The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-03
Vnc Henry Clay amd Reindeer CalAmifles.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT oOURT,

- ~-ss-.ns'.s--s.a--
thc Henry Clay and Reindeer Calamitlss.
UNTED STATES DISTRICT OOURT,
Before Hon Judge Bees
yet 1-Xap~tonf Prssemw r,u If the G,~,d JTy-Rs
snanes ssGsnsf Seunbca, Rac,ng-fhe Fireman of tho
oHnu having handed In teversi bs o, i0oloimrnt
Tsa 10 following very impors.n, cocumsnt to the
1e1s District Court Of The United stses in AID fir ne
ssutAern District If Ne,o York IN ~ Second Crc.u.-
he Grand Jury Of the Southern District ~ Neg York,
upon The September term OF ths DISTRICT Court
SI the United Staes, In said district respectfully pre-
sent
That they have had their consideration The
Of steamboat Henry Clay aud tho Ambpat asodse
Involving great destruction VI human life laid before
them by tie District Attorney sDd having found bills ~
indictment against such parties have se-med TO tue
Grand Jury crimpsy responsible In the under
the law Of The LAND they leave represent certain
matt Re connected with steamboat navigation on the
water OF this district which deserve the serious aten-
ton Of the community In the tirs place. Il has bsen
brought to the notice Of the 6Isod Jury-Mo
they accordingly preseDt-tbas the steamboats, nsvi-
gazing The North river ia the constant habit OF
violating the proviions of act Of Congress which re
ques them TO blow off sieam NJ thu landings Or Other
stopFages the The injunction Of the statute is
found In 7tn section the not entitled to
provide for the better security Of the vsr OF
on bosId vessels propelled IN ths whole, or 10 part by
steam approved, July 1888 Andis distinct and i'm
persiye follows - And Do IL rthsr enacted,
that Whenever the master Of any boat vessel the
person navigating sad boat vessel which
propelled IN whole or in part BY steam shal stop the
beadwsy Of san boat vetse when the sad
vessel shsh be stopped for the purpoe OF dschargng
taking cargo, fuel passengers he they shall
open The safety valve 70 keep the down in
said boiler practicable to what IA when the
said boat vessel Is under headway under the penalty
Of 500 for Oh and every ofeDce.n
The experience Of disasters from the neglect OF this
pr, caution which led to this enactment has
Lim.d by The history OF navigation its pas
sage. ana the deliberate and hsbitu contempt Of this
and .c,ent provision OF law for the better secu.
owners and masters on the North river calls for the
reprobation on the part Of the oomniun at
large and vigorous exaction of the usory penalties
by the officers Of the government The Grand Jury
take to request the attention Of the District at
tOfpey TO The enforcement OF the pecnniay fines
and 10 the opinion tnst In OF life lost by
posiop after stoppage Of steamboat. during which
this prudential has been omitted the parties
responsible will be subject to the legal and moral guilt Of
In the second place the Grand Jury pre-
thar the STEAMBOATS, the North river In
sufficiently provided with any proper equipment
either for the extiDguishmsnt OF fire for securing
the lives Of the passengers Of disaster to the boat
from this other which should drive them from
IT, An ordinary attention to the responsibilities the
ers assume In passengers on Vessels propelled
by steam should require from them full provision OF the
appliances Of fire engines fire buckets boats and life
peeeryers to meet the casualties incident that mode
Of navigation and whether the origin Of fire board
steamboat be attributable TO accident criminal
fault the history of all such shows that the
loss of life these occasions would have been greatly
reduced having the at hand for saving the
sepgers fcm drowning The Grand Jury therefore pre-
sent TO the consideration Of the community the i'm
portance OF requiring from steamboat In addition
TO all Que against the Of disaster
q
preservation Of fife when the disaster occurs The
investigation Of these has called the atten
ton OF the Grand Jury to another defect m the msnae
OF these steamboats, which they present to the
niion Of the court They ind that there is
mand discipline ubordinaton on board tue boats at
all adequate to the emergencies which may ut any time
arise in the progress Of this navigation The chief off,
of the boat generally unkno the passengers
they designated by badge of authority. and
seldom to be selected With SUFFICIENT reference to those
qualities Of self-possesson energy and promptrude
essential TO control direct and npc with confidence
MIA ho
danger of the nature and extent VI which and OF the
Of escape from which, they alike ignorant The
abs Of proper command discipline board the
Henry Clay after the danger to the boat known to
the officers and Of suitable Efforts acquaint the pas
ssugers TO TIL of saving themselves the Grand
jury believe to have been principal of the great
destruction Of life IN the late calamity which bfel that
beat they earnestly suggest to their fellow citizens
that before return Of confidence In the steam nav
cation Of the North river they should he well satisfied
that better System Of discipline to emergencies is
established and kept up ON board the boats than has
obtained hitherto.
And lastly the Grand Jury present that they find too
much evidence that the practice Of the various
ailcad end rscig sgainst has been Of late very
,era and wi many boats the North river
ass The HE and terrible dangsr q see
directly loads the Grand Jury consider the great hurry
at landings involving uncomfortable life and
NIB and the abuse and falsehood which this vehement
competition gives to- evils OF great magnitude Cases
not unfequent Of boats passing their regular
landings in spite Of the circumstances Of passengers to
such oestinaton In order to assist or secure victory
In the through trip. All these eyils--euch great
disturbances In the safety regularity and comfort Of
steamboat travelling for which this was for many
years so justly ce,batedit is in the of the ira
yelling community to repcss and and the height
aud extent which they have noE reached demand .
thorough decisive and perseyering exercise Of public
opinion and public seton to restore this avorits mode
OF travel to the just conditions Of prudence and sety
under which sloDe can 1t flourish.
Ths Grand jury have confined their suggestions to the
.eoseat navigation Of the North river the facts
which they based nave to their knowledge from
their Investigations into the two Of destruction
life which have both happened on that river. They
desire however to call the attention Of the Law officers
Of the United states to the steam navigation other
waters of this district that any provisions Of law be
violated therein they be properly proceeded with
And all which is respectfully presented.
Luther G. Carter. Foreman.
Jreh Bull. Peter j. Bogart
George Webb, Henry A. Halsey,
Julius Hitchcock, Ezra Ludlow,
Nm 8. Stilwel. David Quackenbush
John j. jackson, VIM. X. strong,
Thos. Thompson, Thos. Smith,
Augustus H. Wood, Albert w. Gobe,
Joseph I. Bell, H. 3. Dewitt.
Thos McN:ght John w. Salter.
Judge Belts said 1t very important communities
ton and that II should be transmitted to the cover
The Grand Jury having handed in true bills in the fol-
loving cnses, discharged for the term
The United States .1brcm das--smuggliny
The same Elisha H. E,tch-Smuggling
The same Thomas Lynch, Henry Ferguson and VIM.
Ftsgibs Err deavor to make 4 revolt.
The Peter ". k,ng.-smuggliDg
The same JOHN BTotrrLeayng seaman tn aforeign
port.
The same vs. Charles Francis Ucs,-Cruel and unusual
punishment.
The Reindeer ACCOMPLISHMENTS or the