The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-13
THE MAIL STEAMSHIP OHIO.
u. S. srrAnsurr ONO, New York, Ian, 8. 1851


To BRAxTz MAYER, esq
DEAN Sra-Numerous engagements must be
nv excuse for not earlier noticing your communi-
cation TO the Baltimore Sun, processing to give an
account Of the late voyage Of the Ohio. | hope
whatever may feel bound to say to you will be
received with proper feeling, as ] act strictly
from a sense Of duty in coutradic,ing some OF
your statements, calculated to injure my reputa-
ton, and that of my ship.
You say, "The Ohio was despatched on this
voyage, carrying between three and four hundred
souls, with but -four boats, all o which were not
capable Of bearing more than seventy-fve or one
hundred individuals -
lam prepared to prove that the Ohio is as well
provided with boats most packet-shps The
idea of ship carrying from three TO four hundred
messengers, and crew Of one hundred or more
being provided with sufficient number of boats
to carry all of, in case Of wreck, is absurd The
boats Of the Ohio are large, strong, pnk-sierned
boats, and according 10 your own calculation, |
should have at least sixteen or twenty of tn se
boats to accommodate the passengers and crew, and
with double the number Of passengers as is fire.
quently the case, would require double the num-
Der of boats. Now, please tell me, Sir, where on
board the Ohio, | can conveniently stow thirty or
forty boats' Better send tender with me at once
Again you say
''Her pumps were altogether inefficient, as they
proved IN the hour of danger"
The Ohio ~ amply and well provided with
pumps, which were in perfect order when she ef
Havana, and which under ordinary circumstsn-
ces, would have been quite sufficient for any
emergency;- bat human oresight cannot provide
against all dangers incident to n sea life other
wise we would be safe at sea ms in our bed.
rooms on shore. Then,
"Being vessel OF several thousand tons bur
den, she left Havana with but single engine.
whose capacity evidently unequal to the pro-
pulson and preservation Of so large mass Of
metal and timber in stormy weather."
This is bare assertion, made without any know
ledge of your own My impression was, when
| left Havana, that my single engine was quite
sufficient; and must have sor,e stronger proof
to the contrary than your assertion, before shall
be convinced that ] behaved imprudenly in at
tempting the voyage. However, we will leave
tha, to ship masters, ship builders and engineers
and IL they agree with you, then the great advan.
tage Of double engines over single falls 10 the
ground, and steamship owners may save them
selves this enormous additional expense in future.
'tShe was inadequately supplied with spars and
canvas ride out the gale when steam iailedsn &c
II the frigate Congress should unfortunately be
dismasted during her present cruise, will any one
blame the Government, because ii did not provide
her with steam apparatus before she left ! The
fertilization, Gel Moro" All objections to Amer
leans landing are now removed, and after about
two hours spent in examining the passports of
those about to remain in Cuba, general permission
is given to all others to 60 on shore and enjoy
themselves as they like best, of which you may
be sure all are ready to avail themselves, and
may add, frequently cause themselves sickness by
too free indulgence IN oranges, pine apples, be-