The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-10
Tne Mali Steamship Ohio.
U. 3. STEAMSHIP ONO,
NEW YoRK, January Q, 1851. I

u. 8. srEAMsHrr OHIo, Z
i NEW YoRK, January 8, 1851.
To BRArrz MAYER, ESQ
Dear Sir Numerous engagements must be nv sx-
cuss for not earlier noticing your communication 70
the Bamore Sum- processing TO give account OF the
late voyage Of the Ohio. hope whatevsr NAV fesl
bsund to say to you win be received with proper feel
Ing, ~ act strictly from sense Of duty in contra
dieting Of your statements calculated to inurs
You say" Tbe OHIO was despatched on this voyage
carrying between three and four hundred souls with
but four boats all of which were not cspabls Of bear
als'n
I am prepared to prove that the Ohio Is ws pro.
ship yng h>m three to eight hundred passengers
and crew Of one hundred. or more being provided
case OF wreck, is absurd The boats Of the Ohio are
large, strong sterned boats and, according to
your calculation should have at lease sixteen
twenty OF these boats TO accommodate the
and crew, and with double the number of passengers.
as frequently the case, would require double the
number Of boats Now please tell me- SIR where on
board the Ohio conveniently stow thirty or forty
boat.i Better send tender with me at once Again,
"Hsr pumps altogether inefficient, as they
proved in the hour Of danger"
The Ohio is amply and well provided with pumps
Shich were In perfect order when she left Havana and
which, under ordinary circumstances would have been
quite sufficient for any emergency; but human fore
sight cannot provide against all dangers incident to
life; otherwise would bs safe sea as in our
bedrooms on shore Then
n,
shs LETT Havana with but single engine, whose caps
city evidently unequal the propulsion and pre-
servstion Of so large mass of metal and timber In
stormy weather.
This Is bare assertion made without any knowledge
OF your own My impression was, when left Havana
that my single engine was quite sufficient; and must
have stronger proof to the contrary than your
assertion before shall be convinced that behaved
mprudently in attempting the voyage. However, We
viii leave that to ship mssters ship builders and sng-
nesrs and they agree with you then the great ad
vantage Of double engines over single, falls to the
md dsfp m ahin ham al
this enormous additional expense in future.
She was insdequatey supplied with spsrs and can
ysss TO ride out the gale when steam failed,n 80
nthe frigate Congress should unfortunately bs dis
masted during her present cruise will any blame
steam apparatus before she left The Ohio is steam
ship, and her rig is precisely what Is required Tor
coastisg vessel never more than five ak days at
and in no danger OF getting short Of fuel II l
going to make long voyage in her where economy Of
fuel .as . obi. cot, i should rig her differently.
The leak and the water that proved nearly fatal,
not detected understood until the fires were
almost extiuguisned by the rising food under the fur
nsces.n
Is the captain bound TO inform his passengers when
ever he detects any thing wrong board mis- ship
knew OF the leak hours before com q, unicased to
any one. / Was reluctant to alarm the passengers,
and II had not required their services twothirds OF
them never would have known the ship had leaked
at all
vsseei like the Ohio was kept aaoat and brought
into port, alter she had been to stralsd to break
two thrse Of her hog braces by the efficient OF
four ash buckets, In other words bsiled out" &c
With regard to the hog braces we were all de-
ceivsd-Don were broken aud. N all had been, ~ was
matter Of little Importance These hog braces" are
extra isstenipgs with which but few ships prov
ded Relating TO the ash buckets they did us good
service certainly and in the handling Of them
man worked harder than yourself but you appear to
have forgotten that large number Of passengers
faithfully and constantly working at the pumps to
which We quite much in debted to the ash
buckets These pumps were never out OF order, ex-
cept when choked with coal dust; then lev minutes
sunoed TO draw the boxe, and clear them VIII en- they
again at work. Well do reooliect the music of
their cAter throughout the long nights and days Of
Our elff An ilintvft RI
all who were doing your best To free th. sup from
water with the rude implements put into your hands,
alone prevented my Informing you that had far
confidence In the services othe pumps than in your
ash buckets y
No one appreciates more highly than do, the SER
vices Of our gallant friend, General uo~srd but the
General do me the credit TO admit that the sug
gestion for the organization which he carried out
efficiently, came from me; and II the General
Issued n general order on board my ship, disbsnd-
Ing his forces only he forgot for the dr,t
and only time, shat was due TO IA captain Of the
chip. pledge you my honor. rever heard OF this
general order until read IL in your published count
Mr. Reyerdy Johpson's hind and consi derate de-
pertinent to~ards me. can never forget auI do not
believe he said told him the chip would 90 down
10 two honrs. declare. most smphsti,slly, that 1
never said so-and, that never thought 40
After the gale was over one of ths engineers not
the chief engineer did say in reply to playful ques
give cents fortbe ship AZ 10 his tear with
regard to the machiaery dashing out the ribs and
pressed any sueh apprehension and do not think |
there IL one of them silly enough 20 entertain Tor q
moment any notion so supreuieiy RIDICULOUS.
again repeat Mr. Mayer, that make this rejoinder
with no unkindy feeling towards you and nov that
you have had time to allay in measure the very
natural excitement under which you laonrirg at
the time you published that account IL you viii take
the trouble to examine IL carefully, think ycu viii
admit that there Ia good deal o esageeratisn In all
tn. details growing out Of scanty and incorrect ncr-
nation furnished you by others The ohio IS expected
be ready for sea by the 10th inst Afur all she has
gone through, I have greater confidence and take /
greater pride In her than ever hope some time TO
bay. you with me, when you will feel compelled to
admit that you have done jusice TO as hns shp
ever hosted am. very truly. your friend.
JAS. FINDLAY sCHENCk. Lieut. q N,
command ng steamship Ohio.
BRaSTz MNrER, Esq Baltimore.