Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-10

choice of sides when meeting an ascend
ing steamer. This far we approve the
rule. Our reasons for so doing are, that
descending boats are generally more
heavily laden-more unwieldy-and hav-
ing the current running in their favor,
cannot be so readily checked as an as
scending steamer. Notwithstanding, this
rule extends the privilege and choice Of
the river to the descending boat, it also
makes it obligatory on the ascending
steamer, to make the first signals, and in
the next breath, orders that, "if the dan
gers of navigation, darkness of the night,
narrowness of the channel, or any other
cause, render it necessary 'or the de-
scending boat to take the other side, she
can do so by making the necessary sig
nails, and the ascending steamer must
govern herself accordingly" Now, in all
candor, does not this rule make express
provision for and sanction a cross Of sig
nals-a contention for sides--which is
regarded by river men to be the most
dangerous attitude for boats to be
placed toward each other; and it sup
posed two steamers about to meet in a
dangerous" place, or on q dark night,
or narrow channel, and requires Of the
ascending steamer to make the first sig
nal, which she does. Now, the descend
ing boat il authorized by this rule to de-
mand Gf necessarily "the other side,'
which she does. This situation is what
we would term "the dangers Of naviga-
ton" At this juncture, having two
steamers confused, their signals crossed
and contending for sides, it becomes over
powered and exhausted, but on majesti-
cally retiring from this confused scene,
it very coolly authorizes the pilot of the
ascending steamer to govern his boat
accordingly" The meaning of this Is,
that he must rely on his own judgment
it can advise him no longer. 1t is simply
absurd, under such circumstances, to re-
auire the ascending steamer to signal
first for a side The reason is obvious.
She has no means according to the rule)
by which she can ascertain which side
she can take until after the descending
boat has replied. 1t requires no little
time to make distinct signals should
they be contradictory, it would require
double the time, and want OF time and
confusion together, are indlspensably
necessary to bring about collision.
This rule countenances conditions, and
is calculated to produce results that the
remaining ones, except the third, en-
deavor to prevent. We are aware that
Iule second has a very healthy bearing
on it, but we only bring into question
the virtue of rule first, and similar por-
ton of rule third.
Let the rule be so amended as to
authorize the descending boat (as she has
choice Of sides) to signal first; whilst this
would not place any burthensome cOndi-
tions on her, it would relieve the ascend
ing steamer of that suspense and confu>
sion that are the natural offspring Of the
rule. 1t would, if So amended, recognize
an equal skill and ability of the pilots Of
both boats. Then the pilot of the deS
scending boat having the privilege Of the
river, it would be presumable that he
would be more than willing to intimate
by signal his choice. This would give
the ascending steamer a comparatively
easy task, with no possibility Of conten-
ton. We firmly believe that such an
amendment would meet the hearty ap-
prevail of all pilots.
In conclusion, we do not wish to be
understood as as attributing the cause of
the late disaster to the inetficacy of the
rule in question, but of one thing We are
positive, which is: the America being the
ascending steamer had the right by law,
to signal first. The United States being
the descending boat, had as perfect right
in law, to cross the signals and call for
'the other side" and at the rate ofspeed
at which they were approaching each
other, would leave but little time TO cor
rect such folly.
We deplore from the bottom Of our
heart. the sorrow that has been thrust IN
many households, the result of this
terrible collision. And to our dear friend,
do we extend our heartfelt sympathies,
in this, his hour of sadness and suffering.
Severe indeed must be the wounds with
which he is afflicted, but naught in CONS
parison to the loss of her, who had beenhis
companion and comfort for so many years,
Yes, hand in hand they jOurneyed from
the base of life's mountain, up the rug
ged and meandering path to its summit.
Scarce had they time to look back upon
the struggles Of their earlier days, or to
recount the many joys shared between
them, ere she was snatched from his side.
To you, our dear friend, are these lines
dedicated as testimonial Of sorrow and
sympathy rendered in this hour Of your
sad bereavement. CUMBERLAND.
Nashville Dec 1858