The Evansville daily journal., 1853-06-07
A CARD.
The Eclipsc and Shotwc1f.

lie in regard 10 the recent flying trips of the
steamers Eclipse and A. l.. Shotwell with
great reluctance. A notoriety entire.y un-
expected and very unpleasant TO me has been
given to the performance of these boats, and
an issue made by other parties interested as
to which was The quickest trip. II is Ger
tanIy matter OF uery small consequence
to the public or the boats whether the run oI
the "Ec!ipse'' or "Shotwell'' was by very
few minutes the shortest, but the question
has been made one Of fact, involving the in-
terests Of other parties, and it becomes my
duty to v Indicate the truth, which | shall now
do
! II must be clear to all who have considered
the question that it can be correctly settled
but in one way, aud that is by ascertaining the
exact tim- each boat left fixed point in New
Orleans by the same watch held on both
boats BY reliable parties, and by ascertainidg
the time Of arrival at Portland in the same
way.
Appended to this card are copies Of GER
tifcates (origiuais Of which may be seen by
all who desire to see them at the office OF
Benedict g. Carter) from gentlemen OF the
highest respectablity in New Orleans, and
the correctness of whose statements will not
be assailed, establishing the fact beyond the
possibility Of IL doubt that by the same watches
held on both boats from the same points of
view the .sShotwell'' left New Orleans from
l6b TO l9 minutes earlier than the ECLIPSE"
and similar certificates from gentlemen of
equal responsibility in this city and Portla' d.,
which as conclusively establishes the fact
that the Eclipse reached Portland earlier
than he "Shotwell." And thus the main fact
that the run of the Eclipse" pas quicker than
that of tie ".Shotpelp' is IhR TRAGIBLY PROVEN.
There are few impossibilities, but it is
clearly an impossibiiity Tor 'he steamer A. l..
Shotweli to leave New Orleans earlier and
arrive at Portland later than the Eclipse, and
yet make the trip from port tC por, in less time,
let the figures published by officers o. either
boat be what they may. There is another
point to which wish to call public attention.
] allude to the run to Cairo. There was unu-
sual interest {, 1t in the run of these boats to
Cairo, and the published time of the Shotwell
makes her run few minutes the quickest
But The certificates now publish from those
in charge of both the wharf-boat at Cairo,
show that the Shotwell passed that point from
to 9 minutes earlier in the day than the
Eclipse. The New Orleans certificates show
thar the Shotwell left that point from l61
to l9 minutes ca lier than the Felipe, conse-
quently the run Of the Eclipse to Cairo is con-
ciasireiy proven 10 haze bern from 81 to to 10
minutes the quickest.
Having the evidence of the question of the
time OF the Eclipse and Shotwell to Cairo,
and TO this city, desire to add few words
IN reply to the charge Of racing very freely
made again-t the Eclipse in certain quarters
A nd say tina the charge is unjust and un-
fR4tn Hk. E.l.r
with any bot Whatever, and she never will
while under my command. She is a boat Of
immense power, beautiful model, and was
bel eyed ~ be the fastest river steamer in the
world, and It was natural that her owners
should desire to know, by demonstration, how
tar their expectations were justified. Such
trials of speed are not only usual on the
Western waters, but the world over. The
trial of speed between the "Ccllins" and
"Cunard, steamers, are familiar to every ne;
and all will remember the enthu sissm of the
Northern press and the Northern peo lie,
over the triumph of the Collins line. The
ianguagerf laud, ion was exhausted in the
praise OF the vessels, those VINO commanded
them, and of Mr. Co lins, the founder of the
line, but let Western steamer undertake
similar trial Of speed, for a single trip, and
'he vocabulary OF detrac'iun is exhausted in
'er condemnation. am no advocate of trial
tips, and never expect c make another with
the Eclipse. IL there were no other reasons,
such trips don't pay, brit am unwilling TO be
considered reckless of the safety Of my pas
sengers, my boat, or myself. During my
trip, my wife and child were with me, and il
can hardly be supposed would have per-
mitted II, Il had believed there was any unu-
sual danger.
Icarried large number Of passengers that
trip, among whom we're gentlemen known to
the whole country, and appeal to them to
state whether there was any excitement ex
hibited by myself or my off ers, or ANYTHING
whatever to indicate a race. NO unusual
pressure OF steam was carried. The Eclipse
out-run all other previous runs so easily there
was no occasion for it il | had been so dis.
posed, and all that was done to make the
quickest tip ever made," was to relieve the
Boat from all useless hindrance to speed, take
no freight, stop at none but the more promi-
nent points, and arrange the weddings 80 as
TO give the least possible delay. This is the
whole story OF the "fast trip of the Eclipse.
nd Instead OF the appalling dangers" over
winch So much ink has been shed, in nv
Judgement safer trip from New Orleans to
Ills cliy was never made. Thus much have
thought fit to state for my own personal ius-
tihcation.
The Eclipse needs no defense; and 50 far fom
ner being injured by the assaults to which
nave referred, her trip just concluded shows
very clearly the estima ion in which she is
held by sensible public. Every berth was
hlled, and large numbers who desired to make
the rip, could not be accommodated. | have
be. been ior good many years in charge of
Western steamers, and to this time no acci-
dent involving the life of one of nv passen-
gers has ever occurred to a boat under NV
command. Such accidents may vet befaiI
me; but never, trust. from any carlessness