New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-13
TILE PRESS ON The DISASTER.


The possibilities Of such catastrophe are much
greater than 10 commonly supposed. Let no one hts-
lily censure the captain for running thirteen knots IN
bso fog or the look out for any supposed delln-
auepcy. Ii is impOss BILE to provide etfestutlly
az aiDst collisions at Our blood rams cold today
at the remembrance OF ste amer crossing the bo"s OF
the sailing vessel that bore us 10 Liverpool 80 near
that three minutes later a collision would have been
inevitable; and yet che passed like grim phantom IN
the fog black hull and a red pipe faulty 100 ming
abwart our bows at distance OF only twice the ship
let eth while TO her watch our vessel was probably
invisible. We heard her paddles and the roar OF the
sea NJ il parted before her ponderous bulk we heard
the toline OF her bel from phantom shp her d.
rtctiop and her progress could only be guessed by
souId but we teh that invisible power that might IN
al instant crush and overwhelm US, drawing nearer
and neerer-whe the tolllng OF our bell scarcely
aucible above the noise Of her own motion, cold
hardly convey to her a warning of our presence AL
length she passed in the fog--no longer phaoton-
but thing of life urging her resistless way through
the dense Napors with fearful precision. we never
knew her name or destiny. How easily might both
shps each to the other unknown, have sunk into the
depths of the sea by unavoidable collision! But here
we are, by Gods mercy, to record oar near escape
from that which has befallen SIX hundred OF our tel
lows These possibilities are fearful to contemplate
while sitting quietly in own study but hou fearful
while lying hkeful in one berth ct sea or gropng the
deck in dripping fog. And yet with all the posi-
bilities of cilamty by collisions by storm, by ice
berg or by fire. that are inseparable from the navga
ton Of the ocean by steam that navigation is safer
than railroad travel in the United States.
But we had come 10 count too much upon It's safety;
10 gard our steamers matters OF the sea; aud to
talk of iheir achievements with coafdeuce almost
presumptuous. How terrible the lesson Of our de-
pend,nce upon Divine protection taught us by this
calamity And yet, how Deedful and how sAldtary
Only such great cslames staile the eager multi
tudes OF this metropolis q commerce into the recog-
milton Of power the laud and the sea, that is
above all the calculations OF gain and all the guaran-
tees OF insurance Only such great calamities can
make the City Thoughtful sad aud solemn, as in the
prestpce of God or can cause the current Of human
sympaihies to overflow the dy kes that Manmon and
ConveD,ionality have heaped up all around US. rnefe
is not heart in this great community that does not
beat with sympathy for ell whom this calamity has
bereaved of kincred and friends. There is not Chris
tan altar from which prayer does not go up for these
unknown mourDers. There is not coun'enance tht
is not saddeDed by this sudden aPpartion of Death
in so many houses. There is not mind but is for
moment ave struck with the sense OF the Invisible
and the Almighty. The confluence Of sOrro~s from
Lake Erie the Atlantic has made the heart Of this
metropolis reel under the thought of Providence so
vast and terrible in the reach Of It's vsitatons Oh
may that heart be aroused to the recognition Of a
Grace as omnipresent aud omnpctent for our saliva
ton