Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-22
FALSE STATEMENT COkREcTgD.---

The Ga-ette, in It's article noticing the
unhappy accident which happened to the
steamer Aunt Lefty, On Sunday afternoon,
publishes a number Of statements which
are so entirely false, that We, at the request
Of those concerned, ievotI a little space to
correct them in a proper manner. and set
the oomrnaading officers and pilots right
before the public. The Gazffte says:
We are informed that one Of the pilots,
David lie Claire, a citizen Of this place
wanted TO land at East Davenport till the
wind lulled and would not take the respon-
sibiity OF running her through, hut the 9TH
er pilot was confident that lie could mae
Davenport without running against .ae
bridge. and took the wheel the result
i. given above We have the above from
very reliable authority and cannot doubt IT,
If il q true, the officer who ordered the
boat 10 be run through the draw IL guilty OF
not only risking large amoun. OF proper
ty, but large number OF human lives.
When the boat struck, Mr.. LeClaire took
the wheel and run her ashore.
5 We are authorized by Capt. Morrison, CON-
'mander, and David LeClaire and Cornelius
Faulkner, pilots Of the Aunt Lefty, TO state
that the above extract is false from begin
ming to end. Mr.. LeClaire informs us that
he was ct the wheel when the boat came
down by East Davenport, and that he never
intimated to the captain or any one else
that he wanted to land at East Daven-
port till the wind lulled," or at anv other
place, and at the time of passing East Da-
venport, the wind did not blow go strong as
to give him any uneasiuess whatever, nor
did it until the boat arrived near the bridge,
when strong gust struck her, and that.
together with the force of the current, car
ried her stern against the shoulder of the
draw pier, though both pilots were then at
the wheel, using every exertion TO keep her
Off He says that had they the two pi-
lots, been able to keep her off about forty
feet, there would have been no accident
but the force of the current and the gusts
of wind acting together made it impossible
to control the boat
As to the declining responsibility Of
running her through" Mr.. LaClair says
thst such was not the case. He was at his
post OF duty, and had no fears, with the
wind then blowing, but that he could take
her through without difficulty; and he told
Lo& sal- -
sibility, but he, assisted by Mr.. Faulkner,
remained at the wheel. For the above the
Gazette says it has "very reliable authori-
ty," but We very much doubt any such
statement.
The intimation that Capt Morrison or
dered the boat through, the draw, is also
false. He says that the matter was not
brought into question, nor was his opinion
asked by the pilots. Capt. NJ. is not the
man to run any great risks. For more than
twenty years he has been on the river, and
has never yet caused any damage that cost
that would knowingly run his boat into any
place Of danger-m uch less run risks that
would endanger the lives of his passengers
His reputation gives such an insinuaton the
lie without any other evidence.
And lastly, the Gazette says, When the
boat struck, Mr.. LeCiaire took the vince
and rln her ashore" Mr.. LeClare had the
wheel all the while Mr. Faulkners "wa.eh'
closed at Camanche, and there Mr.. LeClairt
took the wheel. As is customary, Mr.. T
was with him at the wheel from the lower
end of the Rock Island "Chain to tn,
Bridge and when the boat struck, Mr.. +
| went below TO ascertain the extent OF th'
damage, and Mr. LeCiaire ran her ashore
as it was his duty to do-his watch no
having closed
Mr.. Faulkner is pilot Of unimpeachabl.
reputation. and is thoroughly acquainted
with the river. He would have been th'
last man TO "run her through" if there haC
been trouble expected; the last man to de
sert the wheel at the time of collision
and leave the task Of getting her ashore t.
another pilot.
The above stat ements and in.nuatlons O
the Gazette may have been given with th'
best intentions but We should say from th
teuor of the article which We have review
ed, that the reporter either got very cheapl.
| sold or that he drew on his Imagination
and following its dictates, published th'
above article, which for lack of truth j
equal to any mis-statement We ever read
if we can rely upon the statement made t.
US by the gentleman in person.
THE HAND CART TEAM.-On Sun
day morning the Hand Cart team, consist
10 ~ ieE