The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-07-19

ESg- We are authorized to say that the
article in the Evansville Jour iaL in relation
to the accident at Cannelton, is full of
inaccuracies, and is really a mere fancy |
sketch. The facts are these. The Fairchild
had two freight barges IN tow, one On each
side, and at Cannelton took a coal barge in |
tow also. Capt. Fawcett, had gone below
to see about the coal and was not in posi-
ton to see the skiff, nor did he know any
thing about the accident until at least twenty
minutes after the accident by which the
woman and child were drowned had hap
pened.
The pilot at the wheel was standing on
one side in such position that he did not
see the skiff. One passenger said afterwards
that he saw it but thought il a drift log.
No alarm was given by any one, and the
first intimation the Captain had that snch
an cdcident had happened was the.man COM
ing up to him in his dripping clothes and
asking him to land the boat This request
the Captain tried to comply with, but owing
to the shallow water the boat could not get
within hundred feet of the shore The
man afterwards went on the coal barge back
fisherman was drunk Mt the time, which
fact can be proved by the captain of the
coal barge. The fisherman said that he had
no stage on his skiff, and only two paddles
about three feet long and that was the rea-
son he could not steer his skiff better.---Ner
Albany Ledger.
We have no wish to exaggerate the
fault or criminality of the officers of the
Fairchild, but would be glad to learn some
palliating circumstances, il they have any
to offer, in excuse for their culpable care
lessness .Wha, iIct in the alleged fancy
sketch is dcnie,l in the above paragraphs,
which affords a nritiying exhibition Of the
eagern,s OF new ,.iv.r toscreen someoftheir
fatorites from t..c u, ,ltcL inclination of the
public. We were standing upon the bank of
the river near the s,tir al tic disaster atthe.
been several hours above the horizon the
scene upon the water was as light as mid
! day; the heads of the boys swimming in the
river could lie distinguished above the water
for long distance from the shore; the mo-
tons OF a man rowing "a skif could be dis
| cerned across the river. There was no pos
sibility that skiff with two adult persons
in it, one of them standing upright, could
he mistaken for log even at the distance OF
a quarter or half mile; that such IA mistake
could have been made within two, three, or
five hundred feet of the object, is too bare
faced ii,lsehooi to be repeated. The ad-
mission that the captain and pilst were in
POSITIONS where they could not see the skih,
is full admission of their guilt. There is
no spot on the Ohio from Pittsburgh to the
mouth, where there are more skiHs crossing
after dark, than between Cannelton and
Hawsville as numerous laborers live Oh one
side and work on the other, and pass To and
fro at the close of the day. Not TO have
been on the watch for skifis ut that point, n,
that hour, was itself culpablc carelessness
The skifi, rs we are told, was not far from
; shorc-was lying still-the mau enaged in a
lawful employment, and proper duty-he
: had just as much right 10 the undisturbed
use OF the river as the steamer. The Captain
OF the steamer was na more justified in run
l ming that portion OF the river without q
careful look out, Than he would he for reck-
lessiv firing gun into a crowd. The cold
Islander that the man was drunk, exhibit.
IA more Gallons heart tliaa the reckless sac.
rihcc oi u mother and her child VIII any
l one believe thar sober roman would take
her young infant and go upon the river Will
! a nau braslly drunk, with only piece o
hoard t. guide his boat ? Like all made M
! testimony, il proves too much. The strang,
i conduct of the man after the accident ma
> he explained by the bewiljerment and con
i s,ernation that such an overwhelming ca
= lnmity would have produced. The maj
may have been brute and "a villain, an
D may have been guilty ofreckless imprudencs
a but itaffords nojustifcationsf for the officers o
? the Fairchild il they had done their dut,
{ as officersand men, they would have shield
: ed the innocent woman and her babe iron
c the consequences of tho faults and reckless
ness of drunken husband, ii he wer
s such