Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-28
CORRESPONDENCE,


Correspondence of the Baltimore Daily Conmercial
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.
Christmas,Hotsls of Baltimore and Washington-
ltotsroad and Steamboat Disasters-Amsrities 0
the Sea. ="
In this city, as well as elsewhere throughou
the country, dark clouds and cheerful faces were a
war with each other in the celebration of Christina
day; but the bright faces trumphed and for neitbe
SHOWS nor storms could repress the joyful jubilan
spirit which animated the popular heart. The chin
ing bells tnat summoned the devout to the temple o
worship made the air glad with their music and th,
merry shouts of young America told that no shad-
ows had fallen on the buoyant, gladstone heart Of
youth. 1t was the good fortune of your correspond
ent to be present amidst the gay and festive
that marked the celebration of the day in your bean
tIful and hospitabe city of monuments You
churches were open, your houses were OPEN and the
generous hearts OF your people were Open Notwith-
standing the darkness of the skies and the half mol
ten snow there radiant faces beneath the couds
and in the snow were to be seen thousands of foot
f oi tte ieet ana bls feet that traced the path
OF festlyity and JOY, and the people of Baltimore
always distinguished for the earnestness and grace
iu energy OF their public manifestations well main
tanned their envlable reputation for every thing that
lends grace and beauty to festive cOmmemoration
One OF the most inviting and genial points of at
traction was the Maltby House. The elegant bar-
room Hospitality thrown open. and the most de-
ilclous nectarIne cgg-nogg was copousy and gratu-
tously dispensed to hosts of appreciatiye friends
Sa1
without having in the slightest degree disturbed that
decorum or marred that dignity for which the excel
lent hosts OF your city are so highly and justly dis
unguished subsequently most magnificent dinner
was served for the entertainment of the guests of the
house and their friends. and the gusto with which it
was approached, manifested that all mouths and
hearts were fully imbued with the spirit of the
sion; paragraph reciting the items of the yoluptl
Gus nl Of 1are might be interesting to your readers
and besides, it would not be charitable to antaIize
the dwellers in the five dollars a-day hotels in this
great city with such recitation.
W hlle upon this subject, it may be asked WHY il is
that this excellent hotel with its excellent tables its
guests at rates so much below those of this city
where the table and other hotel Accommodations are
so greatly inferior The public houses of Baltimore
are celebrated for their sumptuOusness of fare and
moderate charges and it is to be regretted that their
example, so worthy of imitation, does not exert a
salutary influence on kindred establishments in this
city, whose chief aim seems to be the depletion of the
pocke rather than the repletiOn of the so0achs of
those who unfortunately have to come within the
pale of their tender mercies,
1t is to be hoped that some remedy may be devised
for the correction of this evil of exorbant prices
and poor living in the public houses in this city the
metropolis of q great and afiuent nation Buf II ia
vulgary said that useis second nature which means
simply, that we have become habtuated and recon.
clcd to almost any increased privaion or evil This
homely truth is sadly illustrated by the familiarity
with DEATH in its various forms, and the consequent
indifference TO the destruction of human life to which
the popular heart has become schooled during the
period Of social disturbance and sangunary strife
through which our country has just passed. The
havoc produced by the late terrible war and The de-
morailng incidents of that melancholy internicine
conflict. seem to have suppressed in great measure
that sensbty to the sufferings of humanity and the
destruction of human life for which we, as people,
have heretofore been so highly distinguished. The
frequent railroad disasters and steamboat collisions
involving the loss of human life and which appear TO
be so little regarded by the public. too sadly indicate
the extent to which the demoralizing influence has
extended.
