The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-19

OtDcrHlSe the late OF poor fIercey tEtolC MAJ
ni6ed, will be the fate Of Mr.. Buchanan.
The LATE MARINE DIsAsTER-CoSDuCr OF Or
fIcEgs At SEA-One Of the most painful tasks
which can devolve to the lot OF the journalist is
| that OF commenting upon the conduct Of men
placed in circumstances Of danger and emoar-
rassment like those which attended the loss OF
| the French steamer lie Lyoanais. The bravest
| minds in a catastrophe like that are apt to los,
their balance and to consult the instinct Of self
! preservation rather than that Of duty. We have
had occasion but too frequently of late years to
call in question the conduct Of men thus circum-
| stanced and we are but too happy TO BE- able 70
| sisnalize the rare instances in which the CON-
manders of vessels have been found equal to the
| difficulties in which they have been placed. Oae
of the most creditable examples Of this sort is
certainly tina. OF Captain Devaulx, the captain OF
the i'll fated French vessel whose loss has Just
been recorded. Throughout the whole Of the
trying circumstances Of the disaster which besel
his ship, he never once lost his GOODNESS aud self
possession, giving his orders with all the calm
ness of mind which rose above the perils by
which he was surrounded, and only quitting the
wreck when the escape Of all those on board
had apparently been provided for Whatever
fate may have befallen this gallant man,
the example which he has set Of heroic
unselfshness and devotion to duty cannot
fail to have beneficial influence on his
profession generally. Should he succeed in
escaping the fate which has befallen SO
many Of those placed under his charge his conduct
scientiousncss like his merit II, however-as
there is but too much reason tofear-heis number
ed amongst the victims Of this disaster, his death
cannot but be regarded as an equally glorious
one with that Of the sailor who dies fighting the
battles Of his country, and whose statue Is en-
titled to niche in the Pantheon Of her heroes.
1t is with sorrow that We turn from the noble
spectacle presented by this brave Frenchman's
conduct to that Of the American captain, the
collision with whose vessel was the occasion Of
this sad catastrophe. Reluctant as we are to
mpute blame where the full facts are rot before
us, it is impossible for US TO avoid arriving a. the
conclusion that Captain Durham manifested an
indifference and carelessness In connection with
the accident, which tell badly both for his jude
ment and heart. From the statements before Us,
il is evident that he could no. have been ignorant
that collision Of q serious nature had taken place
The fact of his hailing and calling to the steamer
10 lay TO after the shock. shows that such
must have been the impression on his mind. Had
he been fully alive to the responsibilities Of his
position, the mere circumstance Of the disappear
ancc of the steamers lights would no; have PROV
cd sufficient justification for him % hold on HE
course. There are few sailors who are ignorant
Of the dangers Of q collision OF this kind, and
Captain Durham, finding his own vessel intact,
was bound to look 10 the safety OF the other. His
culpability in not doing 50 Is aggravated Ivy the
negligence which marked his conduct in not re-
porting the accident Immediately after reaching
Gloucester Ills vessel arrived on the 4th, and
from that time until the evening Of the 18th,
when the news Of The disaster reached this city,
no proper report was made Of IL, 50 as to enable
assistance TO he sent out to the shipwrecked pa.
sengers and crew. The only comment that W
can trust ourselves to make on thee facts Is thar
they exhibit faulty and absence Of common
humanity on the part Of the captain Of the Adri-
attic, which are happily not the usual character
istics Of American sailors
The circumstances attending this disaster i'm
press upon US tho expcdiency of acting upon the
suggestions Of Lieutenant Maury as TO tho adop-
ton Of different routes for outward and home
ward voyages. Had this system been ia force
for the last few years, the accidents TO the
Arctic the Lyonnais and numerous other vessels
would have been avoided. We do not see why
precsution 20 essential in ordinary locomoiion
should no, be found equally advantageous at sea
Ia one view OF the case, VIC have the occurrence
Of numerous casualties from thc non.existcncc Of
the system; in the other, We have a. yet TO learn
the serious objections that can be urged against
II. Another suggestion which we would recon-
mend TO the consideration Of the profession il
this The damage done 10 The Lyoanais was
caused by the fukc Of the anchor Of the Adriatic,
a. Il hung suspended over the bows OF the latter.
II was the some circumstance, IL viii be reool-
lcctod. which caused the loss Of the Arctic. Can
no other plan be devised for slowing away the
anchor 80 a. to prevent its offering 80 certain q
means of destruction TO vessels coming in COLI
sion With Il? In this age Of mechanical progress
We believe that some means can be found Of do
! ing away with au arrangement which has been
proved 20 be 20 dangerous.
! ono TpHAR for rnR Nav C,mxEr- We have
4 seen IL stated somewhere that Corcoran
/ Of Washington, who was Mr.. Folks foam.
cicr, is candidate for Secretary Of tbs
/ Treasury in Mr. Buchanans Cabinet II