The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-12
The Loss Of the steam ship Republic.
rO rIE EpIroK 90 rHE MEnALD.


srScLAir Houss, 7j4 BROADWAY, Nov Is 1865.
have noticed in your issue OF til. 9Th a statement by
Captain Ryer late OF the Twentieth New York battery
who was we'll az myself, passenger thu Inflated
steamer Republic ami | haze read With interest hrs
graphic account Of the loss Of tho vessel the ryaens
and sunerngs of those board of her and or the pro
vidcntal rescue OF the passengers and majority cf the
crew which, in the main, Is substantially correct
In justice however, to Captain Young The master OF
the Republic her last voyage feel 10 be my duty
TO correct several statements occurring az the account
alluded TO- and which, when made, we're evidently not
intended to cast any unfavorabe reflections upon the
conduct Of Captain Young during The fearful ordeal
through which we all passed while board tn. IN.
starred vessel and in the boats The writer of this
formed one of The Of the boz, in charge of The
first officer The and children and the under
whose they were, first placed In the boais
Afterwards many OF the passengers and could
be were landed before the vessel sunk.
Candor and sense Of the obligation under which
placed mpcs me to state that nothing leii
done on the part Of Captain Young which might condure
to the safety and comfort Of The passengers and crew
under his From the moment when the pa Scngcrs
ordered by him TO cea-e bsi'ng the vessel the
time when she snnk beneath The angry waves the cap
stood nj his post personally experimenting The low
ering OF the and children, the male passengers
and crew. and the vess. went down with him while
gagged In The performance Of this duty That
OF the boals supplied with water snd provisions
be traced TO fault o Captain Young Tor he
early orders 10 the steward 70 prepare and furnish
each OF the boats with provisions, water and What,
under the circumstances, might be ncsdful. These
orders Of thes captain impcrfcctly carried ont:
late to remedy the failure Of the steward
in obcying his orders. Our boat was very poorly
supplied with water and provisions we had no com
pass did Of them except the boat Captain Hsw
thornc In charge o.
our boat, when loaded, ordered by Captain Young
proceed to the raft the captain saying that H. thought
that the boas would hold all and that the raft would
probably b. safe fof u We accordingly pulled
for the raft rs did also the second mates boat Upon
arriving there we found that II would hold no more
The captain in ordering Us to proceed TO the raf stated
that his only sire was to do all lac could in providing
for the safety Of rs oil.
In about two hours after leaving the vessel the little
fleet, consisting of The four boats and the rait
within haing distance Of each other. Captain Young
then hailed and directed Us to be- careful and run
clear the other boai- that " they together The
boats would be stove. and that should
all be Lost, which direction resolved to follow
The boats then parted company. some time after this
we fell IN with the sccond matcs boat II was then
quite dark, III tremendous sea running Their beat
approached ours, evidently with the intention OF board
ing u, halng vs. stating that they ovcrcrovded
and without water food We replied that we were in
the same condition II Is the opinion OF those who were
the boai under charge OF the first mate that if the
boats had been allow ed TO come together the crews
Of both would, without doubi, have all been lost.
Certainly Captain Young In his efforts TO Keep his
boat, load Il as II wa with helpless AMI CHI.
and admirable Judgement, winch characterize all Of his
actions during thu cvcniiu period, and TO whrb all
the ultimate pr srrvation 90 our lives
Upon OCCASION Of imminent dancer quick AMI decisive
action is required, and, If necessary stern lang age
must be used; aud those who have had the benefit Of
experience must he obcycd and especially when they
act with stoical disregard Of their safety and
preservation Captain Young, TO the Inst moment, de.
voted every energy he Possessed to the safety the
Messenger. and crsy and he was M last pick cd m nv
~ The b0ae While among the floating debris the
wreck. aftr he ship disappeared beneath the angry
waves Captain Rivers structures the ship md her
owners an. just They deserve severe con.
dcmnat,ui Bu upon the gallant captain of the Republic
no breath ~ ccusurc however light can wor,hy ret
The Republic unsafe, and should have
| 10 sea, unscaworthy she This ut Is
of small account tn her sturdy owners who kept her
| well insured The lyrs and property Of a few pas.
sengrrs Of little cons quencc 10 this cass Of per-
| sons, who have bpught up every old hulk ~ a
I.ves-cl that has managed 10 keep afost during
| the war; and who are Ire citing them every
| day with human lives and sending them 10 every
port OF the south or anywhere else where dollar can
| be pocke,ed by their reckless aud mercenary owners
| The pumps Of the Republic totally useless The
] donkey engine. which, in case OF accident, 10 the una