The Sun

VOL XL. NO. 202.

THE POTOMAC DISASTER

DETAILS OF THE BURNING OF THE STEAMER WAWASSET.

Women and Children Drowned or Burned to Death Within Reach of Shore-Capt. Wood's Heroic Efforts to Save Life-The Names of the Saved and Lost.

Washington, Aug. 9.-It seems that the steamer Wawasset in the Potomac on Friday is number of lives lost by the burning of the greater than was first supposed. Thus far the names of thirty of the victims have been ascertained. It may be several days before the exact number of the lost is known, because many of the passengers lived in eastern Virginia, and these who are saved went immediately to their homes. It is likely, however, to reach thirty-five or forty. At 4:30 this morning the steamer National arrived here from the scene of the disaster, having on board about twenty-five survivors and drowned bodies. The bodies were recognized as those of Mrs. Maze, who, it is reported, had three children with her (all lost); Mrs. Jas. Kelly of Virginia; a child of Mr. James Hare; four colored children (names unknown); Mrs. Matilda Walker of Washington, and Miss Julia and Willis. Two are yet unrecognized.

THE SCENE AT THE WHARF

was painful in the extreme. Hundreds of people, white and black, congregated at the steamboat landing at early dawn, eager to learn from every passing vessel later and more positive news as to the lost and saved. The bodies brought here by the National were laid out in a shed on one of the wharves and many who had friends on the Wawasset crowded to the building to look upon the faces of the dead, only to be left still in doubt as to the fate of their friends, whose bodies have not yet reached the city.

Cap't. Wm. Watson, Wheeler, the clerk; Mr. Naste, engineer, and Mr. Reed, the mate, of the steamer Wawasset, arrived here this morning in a tug on the steamer Georgiana. All of them were more or less burned or injured in the catastrophe.

LIST OF THE SAVED.

The following are the names of the saved as far as ascertained:

J.B. North, J.H. Wove, O. Davis, A. Melville, B.L. Agnew, Cal. Ulysses, W.J. Emerson, John Reed, E. Eins, B.D. Precley, J. Tait, Wm. Henry Street, be Stickland, John rxton, Imel Scott, elly Lev, J. er, Mary, Iavis in hers and, Nernila Ss, Haiis, Sarah Payne, Msria, .Ltcantlars, ss Kate Miurson, Ms H, ALE LOST.

The following are known to have been lost:

