The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-08
For ihs scutAsts Pres.
VINE cling Bridge.
WHEELING, May 1, 1856

w HkkLlnG, way ~ iooS'
MEssRs EplToRs "A most abusive article
has been published in the Pittsburgh CONNER,
cial Journal, charging US with having misstated
the facts touching the passage OF the steamer
"Cincinnati," under the Wheeling bridge on
the 10Th of April AS the editor OF the journal
asks the republication of his defamatory charges
in the Washington newspapers, together with
the affidavit of Captain GRUcE Of the Brilliant
il is due to us, and il is due to the facts, to
make the following additional statements.
What we asserte in our communication OF
the 10Th ultimo was precisely true While the
water was higher than it had been for twenty
years before, the steamer Cincinnati, the tallest
boat on the Ohio, passed under the Wheeling
bridge, without detention, by merely lowering
its chimuies. This is the essential fact, going
to prove that the bridge offers no substantial
obstruction to the navigation.
1t is true, however, as asserted by the Journ'
al, that after our letter was mailed, the water
rose still more-and obtained level some eight
or ten feet higher than it has been since 1882.
On the evening of the Goth, when the river had
reached within few Inches OF its highest mark,
the steamer brilliant" came into port, out o.
fuel, and lay by, in place of comparative safe
ty, to avoid the dangers of the flood. This boat
is not rugged for lowering its chimnies, except.
ing six rings at the top. But she need not have
stopped on account of the bridge, even though
her chimnies could not be lowered. There was
most ample depth Of water entirely across
Wheeling Island, where any one of the packets
could have run in safety, with its chimnles
standing
The messenger" and the "Buck Eye" both
of which are as large, or larger, packets than
the brilliant" passed under the bridge in the
day time, while the Brilliant lay here pretend
ing to be obstructed. The "Buck Eye" and the
"Messenger" both lowered their chmnies in
order to pass. 1t is not pretended by US that any
of the scow Pittsburgh boats which are known
to carry chimnies of immense height, can pass
under the bridge on such flood as this, with
out lowering them for the purpose.
But, neither the "Buck Eye" nor the 'Mes-
senger" were detained one moment by the
bridge, although at the time they passed under
it, the water was six or seven feet higher than
it has been seen before for twenty years. 1t
was, in fact, three or four feet higher than when
the Cincinnati passed though it was ever then
n higher food than had occurred for twenty
years. .. ~ .... .....
Weuil not engage further in this unhecom-
ing controversy, il we can avoid it. But we
will say, in conclusion, that it is strange com
mentary upon the perversity and malice OF hu'
man nature, to see the Pittsburgh editors just
after witnessing food which has ruined the
crops all along the valley Of the Ohio; which
has swept away the homes of many suffering
people which drove hundreds OF the citizens Of
Pittsburgh out of their houses, into the churches
and back to the hills for safety; which in some
instances carried entire families to watery
grave--to see these editors, forgetful Of all this
devastation, return at once to their cruel war
fare against an enterprsing rival town, that
never did them any harm, but seeks by honora.
BILE effort 10 secure its own prosperity,
Your obedent servants,
JOHN l.. NEWLY,
.. JACOB G.. METCALF,
w. j. POWELL,
49,. s. RICE.