The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-20
Saving Life on the Coast.
OFFICE or THE New York AND SANDY Hook
TEL, 81 Wall street, Nov. l6, 1864.

TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
In my note OF tho l4sa, did not expect to be
drawn into controversy with Capt E. Smith OF
be News Yacht, by simply stating that the I'm
derwIixrs were not rmiss in their duty, bus acted
- prompt as possible under the circumstances
That the tug boas were, and are, not provided with
fe-b- ats and other appsrutns fos saving life, no
one will deny; but is that the under writer's fault
One would suppose from Ca 4. Smiths article of
this morning, that the marine insurance com ,auies
we're pc0rpt rated for the exp ess purpose Of usur
ing al saving life, Instead OF property, and that,
instead Of attending t. and saving that for which
they associated, they must ab ndoa their property
nd turn phuauthropists. Tois cannot be ex ,ected
OF any incorporated mons yed institution, no Fevcr
ptilAnthropic their officers may be in their private
fhe Sin Of omission in not having provided the
necssssry implements and apparatus for saving Ii e
IN Of sLipwrsck along The coast contiguous to
our hasbor, lies at the door OF every mao in the
con mDnity according TO his ability, and particularly
it the door OF the Commissioners Of Emigration"
Who receive one dollar from ca OF tho emigrants
xho sbtc for this counsl,y and als9, OF tnc different
psnevoleDt tmigrsLt sccisties In tuis city: and,
may id with great property, of tho shippers vhc
-haye been, and are growing, rcn from the great
numbers OF emigrar;s coming to this country.
Every ting boat that goes down the bay, or plios
about tne hsroor should Ds amply supplied wisn LIE
ats and lite prescrvsrs; acd tuee should BE- as the
tojnt Of the Hook stout, stauLch steamer, sl.h
iIes canktonty burIilg, fully ;lanped and equipped,
ready to ienaer assistauce in case of need, either
70 cave property or life. There should also be ar
s5pRed, Ia come ton with the boat aHd tn tele-
( spb, code CT sinnas, coupled expressly for
1sIbor ard Coast purposes, and Ia fcggy Testncr,
ven besigpas cannot 90 seen, guux should DC hfed
~ certain 0eI vals whic would indicate tDat astis
tsnce is Dee ded ut certain potlt Taese guns shond
he placed S'hin beaipg distance OF each otoer aioog
he oesch so that In ary emergency they could
be relied upon. rois tJyolves heavy outlay Of
money. Woo shall pay It Ger AMY not t1e 10
eivriters exclusively, any more than the Asscc,at
ID Press who al present suppoit ysclt, COM
uapdeo by Capt. smith, for toe purpose OF ob,.,n-
fg le~s, witnout regard TO the saving OF eitoer
life properly, athouc II must be confessed that
Capt. =. was prompt to sspar 70 the scene of tne
week, and have 10 doubt snuid have aoue good
vice II he bad had command Of . good le5oat
be Comm ssioJers Of Emigration siould take tine
.cac in tais matter, aud ct sfJu-ly 70 work aud
nt into opei alton all the appliances FOR say ng LIE
all cases where it Is enoapgered 10 or about the
srhoi sno Coast. IO3gfess ns e au approDr stioo
during Is lsss session of tseasy ttonsanc doilsrs
cr such IN poses, for ia port a,ose bas that ois
position nas csen mlde OF It am nnS abs ~ say.
The underwriters in their official aod private ~
gfy--the Associated p,ess-tbc shippers, toe Dtns-
rs, he retired and active nerchaDts would cgrtri.
butte for the SUR rt OF efclent arrsoge ment to
ave life In all cases OF shipwreck like that OF the
New Era, and bic, scene IS liable to be re0cated
,lmost every month Of the year. Yours, most re
iectuily, W. 0. LEWIS.