The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-18


The Delaware Calamity.
The disaster which occurred on Saturday
evening to the Jersey ferry boat on the De-
laware, by which thirty lives we're lost,
and large number Of persons severely In
jured, naturally draws attention to the sub
ject of ferry boats. 1t appears that the ferry
boat Jersey took fire while in the middle Of
the stream, and immediately headed for shore.
In consequence Of the ice her progress was
slow, and the flames spread SO rapidly that
the passengers were driven from the deck be-
fore the boat reached the landing. Thew saw
their tate, apparently, for some minutes be-
forehand; but as there were neither life pre-
servers nor boats on board, they had no choice
but to remain where they were among the
flames, or to leap overheard among the ice.
The United States statute requires that all
steamboats, plying in the waters of the United
preservers. Ferry boats have evaded the ope-
ration of the law on the ground that they did
not fall within its purview and that Congress
has no right to legislate for ferries which fell
exclusively under the control of the State Le
gisIatnres.
Whether this view of the statute be correct
or no, it is abundantly manifest that measures
should at once be taken to remedy the defect
which is supposed to exist in the Law. The
most obvious form Of remedy would ap-
pear to be by State statutes. applying
TO the case of ferries, and all other boats
carrying passengers, the provisions of the
United States statute. That such remedy is
as urgently required in this State as in Jersey
or Penn y lvania is notorious Frequently,
during the past winter, the Brooklyn ferry
boats have been delayed several hours in cross
ing by the ice. Had they taken fire during
this time the passengers could not have es-
capped, az, under the defect in the law, they
are provided with no life-saving apparatus.
TIE Staten Island ferry boat Columbus sank {.
few weeks ago, off the Battery. 1t was said, at
The time, that she was old and unseaworthy:
but the agent, owners and Judge Cropsey de-
pied this Indignantly, alleging that she was
the strongest, soundest boat on the line. It
was impossible, under the defect in the law to
ascertain the real facts Of the case, as the pro-
prietors would not allow her to be inspected;
but latterIy, she has been put into dock to re-
pair, and it has come to light that she is, and
probably has been for some time quite rotten,
and unfit to navigate any waters.
A law should be prepared and passed
through the Legislature, before it adjourns,
declaring that all the provivions Of the United
State statute respecting steamers shall apply
Is al 1}n
plying in the waters Of the State.
ANOTHER SMASHING LETTER FROM GOVERNOR
WISE Since his Inauguration at Richmond as
Governor of the blessed Old Dominion, Gov
ernor Wise has taken new start in political
letter writing. His peculiar productions in
this line are succeeding each other with the
rapidity of the kiDgy apparitions Of Macbeth.
But unlike that bloody roya believer in witch
craft, we are not yet prepared to cry, "Fll see
no more!" On the other hand, with the pre-
vailing political stagnation at Washington,
Albany, and throughout the country, these
characteristic letters of Governor Wise are
particularly refreshing and acceptable. His
present contribution is superior in piquan-
cy, pungency and decided hits to anything he
has given us since his celebrated scientific h's
tory of salt water crabs. Everybody will APP
preciate, for instance. that happy comparison,
originating in Virginia in 1852, in which M
Fillmore is presented as the blushing, modest
soft end attractive damsel Of eighteen, VI
General Scott is brought forward in the sim
tude Of bpxom widow, STAT, fair and forty
Aor
furhelows, founces anu feathers Mark, ALSO
and inwardly digest, the Governors graphic
explanation of the pure Africans, "wool, odor,
ebo shin, gizzard-foot,' &c. He closes the ar
gument ON that point. Nor, as it appears to
us, does he leave the Know Nothing Bottsites
OF Richmond an inch of ground to stand upon.
The Governors historical "reminiscences
concerning the defeat of Mr.. Fillmore at Bal.
timore in 1852 are decidedly interesting. 1t
thus appears, from Mr.. Fillmore himself, that
he was thrown overheard on account of BIS
endorsement of the Fugitive Slave law, aoi
that he knew his fall was ordained upon III
issue before the meeting of the Conventioq
There is also some consideration to be attached
to the suspicion of Governor Wise that M.
Fillmore will probably decline the Philadel,
pbia Know Nothing nomination. We, to-.
feel somewhat uneasy upon that score. We
hope, therefore, that the official letter inform
ing Mr.. Fillmore Of his good luck will reach
him before be gets to jerusalem, or we feac
that his meditstions there among the tombs
will result in death blow to the Vice-Presi-
Dental estimates of Major Donelson.
BREAD AND BUTTER BETTER THAN SWORDS
A proposition has been introduced into the
Assembly Of this State to honor the surviving
officers Of the New York Volunteers in Mevtco
by presenting each of them with q sword, at
the expense Of the State General Burnett,
late Colonel of the Regiment, having been ap.