Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-08

A DISASTER OF BY-GONE YEARS.
Twenty.eight years ago today one of
the ssdest accidents which ever occur
red on the Potomsc river took place.
The river steamer Wawaset was burned
to the waters edge and nearly one
hundred persons lost their lives. The
story has been retold several times by
the Gazette In past yeas, but another
generation has appeared in the theatre
of life since the appalling catastrophe,
there being men and women 10 Alex
andrla now with children OF their own
who were unborn at the time the sable
mantle was cast over this eection, and
us reproduction will prove acceptable
to them and doubtless interesting to
others.
The Wawaset belonged to the Wash
i0gton Ferry Company. She was
brought here toward the close of the
civil war and for time ran on the
rou'e between Alexandra and Wash.
iDgton. AT the close of hostilities she
was out on the low or river route and
was the only boat running between
Washington, this cisy and the lower
river Her patronage was immense
aud 10 her passenger lists were at all
times many colored people who had
previously never enjoyed The privilege
of travelling and consequently were
most OF their time passing between
their lower river homes and this city
and Washington. Besides about that
time nearly every negro man in this
section was taken TO Washington sew
eral times year end induced 10 vote.
The Wawesst left Washington at 6
O'Clock on Friday morniOg, August s.
1878, on her regular trip. She stopped
here where she took 90 some pas en-
gers and about seven o'clock proceeded
down the river. She made some Of her
landings and about twelve O'Clock 10
the day WAS nearing Cnatterton land.
ing, on the Virginia de. She was In
the channel aud within FIVE minutes
run of the wharf when hamss were
seen Issuing from the wood work near
the shaft Before anyone could realize
1t the flames seemed TO shoot
through everything with roBr,
and those absft the wheel were
completely cut of from the for ward
part of the steamer. Most OF the pas
seUgers, especially the women and chill
dreD, were 10 the saloon aft, and when
their danger was realized piteous
shieks and sgoniziug cries were added
to the roar OF the flames. Captain John
Wood, who was at the wheel ct the
time. Immediately steered the boat for
the fats for the purpose OF grounding
her. In q minute or two her bow was
10 the mud and all forward got into
shallow water and either waded ashore
or remained where they were until res
cued by small bosts which came out to
the burning steamer. While all this
was going on the unfortunate passengers
in the stern of the steamer were rend-
ing the air with piteous cries for help.
The flames we're encroacbing upon them
every second and they had TO decide
whether they would remain where they
were aud burn to death or jump over
board and drown, as the stern OF the
boat was 10 the channel and they were
completely cut of from the bow. One
by one they jumped or lowered them
selves into the rivers channel. A few
succeeded 10 reaching shallow water,
but the bulk were drowned, including
q number of women and children, A
large percentage were colored people.
When the steamer was turned toward
the fats number OF them took pos
session OF one of the steamers boats.
They filed il exclusively with
those of their own color. Not know
ing how to handle the boat, they upset
1t 10 their pauio and every occupant
was drowned. There were many ter
rible scenes enacted in q very short
space of time which would require too
much room to recount. People In this
city knew nothing about the disaster
until the following morning when the
Norfolk steamer Lady of the Lake and
the Baltimore steamer Georgeanns,
Captain S. B. Davis, arrived early with
the survivors. Among them was
Captain Wood, of the Inflated steamer.
He had remained at the wheel until the
flames bad burned one of his ears ter"
ribly. The disaster put Grape on Alex
andria doors and the terrible calamity
was the main theme of conversation for
a long time.