Tef tge ktovn to have been lost 1.l.b. V Ist sa"ty. Axantris Miss us anliss ani'r tWash bs. Va.ningteu.D.C. ton. D.C Jit h., :n:a ha ::v i.s!i, I Vary Bloes 4'vb, i, L .i vbt ( riu ( uShowL.W h t,..'ii.it "l. cr.w 'oot -arurg Tists. deck hand: Ad ae, 1: r, hu s, w. )s Vtril a "lyrbusy, wh.) waz one of the lost. war d ' :hiel f (ti. Lt Bard Merhuty ofwis.motit. M and w : al) ar lative of the yr tsun " M.tiuys. rh Ir i1 adler shlp In the ireuu rs Icfit i. ll, ald in des rited as a Jsni t s Jiy a,tt4 Ld snd accompush- u.rhi', I' tI c et itiun of saut w.ed .there are from te", t. iw.lsr tuyrs "',rer.s reu. In urder to o. tall Ihrty, (l , Sultuet Seutuey, A superin- t "r!t : I1r* I"Lr-tu ." F: 1 otal iN.started 4wn ltr ur Lus t '.t: li te tuI euls 1jawhpigta Ir jat.i "m, ai. i mi io se asle to rcover f buuitt,I u. , -1. Sira, ie st sittlin,5 "iu;:to( ant Rasan ofi:it 4.w uy i w 'it i. ".i'.i arr nis.it. Mrn Irt:bu tiy tur 4' Lha, W .x!e waueabro ight tr 'Ir t" i, 'ny "r, Mesto.teia J:oi,ayuy lny,iing on K. tt.rugtf M., e. i.t i..it hert tte pittr u, iut I st , A . : t .I. s tu i Lre and is ww it r t, Ji! i. . . : r w:y iu the 4 . e. . n i $:s, . j - i · a. . .n ., M: t . n ·. . i. othe 5:a 1 r $ d.tt:..dw" lvn:nln $ , w stur, w wju2 :. .I t.r iir', t. :i.. : J... .n.t c. i. : .) :.: irf.e.cry : t. . : Was sut t. r i tw . i o, . t 'iol .i tready ba risted. I tir s. r a wtnof, th.t il, sk 4'' .I! ., ": " " I t.ow*, but thete his 1 i w. td t. s drmn te rutaor, ai 1 . i. i'nlr iit lte uid ais twocaildren hil sii, w. .. " tA'IY1 DROWNED. Tuar,-'m!, w :, "i: d t: riya whole fu) v.,' s.l ..r.: i : " . I r . 1hr !i: -."+i: r-tole J-nl ciru r" rr sw, s: tg it itx uf istush tirt ti" timt, oir, teey y t u-irr l: - wis wite, t.r ! ,1 y in l,": sit, is ied, out also .. u:.t. "].i:s h .i. . . . t . n! rr a'i: 1h (. ui'., The Mrs Keed nhy tot:-tei oa tl.r W awa-uor wa-hssecoil -., i n tu tt tu:i bet u aried only abc at asear PMre. Taslor. awidow.with her child. witha on Al andbsseen to teah Lhe 4i t, w.a:: hi tsstinalter AAtely. Tte otirr shJ.r Li:e ditohve been I st. Doultt .yin muratrtx wcir druwned owing to their finutl."r."pin to ao t. 4s with ina(.n jatd-tl.. walorwussi.al! nenough w, wujoi, atd ihy ii rn it thu hhe . rirr, raey lulun"( ly :mtrs: boat. Mr kdit Sui, th hd.ret.v ved by hls i Malrl Giisi, i Wa a si tait engin er. a dw. junoirri t .ms w:th l:l" Llet, " Jhn Paf't du ".n wh. Ld di il in hin puw.'r tr.iu r :f-l tin pi-.tihhen wsen ih! :it theIow, n unt the to shote 111. oceral.s b ulsut u lend, buts led Lyuo In aal:ty. cArr, wo': rtAtvkst. Cgpt. J n B, W., ni, "i r s.1 Jut in the of the Cirt·r: T, ·fr ir in uu' at in-snty Cv" p: 'ytfue past t WeIva Ara,I ;i ili.n u. avlt itt.o.J wap in w: w,. .n.." : ti I. , i ..h (.ll 4:n 1. natmit,Iwy.h'n.I. . i.l,r;latcly p.wt. ..",r','i. t. yo"rrfu it. "jua t. t.."vw wust o Le:r piei'u. "ystw trrdi""tiw io the hurr ane ctir. "jrj. "", Tort mni D.tjrteu tl.al thett " i:5 hav t'ie D har gu. 5, L.r.ryfri: bm."Thlt rv."ndnre.h th..kstl..hl.niier th.ail ir.t."" w..hi.rnw tpilotioe. ihe q'iii"inl h.rei thr"wih-w cur nil Alllljny yapil Fipky Dahth, I thet rt wohnnt foiroi doran d dnd what 1r p N gi y er t!. I. ," i L, un t... Wu!rr ir.lli 'iw 'ssw "aa l.ort 1xi trr 1 x: t: : pa, n 5ewr). of A ui-shng fur tr froth t chalhs. aed * r….'i.!rr ..- uecy,it..ei Leau aved her am Batished UNDUE LOSS OF LIFE P'1 thn!+v:r g.o in2ot w io mny: J - funped ove cot a.st.p N. ged out an iren wtre 3. . t . The Dre cauglt 4. .., ' t +!b just where The Litd r. and the falies. nioer snread lke . sheous Lature. aid t tai..'.. ".s· u.' " .ry, w i'""ri" Qi n,, Ijn I ar thi 2x anu ie xeeot two brrels of hurh It WAS eptirely lest i Lhe foraaid hoig and were vossc.were lost. i x .,'.- eb iu:'yi., f . t . * * Whvi te ig g son nwn yted. Te aslek a At to tueuft tole ih the state rools ecc.dentbut few oftle anilo the cis tor acn the ott ce t.

