most all conditions in life, stepped on
 board the National, and, slowly lifting
 the linen covering from over the dead,
 looked to see if they could recognize in
 the insensible remains the features of
 some relative, friend or acquaintance.
 There was shrieking women and shud-
 dering men, who turned away heart sick
 from the sad and ghastly sight. The
 remains were in many cases badly
 bruised, the features, rigid in death,
 disclosing the terrible suffering that had
 been undergone before the eyes were
 forever closed in death. It was sad
 picture, and one long to be remembered
 by those who saw 1t this beautiful Au-
 gust morning. The river that had en-
 gulfed them lay as placid and smiling,
 the same sun shone out as bright and
 undimmed as yesterday, when those
 now cold in death started out from the
 same place on their journey whose end
 was fated to be death.
 But of all the sights that could melt
 the heart of man was the grouping of the five infant children-four colored and one white. There death had made them equal. From under the snowy sheet protruded the tiny feet of these helpless babes. So like the peaceful repose of innocence did they appear on this beautiful summer morn that the distorted features of the women by their side. lost half their hideousness beside the features of the little ones.
 The features of the children and some of the women presented calm and natural appearance but in others there were signs of pain. Almost all were somewhat bloody about the face, and on some were spots resembling bruises
 Among the passengers was Officer Reed, of Washington, who lost his wife and three children andniece. His agony, as he ran frantically around trying to glean some ray of hope that some of his loved ones were saved, was fearful to witness. Seeing a group about Mr. McKenney, the bartender on the Wa waset, who was giving particulars of the tragedy, he inquired, in hoarse, broken tones, "McKenney, for Gods sake, can you not tell me something about my family ?"
 McKenney replied feelingly: "Would to Heaven I could give you some en- couragement, but it would be cruel to deceiye you; your family were all lost" Y"
 MT. Reed thereupon broke into vail l of despair, wringing his hands and | showing such marks of hopeless agony as to bring tears to every eye. It was indeed a household wreck for MT. Reed, who, at one fell swoop, loses his wife, three children and niece. The children were all under eight years of age, and the niece, Bettie Reed, was beautiful | and amiable young lal y, about eighteen years of age.
 Another distressing scene was pre- sented on the arrival of Mir. Wm. Muse a neighbor of MT. Reed's-who had wife and two children on the Wawasset. His distress was shown in a somewhat quleter form, but was almost more pain ful to witness from the convulsive work lngs of his face, in his attempts to sub- due violent expressions of grief, and rom the silent tears running down his face, and his almost inarticulate at 5empts to frame words of inquiry.
 No one can give any information as to now the fire originated; but all agree that 1t started in the boiler room below Ter machinery, and that in two or three minutes all about 'midships was on fire, he flames bursting up through the tecks and gangway, thus cutting off all communication between the stern and lft parts of the boat. In less than half ln hour from the time the fire broke out he steamer was destroyed. As the win lows and doors were all open the traught was intense, and the doomed 'oat was soon sheet of flame.
 The excitement which existed on board the ill-fated steamer can be judged from the fact that the boat had learly five hundred life preservers on board, and only two were used, one placed by MT. Emerson upon small h1ld-hls daughter-and one which he lsed himself. They were both saved. dr. Emerson felt so grateful for his preservation by it's means that he took t with him to Alexandria, and said to everal friends who congratulated him lpon his lucky escape that he would ,eep 1t as long as he lived. The pre- ervers were distributed about the boat, n the staterooms and cabins, and a arge number stored in a convenient ,lace in the .gangway. But what are fife preservers to inexperienced women ! nd children, with strong smoke and lery tongues of flame threatening death y suffocation? There were no cool eaded men to which they could look or advice, and panic-stricken as they ' were, though every life preserver had 'een within grasp, it is doubtful wheth- r they would have been used.