Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-11-09

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We have been requested to publish the
following, as an act Of justice to Capt.
Howe. We know nothing Of the merits of
the case, but publish as requested. Ii is
from the Milwaukee Journal, and the sig,
natures, we presume, are of citizens of
Milwaukee:
TO THE PUBLIC.
A notice appeared in the ";Mlwaukee
Courier Of the Goth inst, under the head
OF " Steamboats," censurng the conduct
OF Capt. Howe, on his last trip to the up
per Lakes, with the Steamer United States
We the Undersigned, passengers on board
Sald BOAT, consider the statements errone-
Gus, and feel bound to give a correct state
ment oil facts, in order that a meritorious
officer may not be condemned by those
who know but little Of the circumstance.
ccS.
The principal charge against Captain
Howe, by Mr.. Noonan, is, that after the
Chesapeake broke her working beam. she
changed his crew and load to the Z nited
States which was laid up at Fairport and
came on This is true in part. The
United States was at Cleveland, and Can't
Howe proceeded forthwith by land to Cleyc-
land, fitted out the United States. which
was laid up there by the combination for
the express purpose Of being used in case
OF accident to the regular boats. and took
off passengers and freight from the Cbesa-
pcakc. Capt Howe was informed bv com
pctent persons, that the Estates" was in
good condition and that she had been haul
cd upon the Railway at Buffalo but q few
wee ks previous and thoroughly repaired.
Under these circumstances we started. and
Notwithstanding the tremendous bad wea.
thcr, nothing transpired to warn the Can
tain Of the fraiIty Of his boat. until we
were crossing Saginaw Bay, in a strong
gale oil WIND and very heavy sea, when
we found that the boat had sprung leak.
and n consequence thereof he Dul hack
into ST. Clair river, which any boat wou)d
have been compelled to under any circum
stances. The Steamer Bunker Hill one Of
the most powerful boats on the lakes. was
IN company with us, and she returned to
the river also.
L he most important error Of Mr.. Noe
nan, IS" the boat several times came near
filling with water, and as the pumps were
out OF order the passengers had to carry
out the water in buckets" The facts 70
these. There was only one instance when
1t was necessary to use the pump, that if
was out Of rcpaia and no passenger was
required to bail. part of the crew were
employed for few hours in baiIing which
cleared the boat Of water.
LAS regards the boiler coming within an
ace OF bursting, we are ignorant. Ii nigh.
have come very near it, but we think il
very difficult to tell how near. Even nd
hitting the statement to be true. CAPTAIN
Howe would be cxonerated from all blame
and the engineer responsible.
The assertion that one Of the "smolc
pipes blew down." &c. is also Incorrect
While at anchor at the Manitou Islands.
one ofthc smoke pipes was taken down and
repaired.
In conclusion we would say that the pas
sage was made from Cleveland to Milwau-
kco in about seven days from the time she
lett, during which time it was blowing con-
stanty gale Of wind. The conduct of
Capt. Howe during all Of this periIous pas
sage, was prudent, manly, and seaman
like, aud we consider him possessed of
great hrmness and skill; that he done in a
prompt and Efficient manner all that man
could do to save the lives Of his passengers
and boat. His kind and gentIemanly CON
duct 10 his passengers has secured our cs-
TEEN and confidence, and we have no he.
station in saying, that he, as a Comman-
der, is entitled TO as much credit as any
man navigating the Lakes.
STEPHEN T. NEWHALL,
JAMES KNEELAND.
Al Ky NfIrrCIIlNT