The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-31
Wreck Of tho steamboat Commodore.

Some facts in connection with the loss OF the
steamboat Commodore on the Sound during
the gale Of Thursday night have been alleged
tigation by the authorities. 1t is stated in
the frat place that the boat was fully
eighteen years old, her hull was In most I'M
safe condition, the hog frames being quite
rotten. Indeed, 80 manifestly unfit to contend
against heavy storm was the boat that the
passengers, even at the commencement Of the
gale, lost all confidence In her and expressed
their opinion freely that abe was not in a safe
condition for navigation. The conduct Of the
deck hands, who became mutinous at the time
OF direst distress, and refused to work at the
pumps unless paid by the passengers, was
most atrocious and should be severely pun
ished. II might be matter Of some surprise,
if we were not too familiar with the heartless-
ness Of steamboat and railroad companies, that
the boat was permitted to sail up the Sound ut
all in such weather that Of Thursday.
The Commodore was not properly constructed
for tho Scuad trade but was more fitted
for 9 North river line where the waters are
usually as smooth as millpond. She was
put on this trip ~ substitute for one OF the
regular boats. which was undergoing repairs,
AM was no more al than 9 cookie shell to
brave the dangers and rough seas Of the Long
Island Sound, whicl require s,anch boats to
navigate in winter weather.
One would suppose that . discreet com:
mander, knowing The unsuitable sea qualities
OF bis yessel--as We presume he did-woud
have headed for some harbor Of shelter as soou
a. ne found the gale coming up. There are
plenty OF such harbors oil along the Sound.
and the vessel could harllv have been far dis
tant from one Of them. Instead Of that, how
ever, the vessel was kept on her course until
she became manageable, aud then was
driven helplessly ashore NJ the mercy OF the
storm. There may be no blame attachsblc to
The captain in This case. Probably, a. the
passenger, say, he did his beat 20 save
the boat when tho catastrophe occurred.
and we have no desire to impugn his
conduct; but there IL no excuse for
the recklessaess OF the company in sending the
Commodore on this trip al such an Indictment
season. When the Havana line Of boats, Of
which The lll-iatei Evening Star was one, first
commenced their coastward voyages il was
stated by good nautical authority that the first
one Of them that met heavy gale would go
down. The Evening Star was the first to en.
counter . severe storm, and she now lies with
her hundreds Of stark corses nj the bottom Of
the Atlantic. From the character and condi-
ton OF The steamboat Commodore the COM
pany might have known thai a similar fate
was in STORE for her whenever she attempted
to buffet The heavy seas Of The Sound in tenn
pestuous weather.
We strenuously urge, as We have repeatedly
done in like cases, that rigid investigation
be entered upon as to the actud fitness or
undtness Of this boat for the service in which
she persisted; and il the facts alleged as to her
condition be true, we hope that condign pun
nishment will be inflicted upon somebody to
serve as a warning to steamboat proprietors.
We would throw out the suggestion at the
same time to the inspectors OF boilers that
they should make it their duty TO look at the
bulls as well as the machinery, and see that
sound boilers be not introduced into unsound
boa,s. Otherwise their certificates are not
worth the paper they are written on.