The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-12-12

We give place TO the following answer
f Capt. Thayer, of the Steamboat Rhode
sland, To the charges preferred agans. him
, our last, 10 let our readers see his version
i the affair, but defer any comments upon
!, at present, as we expect il will De an
wered by those upon whom he attempts to
nrow the blame.
To the Editors of the N. Y. , Ommercidl
Advertiser.
Gegtlemen,-A statement contained IN
your paper Of Tuesday evening, signed
by the passengers of the John w. Rich
mond, respecting slight collision which
took place between that boat and the
Rhode. Island, under my command. in tho
Providence river. on Monday evening,
requires passing notice from me. In
performing this duty to myself, however,
it is not nv intention to utter a word OF
harshness, or say any thing that may
Cause irritation.
The formdabl. array of names APP
pended to the statement from the Rich
mond, is calcuiaiel to make an unflvora.
bic impression touching the conduc! OF
tho Rhode Island, but they have added
their names in utter ignoreace ofthe facts.
Indeed il is quite impossible that the pas.
sengers on board of boat under such
circumstances, can often be correctly IN
formed.
The following simple narrative o. the
facts ofthe Transaction, will not only show
haw wide of the truth is The statement OF
the ] w. Richmond, but on whose should.
crs, if any, the blame ought to fall -
On the departure OF the boats from
Providence on Monday evening, the
Rhode Island left the wharf from three
TO five minutes head ofihe j. w. Rich
moud. We proceeded on our way down
the river, the Richmond asten, until
within short distance of Bullock Pomt
seven miles below Providence, when the
Richmond came up To within twice her
length of The Rhode Island, on the lar.
beard quarter. Perceving, as suppose,
,ha; hey would be along side cf us in
passing the Point, the Richmond shecred
over Oh our other quarter. and came up
ol the starb oard side of the Rhode lslaud
To within sixty or seventy feet of us-.leav-
ing US but narrow space from ;be land,
while the Richmond had from half 10
three fourhs of mile Oh the starbodrd
side to clear US After passing us about
one third of her length, perceived the
Rhode Islandt to be lnclining toward the
Richmond, caused, as supposed, by the
suction produced 10y the Richmond in
passing L was standing IN The vince
house at the time, with two men-noi
four, as slatcd--viz. the pilot, and one
wheel man. There was indeed passen
ger standing by us, but he of course hac
nothing to do with the working OF IN,
boa. Perceiving the difficulty in which
by the sbecring Of the Richmond. til,
action of the water was likely to involve
.us. | took hold Of the wheel, assisted by
the piIpt and wheelsman above mentioned
aud instead of putting The helm down
rs stated by the passengers of tic Rich
mond bore i. hard orcr 10 storboard, tc
prevent the apprehendod COLI sion OBJ
serving to the pilot at the same time
s-that we must heave hard over or we
shall be afoul Of her." Notwithstanding
all our exer:ions to prevent IT, however
III, boats came slightly in contact, but
pot.with sufficient force to cause any
essential damage upon either side. Our
engine was Immediately stopped, aud the
Richmond proceeded on her way. lla'
the helm of the Rhode Island been pa
down," as stated, it is impossible TO tel
h w extensively both boats might have
been damaged by the shock.
The design of the statement from th
Richmond, is to create the impression
that i, was my intention to run the Rhode
Island into that boat. Such a though
never entered my mind. On the con
trary, did every thing that was possibl
to avert such catastrophe, while, On ih
other hand, notwithstanding she ha
plenty Of sca-room, the Richmond thre'
herself into position which reudere
actual contact unavoidable. The opinio
on board of the Rhode Island was unive
sal, that the object of the Richmont
. which is the fastest boat, was to ran alor
side of us, and greet US with cheers
exaltaiion on taking the lead.
SETH THAIER.