The native American., 1840-01-25
THE Loss or THE LEXINGTON.


lions on the late shocking catastrophe, which
has carried desolation and anguish into 50 many
families at the north, and which has been deep.
~ felt niso, il we are not nisiniormed, III car
own city. We cannot bring back the dtai'
but we may be able to offer some useful hints TO
the living, al this moment, Whrn the dcPloraole
occurrence is fresh in the mind, and subject Of
universal interest. The Lexington was an cd
boat, having been in constant use Tor many
years. When first built, her SIZE. and model
and speed were themes of universal remark,
and she was considered the wonder Of the age.
She was designed to outstrp every thing in the
waters of New York, and she did. We remem-
Der racing through Long Island Sound in her at
the fearful rate of Is miles all hour, against wind
and sea, and little did we then dream VI her
Gual catastrophe. We are certainly obnoxious,
as people, to the charge of being reckless OF hui
man life The most terrible and heart-rending
scenes have occurred in rapid succession during
the last few years, and yet it would seem mat
public interest in each particular case had ex-
PRED with the last wailng Of the tortured VIC
tins. Such is the fact, and it is attributable in
great measure to the habits of our people. All
our movements are upon the railroad principle
Of action. There is universal rush for wealth,
distinction, or pleasure. We escape one vortex
only to rush into another. The whole commu-
nifty is brought 10 stand by some shocking DIS
as,er, and after gazing upon the spectacle o. ms
cry for moment, turn away and bury the mam-
ed the dead and the mourners in one common
grave of forget(ulness. Such will be the case
until, as people, we exchange present I'M
nrlses for sober reflection. The difficulty IS be-
yond the reach of legislation, and no legal en-
actments can interpose safeguard to me 'Ea'e'-
ling public, while that public itself is governed
by feycrish excitement. Let boat in any part
of the Union, happen to come across co'npesl-
tor in speed, and two.,hirds Of her rassc' gers
will instantly decide and perhaps cIamor 10 60
ahead of her. Nobody likes to be beat even in
a steam boat. Such is the genius, and inclination
and action Of the public-and were not captains
more considerate than their passengers, terrible
accidents would be far more frequent.
Among thoughtful, sober community, SIN
gle catastrophe like that Of the New England
or the Ben Sherrod, or tie Home, or the Puiash',
or the l1oselle, or the Lexington, would have
aroused the energy Of every individual to co-ope-
rate with government in preventing Its recur-
renee. But it is an amazing truth. that notW1th-
Standing thousands Of families have been bereaY-
ed or smitten BY these horrible caamities, they
continue to take place, one or two in year,
with almost perio dica exactncss. Those that
.scape call themselves "lucky fellows" and al
ter detailing their hair. breadth scapes are ready
to run the same hazard again.
The subject naturally led US into these general
remarks; but our main object is, 10 make some
practical and useful reflections upon the fate OF the
Lexington and her doomed company. And the
l6rst and most serious reflection in reviewing
this scene in imagination is, that men are nerer
readu to die suddenly. Did they live in constant
nreparation for tleath-an event always solemn
and certan-ts sudden and terrific approach,
wouId not drive them into utter distraction. 1t
may be presumed that Mr.. Finn acted no comedy
on that tragical occasion-the lordly mansion OF
AR. Phelps al Stonngton, gave him no pleasure
and money was SO valueless, that it as empied
loose upon deck, that the box, which was then
of more value might be used for bucket
| Connected with this is the reflection, that
most signal fatality, or more properly speaking
a very mysterious Providence, attended this DIS
aster. /, is indeed utterly incomprehensible, that
> boat in her situation, and under all the crcun-
stances, could have suffered such fate. The
Sound, where she caught fire, is not more than
eight or ten miles wide; she was under the wind
ward shore, and the sea could rot have been high,
from the fact that men survived OH bales of cot
ton. 1t is in evidence Of Capt. Bunker, the
Oldest steam captain at the north, and now in
spector Of steam boats in New York, that the
Lexington was in all respects complete, accord
ing to law. She carried three boats beside a
life boat-had an unusually large ships company,
and among her passengers great number OF sea
captains and officers, a class OF men whose occu-
patton leads them to look peril and disaster con-