The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-18
The Danger OF . Trip To staten Island.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

MAY 1oth 1858.
Sm IL left New York in the steamboat sylph, for
Statsn Island at o'clock Saturday The steamships
Alabama Marion and Roanoke, sailed AZ the same hour
Immediately after clearing Governors Island these
three steamers coming down at fun speed The
Alabama leading and crossed the Sylph, with suft
Gent room to spare The Roanoke bore away in good
time and passed on the Long Island side the
Of the Sylph. The Marion stood her and the
Sylph hers, both going atfu speed saw thsta COLI
ZION must take place unless way and crossed the
stern instead of the bow OF the other this the
Of each seemed determined not to do and the steamers
approached each other until the Aarion's stem
within twenty feet of the syph. The syph was then
obliged TO give way do sn, which she would have
done a miRute after che struck. She crowded
with passengers great many of whom were ladies and
children; many OF them become mach alarmed and ex-
cited, and saw one lady nearly in Mysteries l had my
own family board, and went forward to the man at
the wheel, to demonstrate with him. and WAS told to
mind nv own business (Which considered l was doing
in taking precautions for the safety OF famy and
he would mind his At this time the Marions stem was
not twenty feet from the Sylph.
The captain Of each seemed to think that he had q
right to keep his course, and rather than yield
that right or lose ten seconds Of time on voyage 70
danger the lives Of two hundred persons. Those on
board Of the Marion, certainly free from danger
and her commander would have acted more In
with the conduct and galantry Of sailor by allowing the
Syph pass on than by bearing down upon ferry boat
man at her wheel but although he free from per-
sonal danger he PIT his owners pockets in jeopardy for
more than the value of their ship.
q
question, "Who had, who had not the right p? but
wish to ask the Of these ships If they will permit
this outrage to be repeated The vessels will start
at the hour next Saturday and is the contest
to take placer and thsn after collision, Is the CUES
ton Who was in the right ~ to be determined II the
Marion had struck the Sylph you would have had to
late loss of life which would have exceeded the Nor
walk catastrophe; and If the pet of the sylph had es-
capped, should have been edited with discussion
between hum and the captain of the Marion we're
the other day the engine drivers the Jersey
and Paterson railroads
know Commodore Vanderbilt and Messrs Spoford &
eston, and believe them to be too jealous of their high
character and reputation to lend the slightest sanction
such recklessness would have represented the matter
to them personally but next week it may be the Alabama
Roanoke and cannot call upon the of al OF
them must avail myself of your columns to draw their
attention TO this subject.
enclose my card, which is at the service of either
Commodore Vanderbilt Messrs Spoford Tieston and
if they want corroboraon viii furnish them with the
of dozen respectable persons well known to them
In the meantime ask whether they will give orders To
prevent repetition OF gross outrage those who
obliged TO travel board Of the Staten Island ferry
boats A SHIP. OWNER. =