The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-09


IaEcoND DIsPATCH H'
FREpEA1cKsBURo, Va, August g.
The steamer WaWasset, running on the
Potomac river between Washington and
Currinsn took FIRE about 10 o'clock to-
dsy at Chatalon landing and was destroy
cd. She had about $50 passengers OF
board, and between 40 and 80 lives were
lost. Six bodies were found up to z
o'clock-three white ladies, one white
child and two colored children. Miss
Virginia Warburg, Of Glymonti Miss Bet
lie Saunders and . child, oi CurrimAn,
are among the dead. The others have
| hot been recognized. George W. Cook
Of Warsaw, Virginia, Is missing. Captain
| Wood did not leave the boat until he was
forced TO do 80 by the flames. The fire
was first discovered in the engine room
WARRINGTON, August 8.-Thc reporter
of the Associated Press at midnight hao
an interview with Doc Kenny, barkcspeI
OF the WawasSet, who Is the only one oi
The passengers OF crew OF that vessel that
reached Washington tonight. He came
up 10 this city on the steamer Express
with an excursion party from Piney Point.
The latter vessel sighted the wreck about
1 o'clock this afternoon and picked up
Kenny, who had been sent out IN small
boat 10 come 10 Washington. The pas
seugers and crew of the Wawasset were at
Thai time all cared for at Stewards wharf,
near The scene Of the disaster. Mr.. Kenny
states that the Wawassot left here at
about G o'clock A. n. on her regularly
weakly trip TO Cone river, with III
reriStered passengers and quite large
cRPoo 81 freight for the river landings.
Just before reaching Chatterton landing,
on the Virginia side Of the Potomac, tve
miles below Acquia creek, and alter the
whistle Of the boat had been blown ses Q
signal OF her approach to that landing. me
steamer at the time being about third
Of a mile from the shore, the fire was dis
covered in the hold, and the hose was
attached Immediately, but before the men
could reach IL, the conHagration became
General. As the fire had been burn
inr for aome time. The fire had been
smouldering, It Is supposed, Tor some
hours. and upon opening the matches It
burst forth with great fury, driving the
men from the hold and battling all at
tempts to subdue 1t. In an instant the
wildcat confusion prevailed on the vessel,
the passengers becoming pantc-stricken
and frantic with fear, very few having
presence Of mind sufficient TO take care
Of themselves. The steamer was with
out q seconds delay, headed lor the shore
on the Virginia side, and in lew min
ules ran aground about 200 yards from
the Virginia shore. At this tinc the
flames had spread with feartu rapidly,
and In the excitement many jumped INTO
the water before the steamer struck bot
tom. She was provided with but two
small boats, and In the FRENZY Of 1.-the
moment one Of these boats was thrown
overheard and lost by the passengers,
who. uncontrolled, were endeaVorlng TO
launch her. Capt. Wood, Of the ill.iated
steamer, and his associates are said
to have used every effort TO con-
troll the passengers, but without
avail, and but for the dlsobedenc9
of orders many oil whom were lost would
have been saved. The vessel was well
provided with life preservers, but In the
panic II seems none Of the passengers 49,
cured them, and this fact also added TO
the lamentable loss Of life. Over forty
passengers were drowned. Among whom
were Mrs. Reed and three children the
wife and children Of policeman Reed o.
this CITY, and niece whose name has not
vel been acertained; iAdsline jenkins, 3
chambermaid, and Q deckhGnd, name un'
known; James Brown fireman; Mrs.
Virginia Marb1ry, Of Glymont; Mrs. Ber'
lie Sanders and q child, Of Curriman, Ve.
In 10 tho time that the express In which
the narrator ol this statement arrived, but
1--WE or six bodies had been recovered, and
the confusion was 90 great that Q turther
lIst Of the names Of those lost could not
be obtained. Among the saved was
Mr.. Wise Of this city and J. Wilkins
Massey. Kenny Btates that the captain
was the last man to leave the steamer, and
that the pilot Mr.. Boswell, was sur.
rounded by flames before he left
the pilot box, which was not un-
m he had run the steamer aground.
The flames spread with such rapldity that
the tiller ropes were on fire before the
yeasel struck the ground. All those Lost
were. II Is supposed, drowned, having
Jumped overheard to escape the flames
The fire was first discovered about twenty
minutes before II o'clock, and Kenny
stSte6 that in less than ten minutes the
vessel was enveloped In flames, and now
| lies where che was aground burned to the
waters edge 80
land Point, and tho survivor have
bean made as comfortable 40 possible at
Stewards, and near that place, where they
WiIl remein till Q o'clock this Saturday
morning, at which time :the steamer
GeoFgianA will take them on hoaEd.
expectihR to reach this city at0 o'clock
lP.M About one.half Of the passengers
on the WaWassat were women and chill
dren, many Of whom were en- route 70
country places along the PotomacI TO
spend q abort time with their friends.
Quite . number Of colored people were
among the passengers. 90, -
Tho WGWa15et q. 0 side wheel steamer
Of about 40 tons, and was engaged In run
mug pebNeeu " bahLAi Btul NnQ. tn9 lA9V-
ingS along the Potomac. She was insured
foE -. 900. iWheu1ahe left heIO this
morning Il wAS supposed that she was Ii
perfect order, bndt6o origin ot the fire Il
at,present unknown, ...-.. ..-,.. /
As soon As the particulars Of The diSAs.
tor became known tonight, great crowds
COLLECTED about the WhAfIeS, and the
steamer E1pfeSI Nas boarded by hun
Il dreds Of persons, anxious 10 know the
j ~ nf A.lnnA. m thu nl.laknH nhEannnr