The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-31
THE STEAMBOAT MAssAoRr.-we publish to day,


further particulars Of the horrible tragedy on the
Hudson river; and though have given, for tho
last three days, ample details Of the disaster, we
fear the whole will never be told. Every succeed
ing day brings more and more TO light the afro
cious disregard of human life which was the first
cause Of the d6aoaement. The statements Of the
passengers, and the testimony at the inquest, tend
more and more to fasten guilt upon the owners and
officers of the Henry Clay, and to prove that from
sixty to one hundred lives have been wantonly
and wickedy sacrificed to the selfish spirit Of cupi
dity, which, in order TO draw few more
passengers, resorted to the most unjustifiable
means to establish the superiority of one boat over
another-means which risked the lives Of all the
passengers on board, drove Of them out of the
boat at the stopping places, and now cause the sur
yvors Of the catastrophe to be deyouty thankful to
Providence that they escaped the flames or watery
grave.
That the whole trip was desperate race does not
now admit Of the shadow Of doubt; and that the
accident caused by racing, is equally clear.
Aud when the fire took place, there was no man ia
charge Of the boat who showed the slightest abb
lity or sefpossesson in saving the lives of the pas
seDgers With ordinary capacity in commander,
might have been lost The boat was not
headed to the shore in the proper direction
the passengers were sent aft instead Of
forwaId-there were no small boats, no bouys, not
even q line, to rescue the devoted victims from
death, though the stem of the unfortunate steam
boat was actually on and and one gentleman testi-
fies that he was for half an hour struggling in the
water.
The whole transaction has justly fred the COM
munity with indignation against the owners and
officers of the Henry Clay, and the public look with
anxiety for the firm administration of justice in the
case. We entertain the strongest apprehensions
that the public indignation aud the legal nvestiga
ton will both end in smokes and if the event should
prove otherwise, we shall feel most agreeably
prised.
1t is true that the Coroner's jury, now sitting in
Westchester county, ought to return o verdict OF
mansaughter against the guilty parties. 1t is also
true that the District Attorney and the Grand Jury
ought to follow up this verdict, and that petty
jury and criminal judge ought to do their duty in
the premises But there is too much reason to fear
that this case will terminate like the case eS the
Empire Of Troy, the Greenwich avenue school
house calamity, the Hague street explosion,
and the Staten Island tragedy. In none of
these cases have the guilty been brought to
justice, or even to trial. In the Hague street case
the jury acquitted themselves like men; but that
was all we have heard of the matter since. In the
Staten Island case we hear of no movement made
by the District Attorney to indic the owner OF the
fatal BRIDGE and it is extremely probable we shall
never hear word about it, Ia the present case
there will be so much sinister influence brought to
benr on one or other of the legal channels through
which it must pass, before justice is contaminated,
that we despair Of seeing the laws of the land for
the protection Of human life vindicated.
The public feeling having found vent in burning
words, no deeds will follow worthy of the dignity
of offended justice. In few days the excitement
will subside, and other events will occupy the at
tention Of this busy community. The burning of
tie Henry Clay will be forgotten and the case
will be allowed to 60 to sleep till another terrible
tastrophe of the same description occurs, startling
the public mind with "horror upon horrors head
accumulated,' and again bringing the bitter cup of
sorrow and bereavement irreparable, to many de-
solate home. This is n melancholy consideration
in great country, where the people emphatically
make their own laws and elect the officers to admin
lister them 1t is a reproach to our republican in
sttutions that as they are n. present administered
in this State, life and property less under
their protection than under the laws of monarchi-
cal and despotic governments. When will this re-
proach be wiped away, and the majesty of the model
republic Of the world shine forth in its native puri
ty and lustre-not only as u beautiful theory, but
in the practical operation of those principles of
public justice which are not less important to the
well being Of society than the possession Of the
largest liberty that has ever been enjoyed under
any other form Of human government