The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-04

The article which appeared in the HERALD of De-
cember "a, on the insufiiciency Of means for
saving life on the jersey coast, Senator Thomp-
| son has called the attention Of Congress to the
| subject. We trust the motion will not be per-
| mitted to lie idle, inasmuch as casualties are
weekly occurring in the neighborhOOd of Barne-
gat, and the tremendous weather which lately
forced the America and Hermann to put back,
and retards the arrival of so many others, may
shortly be felt on our own shores. The question
of additional assistance for the saving of life
from shipwreck, cannot be made party one at
Washington, and We trust that feelings of hu-
mainly will prompt our legislators to give i'm
mediate attention to this impor tant matter.
The Congress of 1853 and 1854 appropriated
$40 900 for the supply Of houses, boats, life cars
and mortaTs on this coast. The houses, which
are merely for storing the boats, &c, offer no
asylum to those requiring it, and the man ap-
pointed by the government to take charge Of the
establishment frequently lives at so great dis
lance that hours elapse ere be can arrive at the
point where his assistance is required. The
greater part, in fact, nearly the entire appropra
ton, was expended in the purchase of metallic
life boats and these being constructed of iron, in
stead of copper, have become rusted and are now
worse than useless for the purpose in view.
Such boats. in good condition even, are unfit
for this service; from twenty to thirty per-
soIs are necessary to launch them, when,
as is generally the case, there are but
half dozen men together at the spot where assist
ance is required. The Barnegat fishermen use
light cedar boat in their excursions, and such
craft requiring as it does but four or five men to
launch if, will be Of infinitely greater service in
moments Of emergency than boat weighing half
ton.
The district Of Mr.. Jacob Morris, the govern
ment inspector, extends from Barnegat Inlet to
Perth Amboy, distance Of over fifty miles. His
assistant, Mr.. John S. Furman, has charge Of the
coast south of SQuan Beach. The wreckmaster,
Samuel S. Wykof, resides four miles from the
coast. The duty Of the Inspector is to proceed to
a wreck with all possible despatch, and to render
every assistance in his power. If the vessel be
foreign, or have foreign cargo on board, he takes
entire charge.
The houses which the government has erected
on the coast, at an expense of $500 each, are
five miles apart, and only few of them are sup
piled with noItarr life cars, and other necessary
appsr atus for sending line to ships. The en-
tire aIIan % ments seem to have been allowed TO
'ake care Of themselves for two or three years
past, and were il Dot for the New York press
calling attention 10 the subject, would doubtless
continue 50 many years longer. A. proof of
the dangerous character Of this coast We have
~, - -1..- =
have occurred here since 1853, from which it will
be seen how compm atively useless are the APP
planes afforded by the government.
in 1873, the Western World Captain Moses,
came ashore and eventually went TO pieces The
passengers. numbering 700 were all saved by
means Of the surf boats of the fishermen.
Tie CbanEcey jerome, from Liverpool, was
Wrecked ON the 18th January, 1854. She struck
at A NJ, and her crew, Of twenty-six, and fifty
two passengers. were all landed within four hours
by means Of the life car and mortar.
The New Era, Capt. Thomas Henry, from Bre-
men, came on sloIe at Deal, November - 1854
She bad on board general assorted cargo. and
$50 passengers thirty nine Of whom died on the
voyage. Only rs were saved the remaining
23o met vatery grave.
She schooner Maria Jewett, Captain ~ ~
peuy, came ashore at Deal, February 18th. 1851
She was discharged and got off without any lives
being lost
In the month of May, the same year, the bark
Carolina, Captain Fox. struck at VI. She
rad on board 400 Germans, all Of whom, through
the exertions Of the fishermen, we're safely landed
a.. II Al a.
Lapgton, Captain Carpenter, with 500 passengers,
came ashore. Every soul was saved, and both
vessels were eventually got of.
To the above list we may now add the ship
New York aud the British bark Tasso. The noble
and disnterested efforts of the Barnegat fisher
men, ard the melancholy death of John Parker
and John Jones, are fresh in the memory of cur
readers.
During the month Of March. 1854. the
fishermen who thus molly peril their
lives in moments Of danger, held meet
ing, and strongly recommended Congress TO
supply cedar boats, instead of the iron affairs
which have since proved so utterly useless. In
spite of this recommendation the appropriation
passed the following May and the metallic boats
were purchased. These having now become worn
ont, we trust that Congress will listen to the sug-
eesiiops Of the fishermen, as they better than any
Others, can tell what craft best suits their waters
Every passenger ship must be compelled to
cary mortar, life car tackle, &c, by which
she nay communicate with the shore without
having 10 wait several hours for assistance Dr.
skinner bas lately submitted peculiar she'll to
the Secretary of the Treasury which seems spe-
cially adapted 10 this purpose. On leaving the
mortar il opens. and when dragging the shore IL
acts as erspnel so that vessel could land her
passengers and crew without assistance. Such
an apparatus. with the life car, ought TO be on
board every migrant ship.