Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-04
STEAMER SINKS AT WHARF.
The River Steamer Trenton Suddenly
Sinks at Her Wharf at this P0rt--
One Child Drowns..ThriIiing Res
cues.

cues.
Shortly before nine O'Clock yesterday
morning an alarm Of FIRE was sounded
and few minutes later the department
was making its way toward the river
front. Many people followed, suppos-
ing FIRE WAS rsging in the neighbor.
hood of the strand, but upon arriving in
front of the river they discovered that
something more serious than FIRE had
occurred, as nothing OF the steamer
Trenton could be seen save her smoke
stack, while women and others who bad
beer rescued from the river were being
led from the wharf to houses BY people
who live in the vicinity.
The passengers who had been rescued
from the Inflated steamer we're nervous
and excited and hsrelv able TO give
answers profOuaded 'h'm, aud wet and
shiveriDg from cold they we're hurried
to nearby houses where they we're made
IS comfortable as possible.
Mrs. Posey, wife Of E. Maury Posey,
a Brooklyn, N. Y, attorney, rec,i Ved
the greater sympathy from those who
were endeavering to comfort the rescued.
hrs. Posey's lS-months old son had been
drowned, although tie mother had
plunged overheard with the little fellow
IL Der arms and attempted to swim
ashore. The swirl ofthe sinking steamer,
however, carried the child away and he
was carried down by the suction.
The news OF the disaster soon spread
over the city, and in few minutes the
docks in the neighborhood of the sunken
steamer were packed wiih people. All
sors of rumors were being circulated
and exaggera ted as they passed from
mouth to mouth. Iu the confusion fol-
lowing the sinking Of the steamer it was
impossible to ascertain definitely how
many persons hsd pirished, although
there was every ress)n to believe that
apart from the unfortunate little one all
other passengers who were On the steamer
hi reached the wharf before she sunk,
or had been rescued by the captain and
crew or by small boats which happened
TO be nearby when the accident occurred.
The Trenton left Wsshir g on about 8
O'Clock yes erday morning. AS tickets
we're not collectt d until after the steamer
leaves this pot, 1t is almost impt s,ib 9 10
say how many people were aboard. The
highest number given is 40; others, how
ever, place the number at 81.
The Trenton reached her Alexandra
wharf between King and Prince streets
about $3.50 o'clock, when other pas
seugers went aboard. The work of tax.
irg on the Alexandra freight WIS 10
progress when people aboard The steamer
noticed that she wfs cateeni0g 10
port. In lees time than 1t takes to tell
the water commenced to rush in on the
port side, causing the Gamer to list aud
to part the lines which were holding her
to the W arr, allowing the boat TO diff
about 8 dozsn or more ysr1s from the
wharf.
The greatest excitement followed, and
The rush on the part OF The pr 'engeis to
reach the shore was thrilling. When
the water reached the eng ne room a
cloud OF steam envelcped lbe boat and
add, d TO the no rjr of tt err fed pi s.
seDgeis. The banks of steam which
were seen by persons some distance avs y
and who did not know the boat had
sunk, caussd them to sound an alarm Of
Ore.
While Ihe steamer was sinking some
of the ps, ssngers succeeded in jumping
to the wharf, snumbsr leaped overheard
and others climbed TO the roof Of the
s.loon, from which they we're rescued
by persons in small bOas
A large percentage OF passengers were
colored and there were number Of chill
dren among them. The purser, w. w.
Danssr, r. w. HUMPHREYS, the keeper
of the lighthouse at Maryland Point,
who was q passenger on the boat, and
who was standing near the end of the
wharf when the accident occurred, and
Capt. William Davis, the commander Of
the Trenton worked heroically In rescuiDg
the passengers. Capt. Davis saved the
lives of several people and his clothing
was as wet as that of the pssssDgers who
had been pulled from the water. Mr..
Humphries rescued four women, three
children, and two men from the water
and brought them to the wharf in row
boat.
Mr.. Harry Aitcheson also worked as
siduausly in rescuing passenger.
W. w. Danser, the puIssr of the boat
had narrow escape from drowning
while trying to swim 10 the wharf with
colOred woman, whe was hounderipg
in The water. Mr.. Danser wss on the
wharf, and jumped overheard to help
save the passengers. The woman
caught him in such q way that be could
not swim and they both sank AZ they
came up they were caught ard hauled
into one of the row boats.
Mrs. Belle Davis, wife of Capt. George
Davis, who lives on Prince street, near
Union, was one Of the fret persons to
reach the wharf after the accident. As
soon as Mrs. Pcs y and Mrs. Blske
Williams had been rescued she conduct
ed them to her home where she provided
them with dry clothes ynils their own
we're drying, and made them as comfort
able as possible. Inter Mrs. PessT went
to the residence of Mr.. F. s. Harper.
She with her husband and one OF her
sons left In the evening on train for
OccoquaD, from which point she pro-
cseded to her home In Maryland. Mrs.
Davis also cor Quoted two colofed women
who had been rescued to her home where
she also ministered to their needs.
Later she gave them money with which
Al