Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-08-09

lower Maryland, was drowned anu WAS one vi
the deck hands, George Tabs.
Mrs Griffin, wife Of Mr. Charles Griffin Of
this city, with her two children, were drowned.
Mrs Reed, (wife Ola policeman,l Of Wash
ngton, and two children, we're also drowned,
and Mr.. Reed, her brother,lu-law, was burned
on the face and hands.
The pilot, John Boswell, had his hand serl-
ously burned.
The National, stern wheel boat, came along
after the catastrophe, and took on the bodies
of eleven of the drowned, who had been res.
cued, taking them on to Washington, whence
they had embarked alive in the morning.
Mr. Joseph Cawood, whose fishing shore is
at Chattcrton, Immediately rugged his seine
and will haul it for the recovery Of the bodies
Of the drowoed.
The flames spread with great rapidity, the
wood saturated with oil and the joiner 3
work being like finder, and lcaped from deck
to deck as though they we're following a train OF
oil.
The Wawaset has been owned by the compa-
| by for about eight years and has been running
regularly nearly all that time on the river route.
She was valued at $4,000 OR $40. 900 and in
sured for s2S 900.
Capt Wood was severely burned about the
neck and made several narrow escapes, passeu-
gers clinging to him and frequently having to
be taken off by main force.
All the people living in the vicinity Of the
catastrophe did what they could for the relief
Of those who were saved
The scene was most hcartrcnding. Women
| with children clinging to them jumped into the
water, where the struggle for life was going
on ierccly, while screams and walls rent the air,
| and the flames leaped and crackeled aud seemed
| to laugh at the horror they created.
This is one OF the most terrible accidents that
has ever happened on the Potomac, where but
| few have occurred, fortunately.
Chattcrton is one Of the regular landings on
| the Virginia side of the Potomac about fifty
miles below here in King George county
Capt. Samuel Geduey, General Supcrintend-
| ent of the line, went down in tug this morn
ing to the scene of the catastrophe to aid those
ofsthc passengers who were in the vicinity, and
to ascertain the condition Of the hull of the
| burned steamer.
The steamer Georgcanna, which came up
this morning, brought up Capt. Wood and a
part of lhe crew and several Of the rescued pas
sengers Of the Wawaset.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The body of Mrs. Chas. Griffin was rescued
yesterday and brought up to this city this
morning, and taken to the residence Of her
husband, on the corner Of Pitt aud Prince
streets The bodies of the children have not
been recovered A messenger to break the
SAL news to Mr.. Griffin was dispatched to o.
coquan, this morning, in the vicinity of which
place Mr.. g. was at work.
There were two boats belonging to the
steamers, but in the excitement one Of them
was pitched overheard and lost, and Of the life
prcscrvcrs with which the boat was provided
none seemed to have been secured in the panic
and excitement.
Large crowds gathered on the wharVcs, this
morning at an early hour, Immediately upon
the receipt OF the news, anxious to learn the
particulars of the terrible disaster, and to learn
Of friends or relations on board, and with eager
gaze were the faces Of the dead, as brought up
scanned for recognition, and crowds followed
their inanmatc formcs to their late homes
At the wharvcs 10 Washington very large
crowds assembled, and the greatest anxiety
was manifested As neary all the bodies were
taken on to that city, Immediately upon their
arrival the eager crowd could scarcely be kept
back, so great was the desire to look upon the
deceased to see if relatives or friends were
among the unfortunate.
An ezra from the Washington Chronicle
office states that gloom and sorrow hangs over
that city, and everywhere the most heartfelt
sympathy is expressed for the untortu nate ones.
Moses Jackson, colored, Of this place, whose
family was on board, was on the wharf this
morning nearly fractic with fear, and took the
first boat for Washington to see if he could
recognize any of the bodies that had been
brought up.
The escape Of Mrs. Taylor, of this city, and
her little nephew, who held on all the time to
a package he had in his hand, was wonderful,
for being in water over their heads, both man
aged, without being able to swim, or having
any assistance, to reach the shore.
One gentleman, upon seeing The smoke, ard
before the fumes burst out, put a life prcscrver
around the lady he was with, and one around
his own waste, and both jumping into the river
made their way to the shore.
Miss Virginia Marbury, Of Petersburg,
daughter of the late Mr.. Frank Marbury, Of
this city, was beautiful and most interesting
young lady, full Of life and hope, who had just
embarked for trip to a relative in King
George county to spend the summer, taking
with her young lady friend, Miss Mcpherson.
Both were in high spirits, anticipating pleas