Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-01-23


well written articles on tho loss Of the Lex
ington, in relation to the causes which pro
duced, and the means which should have
been used to prevent the dreadful catastro
phe, but none of them seems more to tn,
purpose shan the following from the New
York Commercial Advertiser.
THE LEXINGTON.
The papers team with articles respecting
the terrible event of Monday, in most oi
which the heaviest censure is lavished upon
the proprietors of the Lexington. The boat
Is averred to have been always ussnfe-until
for any but smooth-waier navigation, and
that only in summer-wanting in precautions
and means Of safety in case Of accident-and
~ short very magazine OF peril TO all who
should trust themselves OH board of her,
We do not know that any good can result
from these general and sweeping charges,
which moreover 1t rs very easy to make, af-
ter the calamity has happened on the con-
trary 1t may be questioned whether they do
not more harm than good, in dvertng alten
tion from the actual and unavoidable causes
of the disaster.
or what use is it to tell us that the Lex.
lngton was slightly built? She is gone, and
can bear no more of our fellow citizens to
death. The question is, what was done or
neglected on board Of her, that may be also
done or neglected on board Of other bouts
and caI:se repetition Of the fearful calamity:
Before taking up this question, however,
one remark occurs TO us, which we throw out
for general consideration; and that is the
propriety of using more iron and less wood
in the construction of these fire vessels
That steamboats, may be built wholly of iron,
has been abundantIy demonstrated by expe
rlment in England, and partially in this coun.
try; but even allowing The hull to be Of wood
there IS no necessity Of employing that ma
terlaI IN The fitting up Of the engines, or in
any part Of the boat having close proximity
to the furnace. lfa whole boat may be con.
structed of iron, surely part Of it may-the
part most Immediately exposed to the risk of
fire.
In the case Of the Lexington it seems to
us that the disaster may be traced, first to
the existence of wood work in close proxi.
NIFTY to the neck or lower purt of the smoke
pipe, but consequently to the slowing of the
cotton about that wood work. IT is said that
the boat had been on IRE in that part before
some accounts say, more than once. Here
should have been warning. Ii seems like
madness, to heap up an immense quantity OF
combustlble materials atthe very point where
experience had shown the presence OF imm.
nent danger; and yet this appears to have
been done.
We find no fault with the provisions OF
boats. Three and life boat ought TO have
been sufficient for the rescue of all on board
The question then arises, why were they
not! why did they not save one single life?
And the answer dscloses one most importan,
requisite OF steamboat navigaton-indeed of
all aviga,ion-whch among us Is utterly
neglected 1t appears that the life boa, was
tossed overheard in wild hurry and confusion.
|orrord u the ,ohefi, the steamboat gong oi
her utmost speed; Of course the life boat wss
struck by the wheel and knocked to pieces,
or driven loose, 80 that nobody could reach
1t. The other boats were rendered useless
IN some like manncr-how, we do not know
precisely. hut in any event, by reason Of the
haste, confusion aud bad management with
winch their use was attempted. Here then
VIC have another warning-of the necessity
OF pre-concert-pre. arrangement. As it is
on board our steamboats,, no attempt at sys
TEN ia made no effort 10 provide for the
natural first consequence of alarm or acci.
dent, which j., loss Of head" The crews
on board ought TO be instructed and drilled
somewhat as are the crews Of men, of-war-
Somebody ought to know what is the first
mud best thing TO be dono-and others ought
to be prepared for doing it..
| II there had been a dozen cool men in the
Lexington, with their heads steady and their
hands expert in the proper management OF
the boats, every creature on hoard might
have been saved.
The attempt of the captain to run the boa,
on shore. then two miles distant, seems un.
der the circumstances to have been a fata.
error. lie should have stopped the engin,
and given all his care to the getting out Of
the four boats, and the immediate rescue OF
the passengers. Their lives should have
been first considered and the surest mcans
of saving their lives should have been 6rsi
resortcd to. The plan Of running on shore
might have succccded-thc other could no,
fail, if promptly resorted to and properly
conducted.
We have said that the captain should have
given orders to stop the engine, aud if the
fire could not be subducd. should have
launched the boats, which could only be done
with safety while the engine was stopped.-
We have Understood that Commodorc Van
dcrbilt always instructed his captains, in case
of fire, to stop the boats, put out the fire il
they could, and if not, make the best dis 30
sltion for the safety Of the passengers, either
by transferring them to boats, or making an
effort to reach the shore, as Circumstance e.
should permit.