Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-11-30
TO THE PUBLIC,

The action which has been had at Mays, lille and
ne newspaper cummenis ia that city regard q, the
unforiunais secidenG when occnsred there nn the
fyih asiand which resulteJ in The lame,,,ed death
o. MIR Campbell OF Tenn. by one sBore seriously
regretted Than BY me. renders il duty which owe
10 me public. and 20 my ewn reputation b,ih AZ al
efhcer and man. to make the following statement
Of facts
Beiors we came 10 Maysvills was asked bv Mr.
Campbell whether the boat wsud land al MaysviIIe
iihihk Mr. Baskerville was present when the inquiry
was made Told the ~ thai did not Intend 10 and;
dor did they would charge me wharfaee--thai
small hoais we're charged was Informed. lhrse dol
lars ier lnuching at the wharf. and presumed they
would charge me more. With ihis they appeared 10
he satisfied. and reque sled me 10 run as near sbore
a. pne''rable, which promised TO do. then wen,
up n HE Hufri. sae deck my proper position ON
nearing POI, IN order 10 direcr The p lot in cunning
round and stopping. After this the two passeneefs
VIE notified that we wee near MaysviIIe. We
TO- n5ed to and cane up opposite she landing The
Steamboat Mall md an,ither boat lay outside the
nna iooai-ihe iofmer ON the outside Of botll. The
Engines were III stepped for The purpose OF putting
the passengers ou and after being Stopped f,r some
Time, The current being very strong, we began 10
drop back ! then walked al on the Hurr,cane
deck. and the yawi having been detained longer
man usual (irom what cause d ID not then know
fdscovered NJ We were about 10 drop against the
Stern ofthe Mail. she was far out an the rtver
~ This time the yaw was hailed up Ia The steps
as'etn OF The share wheel. Under these creumsian-
ces could no. 60 ahead 90 the shore ssheeI with
ont Imminent danger Of swapping tbs yasl then
ordered The pilot 10 go ahead the anlside wheel
Ihs order "as Instantly ohcyed. Almost ct the same
tins the engIie Vas started We droo, hack aga;ns,
he Stern ofshs MAIL I card from where .,,s,d
the crash Of the steps leading down 10 the yaul.-
We c'niInned 10 work the outside wheel which
eaused our PROV TO ia along side the Mali
res called TO by some one 10 come below--thai
mere was person badly hou. FASTENED down as
fu'ek'y 80 : could. and on going baekI met hem
earfying Mr. Campbell forward. He was taken 10
The Cabin and all that could be done 10, him IN Inc
way Of medicsl aid and othef~iE was bro0np,Iv
brought into reqaisiicn.
IL can be shown. IL dosbled thst the vavi ,,a.
attended by the second mate and two deck hasds.-
70 OF tho i1rges cass, new and Substantially buIi;
anil rapsoe OF carrying IN any weasher. m,re thsn
dozen passehgers. in perfecf safety. Had I anti.
e'paied the remoes probability Of danger from ihis
i'ooe Of landing The passeng ~. certainly would
net have been wIihhsld by the pallry motive which
has beed aitFgbsted 10 me- ir1m landing the boat
~ msy not be improper for NE refer The public
70 The deposition Of Mr. Baskerville FOR proof If III.
'aei at this unfortunate accident instesd Of bsino
ehaEgeable npon either rsckessness OF casele
o. 'nins. ssas the immediate if not the dirsct r..u
OF his having neglected rgoIten 10 bring bis cIak
wish him Co the yswi.
Jhe above 50 far ss an posssus.d Il fDI. and
le ss'emep' Ct me facts touching this lamenlshIe
Circumstances. The public must decide mon ths,.
IN the justice Of that decision have luII confidence
sut u nearly quarter ola century Of toll and care
md wsichfuDes-, snd the reputation gained here
~. shall furnish 10 security aaainst The p~r-
sef'lons which havs been and nsy slill be- made Of
the hfg unhappy scesdeng which he's occurred 40 M.
-insn hase ioiled and cared and watched ia vain
,. BLAIR SUMMONS.
Capt Ofihe Siesmboai Ben Franklin No 4
Cincinnati. Nov. 25ih, 1843.