The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-27

sew York, Tuesday, February ~, ls49.
Loss sr Life on Board or Emigrant Vessels.
The frequency and extent of the loss OF life,
which occurs every year on board of the emil
grant vessels bound to our shores from all parts of
Europe, ought to arouse the attention of the CON-
munity to take some measures to diminish the
number and mitigate the horrors of these casual
ties. This Is duty which comes home to every
one who has heart capable Of sympathzlng
with the misery of his fellow creatures, and IN
more especial manner to that class Of citizens
who are united by the ties of country and race to
the emigrants who have the misfortune to endure
such dreadful sufferings
As an instance of these casualties, If such
horrors be so described, we would call
public ate nton TO the case of the ship Cam
bra, which put in during the early part of
last week to the Delaware breakwater This
was q passenger vessel, bound to New York,
from Londonderry. She was out thirteen weeks,
and was almost entirely destitute of provisions
and water when che reached these shores. Fifty
passengers had d,sd the passage, and seven
more bursed shore upon The arrival of the
ship.
Such were the brief particulars concerning this
vessel, which were communicated to US over the
history OF human woe is compressed into these
few lines. Who can realise the horrifc scenes
that were to be witnessed on board of this
floating charnel house What agonizing
and appalling spectacle the unfortunate crea-
lures must have presented on their arrival !!
We have received no further intelligence re-
specting this vessel and, therefore, can say
nothing as to the cause of so frghtful a sa-
x r l. -
1t is to be set down to fever, famine, cholera.
We only know the fact that thirteen weeks ago,
sIxy-four human beings sail for our shores, on
board this vessel, IN the enjoyment of perfect
health and strength, and that they all found
watery grave, with The exception of seven, who
survived sufficiently long to find their last resting
place on the banks OF the Delaware
This, however, is only one case out of many
which occur every year; yet so thoroughly lnsen-
safe have the masses OF our people become, and
30 pleely absorbed IN their various pursuits in
life, that 1t scarcely gave rise to single emotion
of any kind. We have not seen a solitary CON-
ment upon 1t In any paper. What pity those ILL.,
fated emigrants had not the good fortune to be
born blacks! What eloquent indignation would
have sounded throughout the land, from the plat
forms Of the Tabernacle, and the various other rem
OCZVOub VI the sol u'SuuL OcneNOcnt dnQ humane
New England would be in flame, far and wide, and
nothing short of the blood OF those by whose lnstru
mentality or neglect these horrors occurred, would
have appeased the outraged feelings of our sanity
sympathizers The unfortunate victims, however
happened TO be white men and women and did not
sail from Africa, but from a vulgar and unsenti-
mental port In the north of Ireland. 1t would
appear, therefore, to be a most wastefu expen-
dlture OF the public sympathy, to extend any por-
ton of it to such unworthy subjects.
1t ID not our intention, in present state of lg-
norance OF the facts, to throw any blame on the
owners or officers OF the Cambria. We know
nothing Of the PARTICULARS and therefore cannot say
where the blame, If any, Is justly due. One thing,
however, Is very certain An enormous amount of
human life is annually sacrificed on board of these
emigrant vessels, from causes which we believe
might, with little care and foresight, be guarded
against. This subject has been too much Neglected
ON both sides of the Atlantic. Owners and char
terers OF vessels have been allowed too much scope
for the exercise OF their selfshness and inhumanl-
ty; and The conseq uence has BEEN that hundreds of
vessels have been employed In the passenger traffic,
which were not seaworthy; and crowds OF human
beings have been slowed away in the holds of
these vessels, so as to present vivid, and alas in
many cases, too faithful representation the black
hole OF Calcutta. Without ventiation-witbout
regulations for cleanline S. without any of the
necessary constituents of health or comfort
many OF these emgrant vessels are fitted out solely
with view 10 the advantage Of the emigration
sgents who despatch them. According TO an act
recently passed the British Parliament. IL "a
made imperative that all vessels carrying steerape
passengers should have good cooking accommoda.
ton, proper ventilation, &c, &c, and that each
passenger should be provided during the voyage
with two pounds of oatmeal, one pound and half
of blscuit, pound Of flour. pound of rice one
pound of peas, one pound Of pork, vinegar, &C..
DC, per week. Whether the Cambria was so
fitted out, we are unable to say but we think 1t is
the duty Of the British government to have tho
rough investigation made into the matter. Ii 10
but too often the case that the British emigration
agents, who stationed by that government at
tho vanous points OF embarkation, are mere nonen-
tt'es not complete tools the hands of the mer.
ohants and ship agents Should II turn out that
this awful sacrifice OF human life has been owing
to any COLLISION between them. we cannot regard
them in any other light than Wholesale rurd.,er.
In present ignorance of all the nar,,cu.r. CO..
know not who Is TO blame, or if there he ,nx on.
but there ought to be full investigation into a..
case /, and if there be no authority here to n.Ls
such an investigator on board British weasel =,
present. bill should at once be brought into Con.
grsss investing our authorities with such mower
The enormous amount OF human life annually
sscn6ced in the passage from Europe to this coun.
try is incredible; while In many cases the hor.
rers endured by the survivors are little short of
those on "the middle passage" Their existence