But now that the red clouds of war have passed over
beloved land and the ceruean canopy of peace is
he bl-
name temper which once prevailed may soon return
to thepopular heart, with all the high characters
arm of law and justice be nterposed for the pro-
lection of life and limb against the culpable negli
gence and criminal recklessness of railroad and
steamboat employees. Almost every morning we are
advised through the columns of the press. of some
thrilling disaster of that sort. involving the loss of
human lives; but the intelligence passes like sum
mer cloud, leaving no shadow behind except upon
the poor heart stric ken by the thunderbolt which
mourns in secret and silence the sad with
which recklessness has overwhelmed a sorrowine
household. The writer alludes to this subject the
more feengly from the fact of having, himself re-
on land and water. The first was collision on the
Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad, from which,
with al laeerated leg he barely escaped with his life,
in which he suffered only a painful sympathy and
solicude behalf of helpless women and children,
which, happily, was of brief duration.
With the latter occurrence there some pleasant
recollectons hch will always be agreeably cherished
under the head Of amenities of the A few even
fine steamer Adelaide, of the Old Bay Line. The
weather was somew nat uoisterouS The sun had just
gone down into bed of clouds that looked angry and
the winds breathed rudey against the strong ram
parts, within the walls Of which the idol of the
Southern people pined for liberty As turned my face
from the shore TO the dark waters that were foamng
as it with rage, thought that the bold sailors
who cleared the with their frail and tiny craft
would be safer in the harbor of Hampton Roads than
there EXP sed in tho haze and darkness Of night to
the countless dangers of the deep.
AS noble boat proudly breasted the wind and
the wave, the night grew more dark and hazy. Hav-
ing partook OF sumptuous supper. l retired to my
of Somnus and the skill of our yigilant captain |
had no sooner entered than heard shrill monitory
whistle from the lips of Miss Adelaide, and knowing
that It meant danger, hastened deck, but before
had taken many steps, shock frorl stem to stern
gave notice that acosiOn of some sort had occurred
On advancing to the bow of the boat, a schoon-
er with ali canvass spread. sweeping around on our
starbord side, and heard the calling out Justify
Come take us off come take us off" 1t was in
ferred therefrom that the unfortunate vessel was in
q sinking condition.
Our Captain, with commendable promptitude and
energy manned his boats and sent them to the relief
Of the schooner which, however, for land hoping
thus to avoid the oapaGious jars of the mighty deep
In that hope unluckily, the sequel told she was
doomed to disappointment, as she went down in deep
water with the salvation only of the crew. The col
ision must have resulted from gross negligence on
the part the schooner as the Lights Of our steamer
og4y Par5ng m g ana & might have been OBJ
The occurrence naturally threw the lauies aboard
into state of alarm which very much impaired the
pleasure of the trip and disturbed the repose of the
night. which would otherwise have been delightful
On board the smooth and gently sailing Adelaide
But there another vessel which performed q
part. that must not be forgotten or overlooked in
hat thrilling drama. The gallant steamer George
Leary of the New Line of Norfolk steamers hearing
our signal of trouble, Immediately hastened to our
relief. She must have been at the time a mile or
more distant from US, but at the sound of our whistle
she changed her course and came gracefully and
to side, generously nQuirng if she
could contribute in any way to the safety or relief of
The Adelaide.
As stood alone. on hurricane deck, and looked
abroad upon the dark tempestuous wilderness of
wind and waves, and thought of those who might
lind watery grave amidst the darkness and desola-
ton that relgned around, my heart overfowed with
sympathy for those who might be exposed to the
perls which brooded everywhere, the sea- in the
darkness OF that tempestuous night. But when sol-
-ary and alone, stood upon the wheelhouse of our
noble steamer, and saw the lights of the gallant
paddles mingling with the storm, and then saw her
come gently and gracefully to our side and then
heard the voice of her noble commander ask what
service he could render my heart sweled to burst
ng, with emotions of the sublimest kind while ex-
claimed, fervently, though silently God bless that
nan and his noble steamerl
Having soon ascertained that the Adelaide had not
uttered any serious injury the boats separated and
Is the George Leary retired. only to follow in our
wake and generously watch US during tn Q night
hree hearty cheers given for her by those in the
)ow of our boat and the name of Capt. Brakeman
Ind his gallant and graceful steamer will be pleasant
y remembered by all who on board the good
teamer Adelaide, on that memorable occasion; and
Fnrttt = J,~l L. Il