THE PILOT'S STORY.

John W. I. iswel, the pilot of the vessel, ears I tave been plict on the Potomse upward of nine selhstse wae fretah standing toid ai outh twenty ine dt the ot inutes the pilot-house of caine at the to

run her ashore at the neareat place-Chatterton'e iang: lng. I headed her for the shor? and she struck in ave feet of water. I stayed in the pllot house until the whee rep broke two and the fire was coming lnto the pilei heuse I then Jumped overhoard and swamu a-hore with two ladies. whom I saved; then brought eut and landed s! or eight passengers. I iade a second trip with the boat and took in three colored women, with a child, who were HANGING TO THE RUDDER. and lande i tEem gafey ithen swsm ostagainand made two uesurcessful atteinpts to rescua Omeer Reed's wite, bus rhe twisted away from nie in each instance-I Piesine n ktowinz what she was doing through ex. citement When came back to the stern the boat for i e ast time. three chlidren, two_ white aud one coiored were there tried get then but the Fat s prevented me, and they were ail burned. I think two of then were Mr. Reed's children. i kept the deck hands peuring water on the whcel ropes until the dre drove them off deck. The freman told me iu the arst place saw the fire the forward bow don thinl asy but Mr Rerd's covsln. Miss Bettte Reed. were lost in jompiag off the bow of the boat. she juinped before the boat s ruck, nI was lost. Tho fre. I thlak broke out atout nve or ten minutcs before I2 o'clock. After THE EXCITEMENT BECAME QENERAL, Iadvisei the pessengers to keep cool, as the bost, I know would groun iin low waier Manv jumpcd b srdt fore she atruck. and I threw planks to them. I dun't tiui ssingle person was drowned oft the for. ward derk after the boat struck. Copt. Wood was the Ia-i n an that i ft the boat. I don't thiek there was a Ive passesgrr Coat wbun Capt. Wood lef the boat D i't thi k aiytning was left undone by the oficers to ave lives and tie beat told many the pasacngers "For (is sike don't jump overboard: we will be agrotnd in low water eoon, and you can wade ashore." They woalda heed ine but jumped excitedly into the water. I nad a cousin who jumped overooard before the bost stepped, who was lost. It we could have got all he Fisks everb rd many would have becn aved. In hrirks ot wotuen aa children were enougd to appali thc et-utcst heart WAIN EFFORTS TO RESCUE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The stateinents of the other oficers are to the efect tuat the most he art-rending incidents of the tragedy were the vainendeavors of those who were saved to rescne the woinen and chlldren wh foraned the majority of the passengers of the steamer. The iamentable statement Ismade that qite a number of families were seeking country resotts f r the heated and slckly term during the present month. There were, there foe ce piratively few male passengers on board. ant the f m des. witlout experience to gulde then, atd not knowing what to do in the eme Lehcy, were capable of litile more than Irant. cteistosave the hvesof their children. The eAeiemert whieh existed can be Judged Irou efet that tbobust nanerly beo hitepre. servers ai srd and cnly two were used, one pla ed s Mr. Euerson uren a small child. his daghter. std ohe which he used himself. They wee bntisaed, DESCHIPTION OF THE STEAMER. The Wawassgt Was bilt in Wilmington. Del. in l. She wdsef s tons birden, and pro- vid d v ith two yei nanent stairways aud oiher s..llccit ahd iehaolo mheaos to cscape to the Daad sk. She was permitted to carr thirty (aln ad tw niy stesigo p sengers only ab sut ne hait the number she tad on board whsa becned. Sht was reiairedtobaveseventy- fvs lire in setser oh board, but was furniahed withalagerruabordrexcur-jonprties. She