The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-09-21
"The acentTa1 America"

The annals Of Shipwreck do not contain ii fi6re
anpaIhg tatastionhe than the loss Of this vessel,
bS WHICH bet ween four and five hundred human
heng, consigned to q wsteTy grave, Such
whj destruction is almost unparalleled even
Oh our bwn dangerous csast. We fear that many
of, our ocean steamers arg constructed with too
liaLeIsgaAto soli.tfty and strength, and have but
an outside show of seawursh Illness The public
attracted by the rcs ara dashing air Of the extp
rior, ebeauty and, finish, Of the saloons, cabins.
nna statsroons, aud ths magHiGcenee OF the fnrni-
tHfe d. bIt they hayn means of knowing the
chatactero of a vessel as a seaboat and must take
that, the most important and essential of her qasl
it's, eptirelJ upon trust. Of course, her owners
and master declare that she is bliit in the most
substantial manner, ami that her engines and ma
cliilery are Of the MOST admirable kind, but the
truth raraly leaks gut till the water leaks in, and
thsnitis sometimes too late to correct errors. We
suppose it would be absolutely impossible to OK
pett froh any seaman an unfavorablc account
Of his "'xdEsel, or from men holding property Of
this Liad, any more than from those in other pnr-
suits, depreciation iof their own wares. 1t WAS
once said by an eminent New York steamship man,
that With The Northern public Time is the first OBJ
jest, and Life secondary, and that they would take
passage i'll any thing that could float rather than
lose few hours Everything is done in hurry,
peprie travel in, d hurry and ships are built in
hurry, and too often in "a way to save money rs
well as time. They are inayigated, it is true, ly
the best seamen in the world but the boldest as
We'll as TIE best, and bold sometimes to reckless.
nef7, 20 that to- make q short voyage, they often
sldanger. their ships and all on board. Ne are
we'd a%are that the steutest vessels, commanded
by tile most skiful and prudent officers, are not
proof against the perils of the ocean Neyerthe-
iesS, people in general, who have 20 to sea- would
prefer d SHIP III Which there is some approach to
safety TO hose in Which there is almost literally
Int "a plank between tho traveller aud eternity
Consequently, 1f bura American shipbuiders in,
stead OF laying out their money in rosewood furni-
tdre, magnificent lounges, luxurious tables aud
splendid staterooms, should employ the most of it
upon the bulls, rigging, or machinery, they will be
m2ye Likely 70 command the public. confidence
AND prevent tho travelling public from ,betaking
a"inSelVes 10 British ships, which, if they cannot
efaal out Alnerfcan vessels III display nor their
conductors in spirit Of accommodation, are in
general built in thorough and substantial man
lef, and navigated, as they are buift by men who
consider life Of more inIp6rtancc, thap speed and
sHYMi..s,g 81 ~ ,tef ala a. ,r,,-,ft % ir i..,. I'd
In these remarks, VIC in no wise intend to reflect
on captain ,llegndon, the late gallant commander
OF hhe, GENITAL America, whose loss will be equal
ly depiered eythe service IN which lac is engaged
aud by the Navy OF which no was a. shining orna
ment ~"