The New York herald., 1870-03-13
The Dutch Taking Holland-The Arrival Of
the Steamer Smidt.

The announcement that "the Dutch had taken
Holland" should have created no greater sem
sation than the announcement that the Dutch
emigrant steamship Smidt had arrived at this
port after the, to her, not at all remarkable
passage of fifty days from DeutchIand. As
an evidence that her commander thought very
little apprehensions about her safety would
be felt here, it is stated that when he landed
and was accosted by newsboy, ''Here's the
Eoensng Iesegana-all about the safe arrival
Of the Smidt!" he stopped the urchin and
asked, "Vat's dat you say about der Smidt2"
''She's got in all safe. Nobody drownded.
Take paper, sir?" 'Yaw; but vot der tuy-
vel's der matter? All, ha! yaas, hates it. ,
l made der passage too quick. Py tam go
right way 10 der agencies and makes apollo
gize." And he started off In so great ahurry
as to forget to pay the newsboy for the paper
he had taken.
Seriously it Is q matter Of astonishment that
the public could be alarmed about the safety
of this vessel. A reference to last years
Gle of the New York Shipping List viii
show that the Smidt made the winter before
sixty days. At that time she put into London
in distress, and subsequently made the run to
this port in about thirty-six days, which is
about equal to the time of her last passage
from Bremen. The underwriters and owners
abroad and agents here have not been alarmed
about her safety, well knowing the poor sail
ing and steamng qualities Of the vessel.
With characteristic Dutch foresight she was
provisioned for long cruise, and as for fuel,
she could hardly be expected to get out of it, as
she rolled under sail most of the time. The
horrible motion Of the ship, too, kept the pas
sengers seasick half the time; hence the drafts
upon the 'sharness cask" were proportionately
diminished. But slow and tubby as the Smidt
usually is, she is at this season Of the year
| not even on an equal footing with any sailing
| vessel. Her model Is of the Shanghae rooster
kind, brig rugged, carrying sail that would
have hardly propelled the craft Of the ''three
men Of Gotham who went to sea in tub, with
engines Of the enormous amount of one hum
| dred horse power to propel q ponderous hulk
of twenty-four hundred tons burden! What
o burlesque and q sham upon steam naviga-
ton to style such vessel a'steamshipl But
here is where the severest pinch comes. Most
Of the poor, ignorant emigrants, who have
paid their steamship fare, labor under
the false impression that they are to take pas
sage in one of those fine North German Lloyd
steamers, and that the voyage across tho
ocean will last about fourteen days. But as
| soon as they have left their fatherland they
find that they have been imposed upon, and
that a sailing vessel, charging only about half
tho rate Of passage, would have been prefer
| able, far more comfortable and equally as
! speedy.
Nothing can be said against the seamanship
Of the captain of the Smidt. He has exhibited
great skill, resolution and bravery under the
circumstances and, having brought the ves-
sci safely into port, treated the poor emf
grants kindly, and received expressio ions Of
confidence and congratulation from his owners
and agents, he is eminently worthy of COM
manding real, first class steamship, and not
one in name like the ricketty old.roly-poly
| Smidt.