The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-23

VI the present eumlnisuetson ma the pfeeons ION
gress nothing can now be expected. The permanent
Of this question ID, therefore, involved in
the Presidential election.
The LAKE ERIE CATASTROPHE The public mind
was but recovering from the horror and indignation
into which it had been aroused by the intelligence
Of the dreadful scenes which, few short weeks ago,
were enacted ON the burning decks Of the Henry
Clay steamer, when il was again lashed into state
Of til greater exacerbation, by the newer and
mopstrous horror perpetrated last Friday morning
on the waters Of Lake Erie. The awful destruction
Of human life-now estimated, by one of the pas
sepgeIs who escaped, as between three and four
bundred-which causes this calamity to loom up
in appalling magnitude high over those which
have preceded it by only some weeks has created
throughout the land-wherever the sad tdings have
reached-a feeling of the most implacable resent
men against those to whose ignorance, or careless
ness, or recklcssness Of life, all combined, the
terrible occurrence is attributable; and one unani-
nous voice is heard all over the country, demand
ing the punishment of the guilty parties.
Any doubt which at first might have existed, as
to the moral responsibility of the officers of the col
lding vessels for the catastrophe which has result
by the confessions made by the mates of both, be-
fore the jury empannelled at Erie to investigate
the matt.r. From these admissions the facts ap
pear to have been, in many material respects,
different from the manner in which they were repre-
sented in our telegraphic dispatches There was no
fog. The lights of the steamer Atlantic were seen
on board the propeller at three miles distance, and
the mate Of the former states that he distinguished
the propeller's lights when they were mile apart
It will then be Indignantly asked, how, under such
circumstances, if there was any care or attention
whatever observed on board of either vessel, col
sion could possibly have occurred except indeed il
was done advertently--a Nervousness which we feel
unwilling to impute even to men who have shown
themselves SO far below the standard of manhood.
II is difficult, indeed, to conceive how the collision
could take place if the pilots were at their posts and
competent to discharge their duties. 1t would
appear, too, that though, at the last moment-but
too late to avert the catastrophe slight effort
was made by the pilot Of the propeller to avoid
coming into contact with the steamer the latter was
kept right on under press Of steam if propelled
by some demon to the dreadful fate which so soon
overlook her.
But the madness, imbecility, or recklessness of
the officers of the Atlantic ended not here. Oh, no
for, if so, the work of destruction on which they
seemed bent would have been only partially per
formed, and comparatively few of their passengers
would have found grave in the waters Of Lake
Erie. But, seemingly intent on the most wholesale
destruction Of hum IN life, the vessels parted com
papy as to preclude the slightest possibility of es-
cape for the ifated passengers of the Atlantic and
it was not until after the lapse Of an hour that the
propeller again bore up, just in time to witness the
final plunge Of the steamer under the waters Of the
lake. and to snatch few hundreds of the shreking
wretches, who were crowded on the stern, from the
awful death that was gaping for them.
During that hour Of agony and despair, thu
officers seemed totally incapable Of adopting
any measures for relief; and nothing wa
done calculated to inspire confidence, or Civ
hope Of succor or escape. All was terror, dis
ORDER and despair on board, and there was no one
to take command, or give such instructions to the
pilots the imminent necessity Of the case re-
quircd. And in that appalling scene the shrieks
Of the poor Norwegian and German emigrants
very few of whom have survived-were of the
most fearfully heart-rending character. Sacb
melancholy and fatal instance Of rcckessness first
and incapacity and want of self possession after
on the part of commander, officers, and men, il
would be impossible to find parallel for.
In this point Of view the Erie catastrophe stands
before the world direful monument of that
complete disregard Of human life which has
now become distinguishing trait of the ma
tional character, and of the most brutal stupi-
dity, Incompetence, and indifference that ever
disgroced an American officer. Public opinion de-
mands that the most searching inquiry be instituted
nj vbo1a nd hat
be visited with measure of punishment, not, indeed
proportionate to the magnitude and consequences OF
theircrime for nothing would be fitting atonement
for that-but such as will hold out an assurance
to others in the same capacity that offences of this
nature will not he let slip unwhipt of justice
Within these two months we have had three steam
boat catastrophes-al terribly fatal to life-one at
Staten Island, where some Of lives were sacri
iced to the penureusness and cupidity Of the pro
pIietor; the Hudson, where upwards Of
seventy persons were sent to eternity to crafty the
insatiate ambition of the owners and officers Of
racing boat; and now this last and most horrible of
all, on Lake Erie, where the victims are counted not
by scores but by hundreds. In every one Of these
cases let the responsible parties Dangerously prose-
cuted-letjustice be done with an mfinching hand
andlet those whose acts have caused the destruction
of life on this large scale meet with the punishment
which their crime merits, else let the judicia'
authorities dread the just indignation of an incensed
and outraged community.
TIE GOLD MINES OF AUsTRALIA.-It is the opin.
ion of many well informed men, that the gold mines
Of Australia will prove more extensive an perma
nent than those of California. Hence it is believed
that to this great island Tor fifth continenD will ult
matey be directed the largest population and trade
ever known to centre in any new country Of modern
times In addition to the great extent of its gold
bearing lands, it embraces vast tracts Of rich agr
cultural Districts with immense natural pastures on
which great focks Of sheep and horned cattle be
raised. 1t will thus be found to combine what is
very rare-the advantages Of both an agricultural
and mining country.