The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-21

ment In the minds Of the ocers Of shps In meet
ing vessels At or In hsrbors 70 the direction 70
that point should be farnshed by authority. II was
stated that By the law Of Great Britain in case similar
command Of the Arctic to have ported the helm. The
witnesses disagree to the proprey OF the 70 BIO
those having charge of the Vesa or Arctic were guided
BY any rule Of conduct suitable to the emer
The Grand Jury have extended their examination In
regard to steerage passengers All masters agree that
there is sickness and death in the upper than in
the lower between deck emgrant ships by OF the
air In the latter becoming heated and unwholesome, and
escaping into ths upper between Geek. The incompe-
ployed also testified to by several captains, who
stated that they we're mostly inexperienced young
men taken upon their certifcates Their specifics
in of sickness, which in the opinion OF
the captains required less medicine than II is the
patients in worse condition than before The sys-
tenn OF cleansing the ships in the emgrant departments
means Of the ships crew rather than oy dependence
worthy of public regulation in that respect 1t is
said in support OF this suggestion that for some weeks
attend to the ordinary duties OF cleanli-
ness and that at other times they neglect their per-
Torrance. Another consideration said to be the
great competition for this class OF the effect
of which is to reduce the price Of passage money,
ter of the lowest description, and who spread
q moral as well as physical faint among
those with whom they are associated. The remedy
for this evil seems to be in enforcing the appropriation
of larger than Is allowed to each passenger
and permitting them only to occupy the upper hold of
vessels.
By tn necessity would arise owners to increase
the price Of PASSAGE and while an equal profit would
arise from the present system and which call loudly
for remedy, would be in measure alleviated.
In view Of the recent disaster TO the ship New Era on
anime the condition Of the of reet furnished by
the general government in that vicinity And appear.
ed that in regard to the life boats stationed there,
tiey not well adapted to the purpose for which
they intended. They are constructed of
being dragged beach very get holes their
bottom. 1t also stated that they not in FORM
Those who experienced in their use-and we concur
in their the construction of
boats of wood in the form Of whale boat, as
stated, in the form OF half hoop in order to ride the
surf. With such boats they of opinion that the
passengers of the New Era could have been rescued
the day Of her disaster II also stated, with
reference to the casualty that the wires attached
TO the balls which fred over the ship to
carry them a line, too slender, and that they,
in most instances, broke before reaching the
vessel No compensation is allowed with view
to encourage the fishermen and Others that shore in
the rescue OF wrecked passengers and we recommend
that provision be made for suitable reward in Of
every person saved from wreck We would take this
comium is due to Mr.. Van Rensselaer,, of Cincinnati, a
cabin board the New Era for his untring
exertcns the following morning after the disaster to
complaint was preferre. against several individuals
alleged to have been concerned in fitting out SLAYER
from this port The Grand Jury urged the District
Attorney present indictment In those bot the
evidence relied did not Of character to justify
the holding of these without orroboratng evil
dence of q character different from that which
offered 1t would SEEM no xever, better to prevent the
of such evil if possible, than to depend
upon those that have made the voyage informers.
1t should be the duty of the surveyor OF the PORT he
to hold strict surveillance such vessels and their
owners may be ected of designs OF this nature
to bSsupposed from the character OF the vessel
ana the nature of the ada pied to this nearOus
business vessel if proper discernment be used
clear from this port on any such enterprise.
In the early part OF session Foreman appoint
ed committee to examine the furniture in the United
States Court rooms and also the furniture and repairs
| building now occupied by them That committee re-.
ported that article was plain and substantial and
the bills paid therefor reasonable The report sign
ed by the Grand Jurors and sent to the Secretary OF the
| Interior at Washington
We are, however, compelled to say that in the Graud
| Jury room the accommodations inadequate. The
ia nsuiciently heated and is subject to the de-
scent Of smoke and gas at times desk required in
which to dspost papers and some similar arrange
ments should be made for the convenience OF members
which viii be obvious upon inspection Of the premises
in that The Marshal informed that he
without power to make the proper improvements; he
would do it with pleasure but he hal bsen informed
must be made before his own flnds, which he mad al
ready expended could be reimbursed or such wants be
supplied
to say that they feel themselves under obligations
Joseph Bluut Esq, one OF committee Of legal gentle
men, for his energetic exertions IN procuring witnesses
| for in the OF the Arctic
Since writing the above our foreman has received q
|
and respected citizen one who has already invented
| highly useful nautical instrument, now adopted. He
says Actusted sy desire Of preventing the loss Of
ing that be used to prevent in cases,
the collision OF vessels the sea. especially since the
use OF steam has become 70 general, have in
vented plan worthy to be adopted by all vessels ira
versing the large lakes which will dictate the
direction in which tho vessel is steering to be used in
fogs or in darkness" He is making this machine,
and will shortly apply for a patent hip self
| Resolved, That highly approve of Foreman's
/ believing
the evidence We also in all his suggestions for
improvements and the facts thefeia set forth. We
| H. c. sPERRY Foreman.
c na.s. Z; C 1'vTO Secretaries.
REMoNsrRAScE.
The Judge said that the pre- sentiment and resolution
coming the foreman the organ of the Grand Jury
should be considered expressing the opinion of the
body; at the time of their members has handed
| up remoustrance, which the clerk would read.
The clerk then read the following
EwYoRK, JAN. 10, 1855.
| To THE UNITED STATES CouRr--
The undersigned would most respectfully report the
consider that our rights Grand Jurors have been
disfegarded by arbitrary and unwarantabe
the part Of our foreman whereby the public interests
The report drawn ont by our foreman,
while all credit Is given TO him for his abors thereon,
has not been made satisfactory to portion Of the grand
Notwithstanding the wrong done to our body by the
| course taken, ! for would make complaint IL
| those gentlemen favorable to the report had signed
thereto their Names thereby relieving from PARTED.
| patton in the same; this they objected to do.
In conducting this investigation, much time
cuped in getting the testimony of the witnesses and
every of Information exhausted am OF opinion
that equal care should have been taken to have full
and accurate report made and opportunity been
to the members Of the Grand Jury to scrutnize the
to its 10 do this, that portion Of the
evidence recorded by secretary should have at least
once have been Rad over that the minds o. the Grand
Jury might be refreshed TO their contents and better
enable them 10 judge Of the merits OF the report The
evidence having been taken from the ten months
previous, made the reading of the the
more important. This has been denied us by our
foreman.
Grand Jurors were at various times absent when a