Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-06-16

be very little truth, indeed, ia the whole
Of it: and were nos sucI, the case, as
some lime has elapsed since the event alb
ded TO, We might be disposed TO let the mat
ter resi-, did wc not deem it duty 10 The
public, and pa rticularly the travelling por
-tian, 10 put them in possession of the facts,
that they may not, through thc influence
Of Statements. made, not so much with
view to iheir correctness, as apparently
tnroughthc influence Of taose Interested. 10
forcstaIl public opinion, and give error the
start Of truth, risk themselves and proper
ty on II boat, where facts will show, that
they can hope for bat little from any
ecn;lcmanIv conduct, attention, or care, on
the part Of the captain.
/ That the accidcn: Of the upset,ing Of the
lighter did happen, is true, and that it might
have terminated disastrously, is also true;
! but how far the boat under the command oC
her captain was 'he Innocent cause Of the
accident, and how far those who were bare
~ soscued from drowning, are indebted for
IT, to Ills prompt and careful attention. we
vii! cndcayor to show. When the New
England made her appearance in port, the
lighter, manned as usual, hauled along
aside, and Il part Of those on board went
on board the steamboat, the b,lancc re-
mining 70 take in freight, Of which, this
time, there happened to be more than usu-
al. 1t was after night, there was pretty
strong west wind, and the captain having
rclusd, nj the request Of those taking in
freight, to cast anchor, the boat in tho mean
time drilted rapidly out into the lake
After drifting, PcihaPs, upwards of mile,
the Lighter was dropped astcrn and towel as
near shore rs possible hy The bout. when
not having yet taken in all her freight,
she again game along side, and after ia
king some more at the az gangway,
hauled along TO TIC forward to take in the
balance and passengers. And now let uS
compare the facts, us fca,y TO be vouchcd
for by all, with the statements Of tic Ad
vcrtiscr. Il says,a lighter which was along
side, for TIC purpose Of receiving freight,
&c. aras cast Loose, as 'cas supposed, and
when the word was given, 'aIl clear the
engine was put in motion, which immc-
diateIy capsizcdthe lighter. Those in the
lighter, whilst she was forward, called
again and again for Il line TO attach 10 the
stern Of their boat, that with the bow line,
they might keep ii steady; this was either
refused or neglected, AMI in It's absence,
to keep it steady, several held onto'thc fen
dor rope Of the Steamboat. A. this mo-
ment the captain, whose conduct, during
the whole time, had been harsh and ungcn-
tlemany in the extreme, Hooking over the
deck Of the boat exclaimed, ',I-n you,
haul your boat farther aft, or I'll back wa
ter. and run You under the wheel Now
mark The coincidence between his lam
guagc and acts. There was no word gi-
ven all clear and so far from the lighter
being supposed to be loose, they were in
the very act of lowering down from tho
deck of the boat part of wagon, which
they wcrc obliged TO draw back, IN / the
balancc'ot whichwas in the lighter, but no
sooner had the captain uttered tho threat
above, with the windoir shore, the stern Of
tho boat from shore, then quarter of q
mile out and still drifting. Shan he COM
menced backing the wheels. Those who
were in danger shouted 10 him to stop. but
! his answer was, 'd----n on, you hay-ma-
kcrs, take care Of yourselves The ght-
CIR rode we'll enough, until tho boat began
to make some way, when those who had
hold of the fender rope being unable to hold
longer, and it being impossible TO loose the
bow rope, she swung round and immedi-
diatcly capsizcd, prccipitating the crew Of
fourteen persons and full load OF valua-
! BILE freight into the lake We might stop
| here, and inquire, under the circumstan-
ces, what could have been tho motives Of
The captain for the act We arc a: loss
TO divine, but for the sake Of the form, j re-
scmblancc to which he boasts, VIC should
be glad to call it carelessness: but how can
il be reconcilcd with his threat above, and
subsequent language. 1t has never been
our lot before, to meet with similar exhi-
bnion in nature claiming TO be human,
VIC shall not attempt therefore, to draw con-
| cltcions INT let the public Judge for them