wa. fited with tw. Sod ndemelent fre ex- tiveulslers. and ue goed double acting tre Iup. with I. fest of nose. twenty-five fire bu et. wih ho ressary coiplings. hozzles. Ae. iu Irin lal Lre pump was worked by seam. Sie ws alss furnished witaohe metI he hife Fuat aid a-mal wooden bont. The Wa- wasset w s reded as an excellont river boat. and her b il ai machiner, were l first-class order. She wseweed ty the Potomac Ferry Compaby. shd has Deen plyg oh the Potomae river as an exensn. pssenger. and freight sieam rfor thep' dveor oixyears. THE IO-S AND INSUEANE. The C ptdn esiluates the value of the boat ats. . ihe isuran e amounts to $eson. datrihuted as joiws, Thsura eCtpahyod North Aher. 1 t.1hutaleigh $ 1nnx. of Harttord. Gao; Virnia Fir an Maiae lus.P.nce Compabv.of Romond.w;Mn of Hart- 1td. Atlnt.o NeA Yoia, do.o;Po- tol.eIeTgtowl.Ss THE INQU FST ACotoner'ury s diedat Stewart's wh orf, on the P tore river. to lnvea lgate I heart- retadins aevident. and rendered the follo ving ve diet. We, the fury of inguest, called to view the dead tohies n the s'eiher'Waw sset this d. cni t louurr loio the causefthe d as'er to the said staln er. nii that tot soowg the Ciii Dof the steur. wecannvt say g to the csjre, bu fry o the caaa..s toh weo the the ots b boit t. Ilane all the passengers saved testify that tney did t y ad t pur bonds at Siewart's Whiry, King Georgescoua's. Va. Ihs sth day of August, i. No one can give any informatlop asto h w the fre otginatedib it alt dgree th at it taitd ih the b atr Ps m Lelow her macsinet. At i tha iatwoer three mi utee ai ab ut nldshuts was ch tre.thearesbirst ng uip thrugh thedechs and awas. ths cut ant- tentegaentestrn aniheatparsofthe t. IlysthahsiPitesfron tetime the retps out the steaner was d tronel. As the w hiows aid desis wate all ojen tho draight was intei se,and the do ihed at was sdttftate. MOD LODIEEOOURD Another ssamet rhe Ick this (t nt. Itsmihiewaaaitwths diJgltir edaliId aheanda e fed hild wlose pareis reide on Mauson str I selvstdies washed asore today. nlne of thon Leing of coiaed vgen alad thtee of chudteh who wero n iheatihd tie wer ali niliedhthe shse af aail deeriptive hist of eai body lad te n made for puulie itentifi-ation. Tersas were engazed in grappling to-day about the wick. au ath oh bou) was fls ed up-tha of coiored woman who could not be luenllued. Latest Fatimate of the Namber of the Lost- Fitty-six Bodies Recovered Durial of Four of th Vretims. WAsuvoToN. Aug. 1o.-The stenmer Vatdoriit arred here to-Llght from tho scene of ths W wast do ster with six more bodes ef thevietta wio jershei on the ill-fated yes- sel i.teefthem were identifled as those of Getge W. (og. a grocer. of Washington: Jed My colored Inssengee:Geige T rd de k haad: Mary Backwell, a coe a cer : and ahittle ghahout twelve y at f vear, sujjos d to be a daughter of The ii'h t was that of a colored woman not ,'inide. It is said tot iigit ths the dnrfbdiessnfarreoveiedisfity- sis.th uh ret ov twenty have been identi- 1 An'hettiwentd wathiseweninz,and w wihmole es.Many of zet todny hnd teen partially eate.iy r i were iuddistuted The atr teattate of the ninder of those IostentVaWaisthatiwili reihseventy at I. t. yany of those wiil, in all prsbability. not be id ntifled. partleuiarly in the case of col red rerots who fell sietins to the dsaster. The faneral f for menbersof the Reed fam- ihy.lus' oh the steamer Wawasse . whose bodres were res ove.ed ahd brought to the city yester- da. t ok ila e this afernosn at.d was attended Is a ys D lasze lautnberf people. At the church taby were uhanle o oht in admlsslon. There were three heatses in whieh the bedles were c hseved to the cetnetery. Otler lunerals of vi tlns of the disaster also took place this after- nooh.