The New York herald., 1845-04-13
The Late Disaster on the Hudson.

news will be twenty-one days later.
The Late Disaster on the Hudson.
Il will be perceived from the report which we
give in another column, that the Senate OF the
State have ordered full investigation of all the
circumstances connected with the late heart-rend-
ing disaster on the Hudson We are confident that
we speak the sentiments of all intelligent and right
thinking men in the community, when we express
our most decided appreciation OF this action on the
part of the State Legislature The 81 Select Com
mttee" which has been appointed, is invested with
full authority send Tor persons and papers, and it
will indeed be great relief to the public mind to
know that rigid, impartial and searching examin-
alton will be made, for the purpose Of ascertaining
the cause OF this sad calamity, the pun shment of
the guilty parties, if any be discovered, and the
adoption of some legislative enactments which
may tend to prevent the recurrence Of such dis
aster our rivers.
The honorable gentlemen who brought this mat
ter before the Senate of the State deserve the
grateful esteem of the community. We have again
and again been called to express oor surprise and
regret that the legislative authorities have over
looked occurrences of similar character. In the
large majority Of cases of accidents on our rail-
roads and rivers, the most culpabe careessness or
recklessness have existed, but the guilty have, we
may say, uniformly escaped. The great cause of
this impurity has been the unwillingness or ina
blty of indvsduals to institute proceedings against
wealthyand Influential joint-stock companies, whilst
in some instances the most corrupt and disgraceful
have been resorted to for the purpose Of pro.
curing certificates Of exculpation. Occasionally,
indeed, d,condemnatoryresolution have been adopted
and published by those who have been fortunate
enough to escape without loss of life or limb, but
the companies have quietly laughed at the accusa-
tions which theyknew would be perfectly harmless.
II is therefore with intense satisfaction that we are
enable to'make the announcement, that in the case
of the "Swallow," the whole matter will be SUBJ
jected to legislative investigation. If it. be con-
Quoted in rigid and efficient manner, as we have
every to believe it will be- the most salutary
consequences may be reasonably anticipated.
From all the accounts of this disaster, there can
be very little doubt, that the mo I culpable igno-
were manifested by the pilot
in charge Of the boat The speed of the boat i'm
mediately before the accident occurred. is repre-
sented by several of the passengers as having been
at the rate of fifteen miles an hour 1t is indet
apparent, that the velocity of the boat must have
been very great, when we consider the fact, that
the bow was driven so far up on the fatal rock
Mr.. Hinsdale, one of the passengers, who Eresdes
in this city, states that he had gone on deck few
inmates before the boat struck, and that the speed
OF the boat was such as at once to induce the
thought that they would reach their destination at
avery early hour. But the fact that the boat left
Albany after six O'clock and that the accident hap
pened at some period between eight and half past
eight is alone quite sufficient to remove all doubt
on that point. The Swallow" was runnin at
speed, which was utterly inexcusabls and here
the question very naturally arises, why did Captain
Squires permit the pilot to run her at speed which
he must be supposed to have known to be danger
GUS, or if he did not he was unfit to be entruste
with the management of the boat? 1t is alleged
that IT, darkness of the night was extreme, arc
that fact is put forth for the purpose of shielding
the officers. Its effect is altogether in the opposite
direction. When the hazard was SO largely aug
mented by the state of the weather, and of TIE
night, why did not Captain Squires check the
pilot9 Why did he not lie tot We do hope that
this view of the case will be very rigdly examined
by the committee.
A great deal Of stress has been most uDjustlfiaby
laid upon the excupatory resolutions said to have
been passed on board the "Rochester." They
not entitled to any consideration whatever. L.
deed, there is something inexpressibly shocking in
the reflection that at the very moment when these
u
to them-obtained, we have seen it stated in
fraudulent manner-there were many of the suf r
ers Of that fearful disaster struggling for life in Il
dark and gurgling waters, and others were sinking
for ever, or lay floating corpses in that doomed
cabin. In such circumstances, for the rescued in
the Rochester to draw up and sign paper, excul-
pating any OF the parties connected with the ma
nagement of the boat, was act precipitate-
min fahl in af WI u.I,r
excuse it, if 1t were really perpetrated in the man.
ner alleged by those whose interest it was to sec
its commisson-on the ground that those who
united in it, were hardly in their right mind, but
that oppressed and burdened by their merciful de-
iiverance from the untold horrors of that tragedy
they knew not what they did. Yet in this way,
too often, have steamboat captains and engineers,
and railroad conductors been absolved from guilt.
IN this case, however, calm and deliberate inquiry
will result in just judgment on the conduct OF the
parties concerned.
Far be it from us to PREJUDICE this matter-il-
volvng so seriously the individuals connected with
the management OF this boat, and In great de-
greethe safety of human life, to fasten crmnai-
ty on any one, without fair and full investigation.
II any or all Of the parties implicated be absolved
from blame, after proper inquiry, we shall be most
happy in giving them the full benefit Of an acqut-
tai. But we make these remarks for the purpose
OF presenting the feelings and sentiments OF the
community to the committee OF the Senate, al d
so impresslng them, as forcibly as possible, with
sense OF the responsibility which now devolyes
upon them 1t is impossible to exaggerate the i'm
portance Of this investigation 1t is estimated that
million of passengers are annually conveyed on
the Hudson, between New York and Albany. Eut
the effects of the proceedings in this lamentable c,se
will not be confined to the travelling on this river
If such action as the investigation may demai d
and warrant be adopted and carried out in an en-.
ergetlc, weldevised and determined manner, a
most salutary influence cannot fail to operate