The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-19

SAFETY or OcEAS STEAMERs.--A letter from
Silas +. Burrows, in the Journal Of Commerce, says
that the real cause of the disaster which occurred
last year to the American ship Charles Bartlett, run
down and sunk in collision with the steamship
Europa entirely overlooked in the trial Of the
case. He states il thus
alt arose from the Europa having all sail set with
sx knot breeze, which prevented the officers from
seeing ahead, and the boat from being under the
control of the engineer.
"a steamer without sail is obcdicnt to her en-
gines, which being stopped and reversed, protec-
tion from the collision Is secured; but with sails on
a steamer, in breeze Of wind, objects cannot be
seen, the engines are Powerless and 1t s the work
Of time to take in sails
"The Europa struck the Charles Bartlett between
the main and mizen masts, and passed directly
her, without the engines being stopped any sails
started; and the passengers, who were dancing on
deck at the time, were beaten down and destroyed
by the wheels of the steamer
He enforces his view OF this subject by the follow
ing anecdotes
g Being most anxious TO aid in protecting the
lives of all who travel upon the waters and 10 add
security to my own, which has often been most
fearfully pcrilcd by this error, will strengthen the
opinion now 10 be-giyon, 10y stating the custom
which regulates steamers in other nations.
Passing not long since on the Baltic from Trav-
clmundc To st. Petersburg, in a Russian steamer,
in the month of June, the engine being stopped, at
midday, IN thick fog, the captain said, cannot
see ahead, and am made personally responsible for
running any vessel down. was pleased with this
precaution 20 secure life. twas the fret time had
ever been in a steamer ut sea during thick fog,
that did not consider myself on the borders OF
eternity. Replying 10 the captain, who was most
excellent man in his way, said, Il like this, but
suppose the fog remains week" He replied,
Seven days, then, shall we be compelled to remain
here
"This is the precaution exercised under the Rus
sian dag Steam must not be used in n thick fog,
storm; and the use Of sails, combined with
the power Of steam, in order 10 make the work Of
dcsolation more certain in casc of coming in con-
!, with object could have been
sdcrcd possible with the Russians.
al recollcct, during one of those anxious nights,
when sleep or retiring 70 my state room was en-.
tircy foreign TO my feelings, on board one Of the
superior ocean steamers, the captain lin whom
have the greatest confidence as navigator across
the Atlantic, with the exception OF running and
carrying sail in fog and snow storm, when care
experience is Of no security said TO me, about
here, in going out the last trip, fell in with scve
raj icebergs, and had TO vary the course OF the
steamer to clear one
"To which replied, Suppose there others in
our track to. night, what them why, we may
run them down. was his reply.
IL said, Would il not be better TO have our pas
sage little longer, and avoid such an event The
reply was, Il must drive the steamer, and make my
time good; the hazard must be takcn.'"
IL would cost n commander OF steamer good
deal Of self restraint TO abandon this practise at
time when the emulation of making quick passages
is eager and universal; but il is clear that un-
less il be aba ndoned, worse disasters than we have
yet heard Of may yet happen.
OF the fires which so often occur on board Of
steamboats,, attended with loss Of life the writer
of the letter says:
''The fire, in almost every instance, arises from
combustbc materials about the steamers boilers.
Any person travelling in steamer will hnd the
boards covering boiler heated almost 70 ignition,
and only requiring sparks TO throw the whole into
sheet Of flame.
Every board and piece Of wood covering boiler, 1
or adjoining il, should be saturated that fire will
not net upon them; and when this IL adopted there
will be few steamers burnt, and the lives of thou
sands saved. The steamer Lexington, burnt on
Long leland Sound, with l40 pcrsons; the Griffith,
recently burnt on Lake Erie, with 100; and tlect
Of others with thousands Of victims all would have
been saved had the wood work been made incom.
bustiblc.
"Another cause Of certain destruction, when fire
is discovered, is running the engine, which should
Immediately be stopped TO arrest the current Of air.
otherwise the draft is great that the whole boat
il at once envclopcd in flame.
Congress, now in session, should pnssa law pro
hbting any steamer from carrying sail by night,
in n fog or i'm thick weather, and restricting the
boat to half her usual speed during such periods;
otherwise collisions cannot be avoided.
"Also, law should be passed compelling all
steamers now built, and new boats, to have the
woodwork covering the boilers saturated as 10
make il incombusublc."