Evening star., 1934-09-23


James Clephane was printer, and during his
association with Sir Walter Scott, the cele-
brated novelist and poet, read the proof OF much
of the manuscript which afterward was pub
Hshed among the works of that Scottish author.
During the National Topographic Convention,
held in Washington in 1885, he, together with
James Stockwell and w. w. Curran, represented
the local body.
A CCORDING to early statement the
steamboat Camden made its appearance on
the Potomac In 1917 Capt. Gird was its owner
and Capt Moffat its commander. The Cygnet,
Phoenix, Chesapeake, Fredericksburg, Sydney.
Salem, Paul Jones and other boats followed
later
Capt. John Shrieve seems to have been the
first to use actual horsepower to operate
water craft on the Potomac. His boat made
regular trips between Washington Alexandria
and Georgetown, stopping at the Long Bridge
and also at Van Ness wharf then at Seven
teenth street and Constitution avenue. The
Independence steamboat also ran to Van
Ness wharf, did others in the early days.
Although Washington was one of the first
cities to employ steam in prcpelhng its river
boats, yet as before stated, it has been
fortunate in not having many steamboat dis
asters. Perhaps there only two, which
the writer recalls, of An outstanding character
the burning of the Wawaset and the ex-
plosion aboard the U. S. S. Princeton. Nearly
every reSiOeuC VINO IS creeping up III years
will recall the former for, in the number OF
dead, and in the overwhelming amount OF
grief brought to the families of the city, no
steamboat calamity around washington has
equaled it since.
This most distressing incident occurred on
August 8, 1873, or a little 61 years ago.
and more than so persons were either burned
to death or drowned. The Wawaset a
freight and passenger vessel, and in addition
to making regular trips, to Cone River, carried
excursionists to Mount Vernon, Glymont and
other places on the Potcmac.
4 lPON this occasion when the ship
- observed to be fire. she about 40
miles down the river, off what then
known as Chattertons Landing. Capt. John
Wood the commander of the boat, immedi-
ately ordered the vessel headed for the shore,
and she struck on the Virginia side, about
200 yards from the waters edge. The captain
and the pilot displayed traditional heroSm,
and remained at their posts until the end,
the captain being the last to leave the vessel,
while the pilot did not precede him until the
pilot box was completely enveloped in flames.
The fire started about II o'clock am, from
some unknown cause. and, as has been said,
'the boat entirely consumed in a brief
while the fire having gained such headway
before being discovered that any attempt
made to put it out would have availed
nothing Soon the air was filed with the
piercing shreks of women and children, while
strong men stood aghast at the hopelessneSs
of their situation"
Most of those who were lost met their
deaths by drowning. being forced to leap into
the river as the heat became unbearable. Some
were even lost through the careless launching
of one of the lifeboats Of which there we're
only two.
The Star of Saturday August g. 1873. tells
of the appalling disaster in vivid words, saying
In part:
THE scenes at the Seventh street wharf last
night as different persons arrived who had lost
relatives and friends, were truly distressing.
Among the first to arrive Officer Reed Of
the Metropolitan Police force. who had wife,
three children and a niece on board the
Wawaset. His agony. as he ran franticaly
around trying to CLEAN some ray of hope that
some of his loved ones were saved. was fearful
to witness. Seeing group around Mckinney,
the bartender on the Wawaset who was giving
particulars of the tragedy he inquired in
hoarse, broken tones, Mr.. Mckinney, for Gods
sake, can you not tell me something about my
family?' Mr. Mckinney replied feelingly:
Would to Heaven I could give you some en-
couragement, but it would be cruel to deceive
you Your family were all lost Mr.. Reed
broke into wall Of despair, wringing his
hands, and showing such marks of hopeless
agony as to bring tears to every eye 1t was,
indeed. a household wreck for Mr.. Reed, who,
at one swoop loses his wife three children
and niece. The children all under years
Of age. and the niece, Bette Reed, was
beautiful and amiable young lady, about 18
years.
THE Star then prints list of those known
to have been lost or saved as follows:
List Of passengers saved (white)-Mr. NC
Ashton, j. B. North, o. Eddy, j. H Wise, A.