Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-27


In relation to the loss Of the i'll fated and accursed
Lexington, and the sacrifice of nearly $50 valuable
lives, through the culpable conduct Of the Directors
in loading her with cotton, and the infamous con
duct of those who allowed this boat to run without
better precautions against fire, we have received
the following modest, gentlemanly unassuming, APP
propriate and well worded letter from Captain VAN
derbit, who has gratuitously undertaken to b. the
champion, and defender, and learned apologist for
the delinquents:
lOl EAST BROADWAY, JAN. 26, ls4o
JAMES G. BENNETT, ESQ.
Sir,-ln looking over an editorial remark In your
paper of 18th, headed Lexington, noticed list of
the most outrageous falsehoods, which y"n send be-
fore the public as facts. The asscrsions alude to
follows You say the Lexington on fire
three times before, which is false The cotton. you
say, was repeatedly on fire;-that is kewise false
You state the former engineer refused go in her,
on account of the risk he run, which there is not
word of truth in. i discharged that man myself on
account Of want Of discipline Of his men. The Mr..
Hemstead who was lost in the boat the engineer
who | employed in the place of Mr. Bradenburgh.
Mr. Henstead was taken sick some few trips pre-
vious to the accident and he placed his brother in
charge Of the engine for day two. Consequently,
you will observe there is not word Of truth in what
you asserted--wether by mistake intention, /
know not but IT appears to me it would be to your
advantage to tell near the truth those
cemports with your theory Respectfully yours,
}. IL. VANDERBILT.
To say nothing Of the modest and gentlemanly tone
of this letter, perhaps the public will how pecu
liary appropriate is the temper of Capt. Vanderbilt
whilst yet the blood Of $50 of his fellow beings is UNI
appeased. However, the facts we still honestly and
firmly believe are, as we stated; that the Lexington
has been fire eften, If not than three times
before; that the cotton freight has also been on
fire; and ic not grossly msinformed that bale
fire, rolled from the boat to the wharf, short
hoCr 81 - Al Ill.
that not only MIR. Blydenburgh was afraid to go in
the accused Lexington, but that numbers of other
persons were also afraid to travel in her. The bro.
Their of that fine man who was lost, Cornelius Hemp
steaa the engineer, stated to number of gentlemen
in Brooklyn, that the trip before the last, in
her engineer in place of his brother: that that
trip the beat took fire and with difficulty put
that the fire in that instance occasioned by the
rapidty of the blower the force Of the draft injurng
a brick partition back of the boiler, next TO which
the cotton was placed.
Capt. vanderbt's extreme modesty and profound
learning does not, however, prevent him from dex-
terously concealing the real of complaint, by
raising dust about an unimporiant matter. Whether
the boat and the Gotten were on fire, once, twice,
thrice, or a dozen times before the fatal accident
is a comparatively trifing matter. That both boat
and freight have been fire before, is admitted by
all the company, and known to all the city. The
mere number OF times that this occurred sinks into
insignifcance with the startling fact that il did
cur and the directors adopted additional precau-
tons, to prevent repetition which has destroyed
SO many valuable lives, and plunged manv fami.
lies in misery. Captain c. Vanderbilt himself, in
his testimony before the Coroner says, "Itis such
common thing for boat to take fire, that cannot
remember as to the Lexington" Most assuredly he
would have remembered had she never taken fire
before. But Capt. Comstock, the 2lst swore this
= The Lexington, four weeks ago, took fire on her
main deck" This, then, was on Christmas day
Ii is also positively stated, that she took fire
New Years day, and in the last trip from Boston
With regard to the dismissal Of the engineer,
Capt. Jacob ii. Vanderbilt says, that he discharged
Mr.. Blydenburgb, "on account Of want Of discipline
Of his men This is in direct contradiction to what
Captain Joseph Comstock swore on the inquest.
Capt. C. there said, under OATH
Twas &C euaibied with the engineer Of the Lex
in rton was not acquainted with the former engi-
neer l don't know why he left the boat;
but have heard Captain Vanderbilt say that
ne was discharged, on account Of has not being
quainfed Nth The burning of coal. II ,oas Jacob
Vanderbilt tcho gare me this information. Ii was
while the boat as undergoing repairs, that made
the enquiry, He had previously been on board Of
the boat for several years
-
existing circumstances can thus say and Rainsay.
Strange that Blydcnbureh should have been board
the boat several years. and yet not have discipline
:" Of" his men as Capt. Vanderbilt alleges. We
wrote what we honestly believe to be true, and
duty to the public demanded this.
Bat enough Of this "polite letter writer today.
His letter scarcely requires comment, appearing
und.r the circumstances that il does. One hundred
and sfty Of our fellow beings have been murdered.
The bodies Of the murdered fathers, mothers, hus-
basds wives brothers, sisters, ms, daughters the
learned the wise, the good the bright, the brave,
the beautiful are still floating about the ocean seek
ing resting place, washing and rolling along the
rock. ana sands Of the sea shore. The thought is
naddening; the outrage upon society by the CON-
pany is onstrous; and feeling as we do IN relation
to this natter scarcely dare trust our pen give
utterasce to cur thoughts.
ExPLo.ros ~ THE BEEr TRApE.-Wihin the
past ten days an explosion has taken place in the
beef and pork llne that will affect several Phiade
phia and Baltimore banks, to the amount of 81 CO.,
600 A day or two since, We mentioned the failure
Of a great cattle SPECTATOR in the latter city, and
since then We have learned the particulars. The
United States Baak is in for S7o0,000 and a Bst.
more Institution for Sl25 900 more. Nearly every
head Of cattle in Virginia, Pcnnsy wanna, and on,
had been monopolized by this operation in beef and