The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-02

hoping that the day Is far distant when men Of high
writer's even they do claim to have been cabin pas
sepsers. T.. KNIGHT.
Nrw YORK; Feb. /, 1850
Nsw YoRK, January 26, 1850.
Capt Knight, Ship Neu WorM-
DEAR SiR--rhe article you sent me, entitled, "
Narrative Of the Destruction by Fire. of the Packet
Ship Caleb Grimshsw, by Cabin Passenger have
got up with some talent IL would even appear calm
and honest to perfectly ignorant OF the class Of
sir rest assured that towards Capt Hoxie it's nsnus
tions most unjust its assertions most untrue; it's
omissions most ungeperous. feel certain that am
perfectly acquainted with every step taken by Captain
Hoxie from the time the fire occurred In his ship
the l1th of November, until picked him up on the
10th. Indeed my opportunities have been such that
cannot be mistaken have heard the opinion OF every
intelligent person who board Of her inc udiny
this said "Cabn Passenger him self and at that time
they all agreed that Capt II. fully equal to the
emergency, and that under God they owed their lives
to his prompt aud energetic movements, to his insen
ous and judicious measures-wbich by the way, this
narrative itself abupoAnty proves. 1t then adds:
But why Capt H. LETT his ship into his long
beat, rename to be explained -
We know that in emergencies, no captain ever stops
to explain give for the steps he Is taking
yet in this Instance believe most OF them knew at
the time. Capt II a motives for taking charge Of his
boats In psrson Every one capable Of Judging is now
fully that It this step that saved their lives
not excepting the 4" Cabin Passenger himself, who
lives ana msrepresens these steps and the mss that
took them.
The following will explain why Capt II. took his
beats as be did when the alarm OF ire was given,
Capt. went below TO see ana direct in person lhe
efforts to extnguith 1t. This at the me, he deemed
ipdirpepsnbiy necerssry (Would not aay one y Dur
ing the time he below the most dgrsceful scenes
we're spactng upon deck. The man had dssertsd the
wheel Joined by others, and headed by the boat
swain they had riaed the pautry OF its esabes the
binrsce OF both compssses aud the cabin OF charts,
baggage 40 &c had got into the stern boat loSsred
her, vc.ied her astern quiet spectators
OF III. ana at rate distance. Others had at
tempted the same thing with q quarter boat had
swsmped her and all Of them some sixteen In number
were drowned.
when he came on deck he restored order; but then,
while doing this everything went equally bad below
The passeD scutted both tanks contsiuiDg 200
gallons being all the available fresh water in the ship
Capt II now armed himself expecting 10 be obliged
to resort TO bdiscriminse siaughtr On consultation
with hts mate ho~ver they thought better to ry what
energetic exhOrtaions and cheering could do, beiore
resortipr to such ranguinary measures From this
time matters rather improved until two three o'clock
7 n OF the 18th The raft vas nov ready 10 we're all
the boats. All were again exherted TO continue SUB
ordinate while the ain should eQusl d.
vision them OF the r- OF provisions and water
that remained. But, as II every soul hsd been hred
from the internal region all rushed a. one man for
what there was. The Ice house the harness caiks,
the store room &c were instantly broken open aud
rinsd Of their contents and IT, their haste,
thing had not been ovvrlooked, few that remained
could have been living when fell In with them Most
Of w.st s-earsd In the scramble sss tas-u 20 the
RAFT, which Immediately cut sdrift by tho thirty
or forty who had taken possession Of IT, and has not
since been heard from Insubordipation aud viii
sny such AZ this, must bs Instantly suppress
ed, or certain destruction Is in many ways Ia.
evitable. What could be done, Who could be
singled out leaders, where revolt was so geuereN
At this awful moment, capt called his mate. aud
said Sir zee that Will. these creatures think they
have the means Of escape violence will continue aud
every means CT preserving the ship be neglected. Gi
medistsly about our persons procure order.
This however, will net save us have decided there
fore TO take every means OF escape from them shall
take charge Of all the boats In person shall pu. my
cabin and sueh other into them ss all know
would be nost al xiou, TO save and together ~e viii
all drop astern. You, with eight or teu sesuen will
remain on board Ore boat We shalt always hold In
readiness for you and the seamen who With you
their live, they must the shp they will come
to order IL they DO not, tell them that you veil
armed and that you will cut your way 70 your bat In
spite Of them and leave them TO their fate This vas
done at once. captain IL with sll his boats, droppsd
astrn. bear Of being deserted by the mate Kept th-m
all In perfect obedience for days whsn rucoersei
In getting the last person her that iamias had
Tsitd This, then. is -by capt u left his ship VINO
win cay IL VAS III Judged who will say ~ va, not his
only wise coursef Fer one, ASSERT uphe,itatiogy.
that think IL Was 80 thought " A Cabin Passenger
vhsD talked with him, and remember the converse
ton well.
In winding up his narrative, "A Cabin Passenger"
pays just compliment to the 1rst mate. Mr. Hoxie.
No doubt II will be appreciated aud much 10 the same
way do the TO my self that Immediately folio it.
True 20 HE point, he fall. again upon aptsin H. asd
sccu,sd him OF hurryns OF from taysi dessrtns again
bis rafergers He says one elderly lady even brggsd
of him to tste her along hut th- captain give the
ference TO his oficsrs, aud even bis servants The
tuth IL this-w. had not been one hour at anchor at
r,ysl before Captain had provided free pss,.gs to
N.v Noik for all who wished to 60 giving them the
choice q vessels In pert. The elderly lady, cane
f.rr.d doing 90 TO going In the 20 q Bell" la ~hich
the captain and several others took passage II not
fsrfui 20 thibk how the best aud the b-.t
are liable TO be mirepFsssntsd and TO be placed
In such light before the public, that they will apPesr
no, tnly un-ise but even disgusting Ho~ csrial
soitors Of influential papers should be % admitting
into their column. that which will already
fortunate nan -ben ten 20 the wretch VINO brings
u ewes hts life 10 the skill and forecast OF the very
be is trsducipg What say then. q ths London
Trss uhose editor not only admitted this article bat
en- told In an editorial Asserted, that the American
ships v.r- not only badly built, and noorously ~.
but badly found badly arranged and badly eommsnd-
ed, sbd thst the 1 alb Grimshsw vas doubtless ~bst
she claimed to be- fair specimen far specimen''
In such company, then. take leave ofCsotaia William
hoxi- late ~ the packet chip Caleb Grimshas thiuk
he is fair specimen of the American shsptasstr,
that America may challenge comparison -iih the
world, conhdeut Of the result wish him aud all ike
him every snccess believe they deserve a. And
hupe the day 10 far distant ~hen their coutrymen Gil
allow any one of sucb class of men TO suffer In their
Characters from stafemsnt by any synonymous scrib-
blsr " he does sigs bimssf"A Csbn Psss.pgssn
With high respect, sm. dear .ir truly you're,
(sfgDed DAVID COOK.
h. u,fti har garsh