Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-01

Ne man could have behaved more CALAMITY or direc.
TED more wisely than Schenck but had he undertaken
his voyage IN this vesse with few passengers she would
no" BE- lying ioundered at the bottom OF the Allautc
was curious to estimate the quantity of water we dis
charged IN one OF our two hour watches, and accor-
ding TO my calculation, with liberal deduction am
convinced mat 10 tile period indicated we freed the shin
with single bucket, fully $500 gallons During
the whole period OF our abors discharged, accor-
ong 10 the opinion OF one OF the officers water
enough to have sunk her six times.
shall close this rough and hasty narrative with some
feIlectons upon the manner in which the lives of the
otcers, passengers and have been tred with bv
sehoing SO large and badly provided vessel upon the
coast OF the United States the epoch Of the winter
solece. ~
LIST. We understand that the Ohio has never been
eoppered, and has been constantly worked for fifteen
months without repose or REPAIRS
md She was despatched on this voyage, carrying
between three and four hundred souls with but four
boats, all OF which were not capable OF bearing more
than seventy five or one hundred individuals
5rd. her pumps were altogether Inefficient as thew
proved in the hour OF need
4h. Being vessel of several thousand tons burthen
sne lett Havana with but single engine, whose capa-
city was evidently unequal the propulsion and preser-
WALTON OF 80 large mass OF metal and timber in stormy
weather
5th She was inadequately supplied with spars and
canvass to ride out the gale when steam failed and she
was therefore, thrown into the trough of the sea at the
mercy Of the waves.
9th The leak and the water that proved nearly ia tai
were not detected, we understand, until the fires were
almost extinguished by the rising flood under the fur
| naces.
7th vessel like the Ohio was kept atloat aud
brought into port latter she had been strained as TO
break two or three her "hog braces y by the efficient
USE OF four ash tackets;or in other words was baled
out during such tempest has rarely occurred on our
coast, by implements intended entirely for another pur-
| pose.
Steam packets designed for the transportation of pas-
sengers treasure and government mails should be at
every moment, guarded at all points from the ordinarv
and extraordinary dangers OF the sea but this shin
failed in every parteular-in sails, in steam in pumps
in boats. No possible risk that can be avoided should
be klessly incurred On Tuesday morning her en-
gineer declared that he would not have given twenty
five cents for the chance Of her salvation He watched
the strain ing OF her massive machinery as she surped
from side to sde and every moment expected to see
break and dash out the ribs and sides OF the shin but
| her great original strengh-ash buckets-and The
| nerves and muscles OF officers, passengers and crew
alone saved her!
These are grave subjects for reflection We point them
out 10 sorrow rather than anger and irnst that no
greedy spirit OF gain haste or economy will hereafter
be allowed to tamper with such human fire. jpht as
was nearly submerged during this week beneath the
waves OF the Atlantic, AS steamed by the ship on
our way to Baltimore in the Georgia. nine cheers burst
from the emancpated passengers for gallant friend
Schenck and his officers,-but not voice was raised
TO do homage to the Ohio
Very respectfully your obedent servant,
BRANTZ MAYER.