The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-22
Mfscgllaneous.
STEAMSHIP PRESIDENT.

The following letter contains the opinion of Cap
tain HosKEN, of the steamship Great w estern relative
to the steamship President
Great WESTERN,
New York, June l4th, lS4l.
Gentemen-On my recent arrival Mr.. Buchanan,
the Brit sh consul, placed in my hands condensed
report of inquiry which had been made at his in
stance into particulars relating the President steam
ship. Some of the pnions in the course OF the in
curry differ from most decidedly, and those opinions
calculated to leave strong though erroneous i'm
preston the minds of the public, il allowed to pass
without notice from some one placed IN similar posi-
ton To me- who from very many years experience in
all descriptions of vessels has had opportunity of form
ing good judgment on the subject. / he opinions
TO which sIlude those of Captain Cole, OF the
packet-sh Orpheus who, (by the reporD said, hat
the President hen mnst have been shipping seas heavl
~ and fast that probably these large bodies of water
worked through into the Engine room or fire rooms,
and ertinguished the fires in which the steamer
would have been comparatively helpless That the
President was shipping water there IS no doubt; but
feel perfect conviction she could not ship sufficient
to extinguish the fres-The fire places two feet
hov. the platform Of the fire rooms, and the platform
two and quarter feet above the floor in this ship (he
Presidents fire places should think, stand higher
The openings TO the engines and fire rooms so
small as render 1t quite impossible that body of
water sufficient to overflow the fire places could find
It's way below, even with common precauton; but
with the necessary precaulion, IN such weather ot
ba tcning matches down. &c the supposon of such a
appears by this report, have been concided in by
other gentlemen, certainly good sailors; but with
every respect for Captain c. and those gentlemen,
do hesitate to say they not competent Judges
in this ship
fully and entirely believe good steamship the
safest vessel that went to and there are nu-
mrrous instances where they have been placed in stu
atious from which sailing ship however well mana
gcd could escape case in point occurred al Barba-
does during the last tremendous hurricane in the
West Indies Her Maesy's steamer Spthre, aud
many other vessels, Were lying in CARLISLE Bay the
vessels all lost stranded the Sprlfre slipped
her cables and put to sea- the t1ce of the hurricane
Her decks sw 'pt, her boats and paddle boxes
washed away notwithstanding which her fires were
not extingushed, but she weahered il ALL by means
of her steam power, which alone saved her. The com
nander Lieut. Kennedy r. N. described the as
the most terrific he witnessed during forty years
experience.
1.-THE engines are damaged, sti steamships are good
and safe boats with their sails. was compelled to
stop this ships engines at moment In heavy gale
Of wind aud very heavy sea, just soundngs to the
eastward of New foundland Grand Bank and mme-
datey got after sail her; and for two hours-the
time compelled TO sop-she lay too beautiful
w. as easily and dry as any ship on board
of in similar situation. When encounerlng ice, a
steamship has a very decided advantage over sailing
ship do not know the exact proportion of losses be-
tween sailing and steamships, but am quite sure it is
very much in favor of steam. am not called upon,
nor do feel justified in offering opinion, as TO what
NAV have happened TO the President which ship it is
vet possible is above water-probably log Knocking
about at the mercy of the winds and waves Captain
Roberts is sailor with energy of character and from
long experience has resources, which is strong in
ducement for hopes that the President will yet be
hears OF.
am, gentlemen, your obi servant
JAMES HOSKEN.