The Wawaset Steamboat Disaster

Disaster On The Potomac

Author Alvin Oikle has recently completed a book retelling the story of a long-forgotten riverboat disaster on the Potomac. In addition to telling the story of the disaster and many of the victims, he writes in the introduction:

"A steamboat called the Wawaset had completed about half its routine run from Washington down the Potomac River on an August day in 1873 when it unexpectedly became history. Its story is among many that begin with the joy of adventure and end in tragedy; in the case of the Wawaset, the tragedy cost the lives of seventy or more children, women and men. But there is more to this story. The paddle-wheel vessel's sinking offers a glimpse of American life and culture unfamiliar in the twenty-first century."

Articles from Contemporary Newspapers

• The Riot on the Wawaset, Evening Star, June 13, 1872, p. 4
• Horror! Holocast on the Potomac, Daily Morning Chronicle, Aug. 9, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Horror!, Evening Star, Aug. 9, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Tragedy (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 9, 1873, p. 2
• The Wawaset Tragedy, Special Report for The Star from the Scene of the Disaster, Evening Star, Aug. 11, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Tragedy (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 11, 1873, p. 2
• Steamboat Disasters, Evening Star, Aug. 12, 1873, p. 2
• The Wawaset Calamity, Evening Star, Aug. 12, 1873, p. 4
• Carelessness On Steamers (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 13, 1873, p. 2
• The Wawaset Disaster, Evening Star, Aug. 13, 1873, p. 4
• The Condition of the Potomac Boats, Evening Star, Aug. 13, 1873, p. 4
• The Wawaset Investigation, Evening Star, Aug. 14, 1873, p. 1
• The Dead of the Wawaset, Evening Star, Aug. 14, 1873, p. 4
• Burning of the Wawaset - Investigation Part 1, Evening Star, Aug. 15, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Disaster (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 15, 1873, p. 2
• Victims of the Wawaset Disaster, Evening Star, Aug. 15, 1873, p. 4
• Manufacturing Prejudice in Reference to the Wawaset Calamity, Evening Star, Aug. 15, 1873, p. 4
• Burning of the Wawaset - Investigation Part 2, Evening Star, Aug. 16, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Investigation (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 16, 1873, p. 2
• The Wawaset Tragedy. Reinterment of the Bodies, Evening Star, Aug. 16, 1873, p. 4
• Burning of the Wawaset - Investigation Part 3, Evening Star, Aug. 18, 1873, p. 1
• Reinterment of the Victims of the Wawaset, Evening Star, Aug. 18, 1873, p. 4
• Life Saving Apparatus, Evening Star, Aug. 18, 1873, p. 4
• Burning of the Wawaset - Investigation Part 4, Evening Star, Aug. 19, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Investigation (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 19, 1873, p. 2
• Another Victim of the Wawaset Identified, Evening Star, Aug. 19, 1873, p. 4
• Burning of the Wawaset - Investigation Part 5, Evening Star, Aug. 20, 1873, p. 1
• Captain Woods and Engineer Nash, Evening Star, Aug. 20, 1873, p. 4
• Letters Sent by the Wawaset, Evening Star, Aug. 20, 1873, p. 4
• Another Victim of the Wawaset, Evening Star, Aug. 21, 1873, p. 4
• Burning of the Wawaset - Investigation Part 6, Evening Star, Aug. 22, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawasat Disaster (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 22, 1873, p. 2
• Local News, Evening Star, Aug. 22, 1873, p. 4
• The Wawaset Letters, Evening Star, Aug. 22, 1873, p. 4
• About Steam Boats (editorial), Evening Star, Aug. 25, 1873, p. 2
• The Wawaset Commission Report, Evening Star, Aug. 29, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Disaster - Report, Evening Star, Aug. 30, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Disaster - Official Report, Evening Star, Sep. 1, 1873, p. 1
• The Wawaset Disaster (editorial), Evening Star, Sep. 2, 1873, p. 2
• The Wawaset Disaster (editorial), Evening Star, Sep. 3, 1873, p. 2
• Steamboat Inspection Service Annual Report, Vol. 14

Related Articles By The Rambler

• Old Potomac Steamers, Evening Star, March 21, 1920
• Potomac's First Steamer, Evening Star, April 4, 1920
• More of River Steamers, Evening Star, April 11, 1920
• Story of First Steamers on the Potomac, Evening Star, April 18, 1920
• Story of an Old Potomac River Steamer, The Pilot Boy, Evening Star, June 6, 1920