Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-09

1
O'Clock with the view OF holding an inquest.
bnt as the disaster took place outside OF the iu.
| rsciotion Of the District, has not yet deter
mined what 70 dc. In the meantime he will
issue certificates OF burial 20 the friends OF the
eec' ased and hold the Investigation AFTER
wards.
A Mission OF Mercy.
captain Hellineshead, OF the steamer Arrow.
Noun nave dispatched bis boat early this morn
ing 10 the scene OF the terrible disaster had !,
not been that he had engaged the boat ~ con-
| vey the soldiers and sailors orphan Children o,,
| free excursion 10 Mount Vernon. He No.
ever, got the Charlotte VANDERBILT, In resdines.
and left for the scene Of the disaster ahout 10
O'Clock to-day TO render any aid in his power 10
sufferers and bring mp both the dead and living
who may be found in the vicinity: also to take
down persons who desire to look for the bodies
OF their deceased friends. and care for them.
ne VIII return about or O'Clock this evening.
An Artist on Hand.
An artist Of the New York Crap.,e arr,ved a,
the wharf, in company with Col. Hinton. the
| correspondent, and sketched the scene of the
bodies at the It'll street wharf. He left ON the
Vanderbilt to take sketches OF the see ne of the
disaster and the wreck
A Household wreck.
The crushing blow that wiped nearly a whole
family out Of existence In the case OF ofhcer
Reed, Of the Metropolitan Police, appears 20
have been even more sweeping in it's effects
than first reported. 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 mar
RED only about year, and who at the time of
her death was near confinement
An Affecting Incident.
Among the victims was Mr.. George Cook
grocer, 9TH street southwest, be en- ID and n
He had two little children with a, aud while
he was struggling in the water D king a fight
ior life, he was seen holding his ungest child
to the surface crying "Oh my { Oh. save nv
baby" II was supposed that q q older child
had already peri he'd. There was a report that
Mr. Cook WAS subsequently, seen alive on the
shore, but there has been nothInE received 20
confirm the rumor, and IL is probable that he
and his two children all persisted.
A Sad Death.
The Miss Msrbury who was lost was daugh-
ter Of Capt. Leonard Marbury, Of Glymon,
Md, and was also a relative OF the GcoreetoUu
Marburys. She held clerkship in the Treas
ury Department, and lie described as a young
lady Of many attractions and accomplishments.
Why SO many Women and Children
were Lost
II may seem strange that 30 many women and
children were upon the wawaset, as she was
not running as an excursion boat and WAS max
ing only her regular trip to Cone river and in
termediate landings; but il seems that quite a
number of families were seeking country re-
sorts for the heated and sickly term during the
present month. There were therefore compsra-
lively few male passengers on board, and the
females, without experience TO guide them and
not knowing what to do in the emergency, we're
capable Of little more than frantic but useless
efforts to save the lives Of their children
Arrival Of the Keyport.
The excitement, which had nearly ouieted
down in the vicinity of the wharf became
aroused about half past twelve O'Clock when
the United States mail Gamer Keyport was
seen of Alexandria. Qnite a crowd gathered
on the wharf of the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac railroad company, and in order
to keep back the surging multitude the gates
had TO be closed and guarded with policemen.
Expectation, which ran high, was Quoted upon
her arrival and the fact being known that
she brought no additional tidings from the
scene OF the disaster.
Why the Boats were Useless.
The life-boat, which in the stern Of the
Wawaset, as soon as the fire gained headway
was crowded by excited men, women and chill
dren. 1t was impossible for the officers Of the
vessel to reach 1t and lower the same to the
waters edge. II finally broke under the weight
of those in il, and bulged in the stern, and was
swamped. Nearly all who had taken refuge in
it were lost. There was a second boat
almost as large the life-boat, which was
thrown overheard by the passengers while the
steamer was under Roadway, and only a few
were able TO reach ii. Some of the passengers
jumped from the steamer into il, while Others
who were in the water we're drawn in by those
already within it. In an attempt to Jump into
IL one passenger was struck by the wheel and
sustained slight injuries.
The Origin Of the Fire.
This 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
statement Of others. He thinks sparks from
the smoke-box were blown into the hold, and
coming in contact with the dry wood easily ig-
nited into flames iand the boat being almost as
dry as finder was soon ignited. Taking all
the statements published, it is generally con-
ceded 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-indaed, as the engi.
neer told a reporter of TIE STAR, s'in less time
than can give you my statement
Anxious Enqufrers.
The steamer Keyport, Captain Carter ar
rived mere about l2;3O from Fredericksburg,
and Captain Carter states that he rendered 20
Mr.. Howison, president of the Potomac Ferry
company, who came up with him from Freder-
icksburg to Alexandria the use of one of his
boats belonging to the lower Potomac steam
boat company, to render any assistance in his
power to the friends of the deceased persons
but that Captain Howison did not think IL
necessary TO send another boat down, as Cap
tain Gedney was at the scene Of the disaster
and would attend to all that was necessary
AS President Howison knew but very little OF
the extent of the disaster and only what was
told him by the passengers on the Keyport,
considerable dissatisfaction was m lnifest Il bv
those who were anxious to hasten down to hunt
for their friends. Captain Hollingshead, who
had generously rendered HIS services to pilot the