The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-09-22

OF this little fleet, whose mission on chat voyage
seemed destined TO be one of Humanity aud
mercy, public gratitude public honor and nunld-
cent reward is due. We trust the under writer's
and mail steamship Companies will at once com
mence the good work by placing handsome sum
at their disposal; and we are we'll assured that
the public, not alone in this city, but throughout
the whole county, will cordially follow the ex
ample. Il is meet that these ga'!an. seamen
should know how grateful their fellow county
men are for such disinterested services, so nobly
performed, and 1t is eminently desirable that all
such deeds should be honorably ackno Eiedged
and rewarded.
We perceive that subscription lists have been
opened at various places for the relief OF the suf
ferers by the wreck. Yesterday nearly fonr
thousand dollars were subscribed in Wall
street; subscription was also taken up
among the guests of the Stevens House, on
Broadway. This is right. A catastrophe In.
volving such an extent of grief Of agooy
and restitution, is a common misfortune, which
appeals to the symyathies Of the whole ma
ton. But while we pour oil and vice into the
wou de- of the sufferers let not forget those by
whose timely aid they have been rescued from
the gloomy fate which has unbappiiy overtaken
so many Of their fellow passengers
And while we are on this subject we may as
well remark that If an investig Alton OF toe cause
of this calamity be undertaken, as promised, it Is
desirable that il shall be entered upon boldly;
that it shall be full and open to the public; that
there shall be no shrinking no concealment, or
attempt to evade responsibility. Tue direct pc
cuniary losers by the wreck of the Central Ame-
RIGA are the underwriters, who suffer by the loss
of the specie and the company Who owned the
vessel. But the elucidation of every point con-
nected with the disaster to toe fall isfac lion Of
these two parties, will not satisfy the public.
Therefore We hope that the investigation will take
place with open doors, and that reporters will be
acsnitted, so that the public may know what Is
transpirIpg ed be able to lodge for themselves
as to where the error lay in this unrprtunate
affair.
Would II not be good plan fo- the Board of
Underwriters, the ship owners and merchants, by
common consent to establish some kind of an Ad-
mirai,y Court, for the express purpose of invesh-
eating such terrible cslamitiea as this; court
that could, without fear or favor, institute the
most rigorous inquiries into every shiDg connected
with the loss Of vessel; her condition; the eff
CLERGY of Der crew and officers, and the incidents
attending her losss When the disaster was proved
to be the consequence Of neglect, recklesmess or
coFardice the delinquents, whether owners
masters or seameu, could be punished in such
summary Mariner as the Court may agree upon.
If the fault be traced to the ship owners, let
heavy me be imposed; if to the captain let him be
tabooed, pronounced unfit for his position, and
deprived Of all chance Of employment in u SINH
lar capacity until future good conduct may re
store him. Some such stringent measures are ne
cessary to render life and property safe upon the
high seas. We have had to record many fearful
disasters which have been followed by nominal
Investigations; but what good has come from
them? Have the guilty parties been punished!
Have calamities at sea become less frequent in
consequence? No. 1t is very easy to get up an
Investigation, to smother facts. TO shirk response
bilities, aud then hush up the matter forever;
Danish ii from the memory OF ALL save those
whose hearths have been desolsted and whose
hopes in lite have been blasted.
We sincerely hope this will not be the case in
this instance. Now, While the horrors Of thB
lest most fearful catastrophe are among US
walking abroad on every Highway aud sitting
down with US at every bcard-let us have ar
honest, an open and full investigation. Mean.
time. we suggest to the underwriters, ship owoers
and Others interested to establish lay Court OF
Admiralty for their own protection and the trial
OF their own causes