New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-22
The Passenger, by the Vanderbilt Line
Difficulty with MIR. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF the Case.
NEw-YoRK, Monday, July 10, 1852.


OF the Case.
NEw-YoRK, Monday July 49, 1852.
To the Editor Of the ". Y Tribune:
Within the pass few days | have re-
ceceved numerous letters from gentlemen resdi 1g In
different parts of this State NewJersey Massachusetts,
Ohio and else where asking information in reference
a certain matter In which they all alike interested.
Az an answer to one is an answer to ALL crave small
space in your columns to avoid labor to which am
Totally united by prorscted illness assuring you,
that the facts to be communicated such your read
ers may and ought TO know and such as, make no
doubt, will prove to them interesting perusa But
nssmuch as many of them are 1nacquainted with the
circumstances which call forth this correspondence,
will give you succinct Of the whole matter,
leaving my Dteroesors TO find an answer 10 their in
quiTies toward the conclusion
The Prometheus and Daniel Webster, two of the
sells belonging ~ Wander bits line SIN and 20th
of March respectively carried from this City between
seven and eight hundred passengers tcketed for the
liated North America, on her voyage next subsequent
10 that In the performance of which she wrecked.
After many trials and hardshps which cannot stop
enuerste or describe, owing 10 the very low state Of
the water in the river and tes length Ut time required
10 perform the journey from ocean, these pas
seDtefs NJ length arrived al San Juan del Sur The
Monumental City, old, rckety propeller incapable
Of carrying comfortably or even couyeaiently m)te
than three hundred persons was chartered 10 supply
the place Ct the North America and dispatched to the
last toned place for many Of her passengers
she could receive on board Over four huadred people
were crowded upon this tle vessel but 40 other was
employee TO take away the remainder and provision
made tor their defverance. The most cruel lndf
ference manifested toward them by the owners
and agents Of the line, who well knew that many OF
them destitute OF the means OF living aud depend
upon the charity Of their fellows for subsistence,
that sickness prevalent In their midst, and that
death was almost daily diminishing their number.
There were two other vessels on the Pacific Ocean
belonging 10 this line, the Independence and the
Pacihc, and il hoped that these passengers,
IL one and in the other, might secure passage;
but the officers Of these vessels again and again refused
take any having tickets for the North America al
le ing that their ships were already crowded with their
passeI gers and liable 20 conhscation though tney
after ward received others for consideration Having
now waited over two months and until all the Pacific
steamers belonging 10 the line had and gone some
OF these unfortunate passengers embarked on Soil yes
se baTteflng their tickets for passage and the remain
der returned TO Nev-York.
TIE parties of the latter on their arrival at Grey
town. taken Into the Atlanuc of the line
and convey ed home free OF charge But this
fact became known 10 Mr.. Vanderbilt he ordered his
Captains and PuTsers 70 receive nobody board und
ne bao paid his passage which compelled those VINO
came aeTward 10 incur additional expense under very
en- bari aising ciTcumssn On their arrival ia New
York they went 10 Mr.. Vanderbilt, asking redress of
their wrongs He protested great deal of sympathy
for their condition ou not altogether wicg adjust
their claims the terms they proposed suggested
settlement by arbitration, each party selecting arOi-
trsUr and the arbitrstos IN they could agree
to select UMPIRE The parties to be bound by their de-
cision. The suggestion agreed to, and srbtrators
appointed, viz A. II. Dana and Horace r. CLARKE, !
Esqs, who serusrd met and disagreed, not only
In reie 10 the amount 10 be awarded 10 the claim
ants but also in their sttempt to choose umpreMr.
Vanderbilt representative using agree 10 any
unless approved by Mr Vanderbilt and he refusing TO
approve any nominated By the other arbitrator,
to nominate any other person except counsel en-
ployed by himself or Mr. Drew.
Failing in this, the passengers made an earnest appeal
thro 1gh Ihetcounsel Mr.. Vanderbilt for 40 ust
ment OF their claims 10 way, and inquired II there
was airy which he would suggest Mr.. Vanderbilt re-
piled thai Or. Daniel Drew tue Wsiist broker, was
ont and Equal with himself Of the North Amer
lea and that whatever he would say the claimants
oug hi have should be promptly psid The attorney
called upon Mr.. Drew, who, after hearing full state
mcni Of the IA Is, Danled which he though, was
rs ht between The differing parties. Though consider
ably less than wss clsmed oy the passengers respec
lively the attorney mentioned the sum b. Mr. Wander
bi who Instantly refused 70 pay it, ard ia the most
pCiLb d manner.
Shortly after snotherpa party inclu sing myself arrived
IN the CITY and undertook accomplish that which
the eihers had signey failed Ga inquiry learned
that Mr.. Vanderbilt, at Saratoga Springs spending
the Iey be hal received OF myself and other
gers 60 called oI Mr Clark, hLs souin Ia " and layo
sdViser who told that the line bad settled sevsT.
slams for much less than demanded, bu, Distinctly