The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-19
The Eastern Argus VS. Portland Daily


Mr.. Dyer's version Of the story of the wreck of
theiH. B. Weight is not true because he was in
boat too far removed from the wreck to know
anything about the facts in the case and brings
up as evidence in the matter, to support the
stewards story, the testimony of the second
mate who, according to the argus admission,
soas in the same boat acith Mr.. Dyer. 1t then
substantially repeats the story told by the
steward in Friday mornings issue and ends
with long peroration as to what the steward
and his wife suffered and what they lost, and
how galiantlyI they saved their lives in the
raging storm.
We are glad to see one statement made how
ever. In the first telling vf the story sweep
ing accusation was made against the officers
and men of the vessel in the argus by the
steward.
He now admits that the chief mate Or
dcred call clothing to be thrown overheard TO
make room for the men from the pilots boat
but he forgets that Mr. Dyer states that when
the boats were lowered he told the steward ''to
get his acte and get into the boat at once and
that the ste ward said che WANTED to get his
property, and further suggested what was
| not mentioned in our account on Saturday,
that she guessed he would 90 to the galley and
make some bread because the boys would want
| it in the boats
AS to the distance tn 1t the chief mates boat
was removed from the wreck it was not SO dis
| tant but that those in it could hear and see
everythipg;a distance of about thirty feet which
they had rowed to avoid being dashed to
pieces against the side of the vessel achere then
had acaited ouer tacenty minutes for the Captain,
steWard and acife to come aboard Aud after
| the Captain jumped the steward and wife not
only declined to jump but demanded that the
boat should be brought to the side steps of the
| vessel so they might descend By then, which was
an impossible thing for the boat to do with any
degree of safety.
The Argus therefore finds itself in an un-
pleasant position. A man comes to it and
tells story rejecting severely on other pee
pie, and that journal, without getting the 9TH
er side of the story, prints the statement with
out thinking how it may affect other peoples
regulations, and when it finds itself in the
wrong, asks, with a sneer, ''that the public
should judge between the assumptions of the
journal (not the story of tho man it has SIAN
| dered) that sees fit to inquire into the story
little, "and the straightforward statements of
Stewart though he be only a colored man and
brother"
That Stewart and his wife had difficulty in
escaping in the manner they did is not disput-
ed but it would have been still easier for them
If they had Obeyed orders in the beginning.
When life is at stake men are not apt to hang
around In the boats very long for others to
| make their escape land especially iu this case
with crew engaged merely to take a vessel to
port where the regular crew is to be shipped)
and we think they did molly in the storm to
stand by as long as they did. According to
Stewards own story "his wifes fright was very
great," and that might have been the reason
she wouldn't jump when told to. Any way it
is distinctly stated that even after they remain
ed GU the vessel if they would have jumped as
the captain did their lives would have been
| saved.
| As to the ''insinuation about sympathy and
contributions made in the Press" let it be re-
membered that Stewart has lost no more than
any other man on the ship. Everyone lost all
their possessions, and we do not find any of
the crew going about the city into every store
with copy of the Eastern Argus in their hand
and request that something may be contrib
| uted for their relief.
That Stewart has suffered we do not deny
but when he makes statement, that is ''glar.
| ingly colored' by himself or the journal that
prints it, attempting to throw obloquy on re-
| spectacle men, it is the duty of other journals
| to defend the characters maligned.
The GOLD MARKET AND THE WAR NEWS -
The gold market showed considerable degree
of activity yesterday. Fifty-eight quotations
| were received at the Merchants Exchange be-
tween ten in the morning and three in the af
ternoon or one about every five minutes. Gold
opened at LII "a, advanced to 1.22 "a; at
1890 p. NJ. went back to 1.2O 3 4, at P. M. ad-
vanced to 1.21, at 1.2O P. M. fuctuated in 121
and the fractions till 225 P. M. when it went
back 10 H. and closed at 8 P. M. at 1902
| The state of the gold market and the war
news caused the great topic of conversation of
| course. Coal advanced half dollar, sugar
rose half cent in the popular grades, -four had
advanced within the past day or two half a
dollar barrel. The general impression SEEM
ed to be that it was to be long war in which
all Europe must eventually be entanged and
the consequence would be great demand for
all the necessaries of life which we should be
called upon to furnish from this country
There were some, however, who did not believe
| that it would be a contest of more than six
months duration at the fartherest, and even
| takers could be found at six weeks, because
they argued that with the facilities for trans
portation afforded on the continent, the lack of
| natural obstacles, the readiness for conflict as
shown in the immense armies all equipped and
armed with the most improved implements of
warfare that battle would succeed battle with
great rapidity until one or the other side would
be compelled to sue for peace.
Harpswell SKIES in the midst of the g,elt OK
| element we quote firm.
| TART RACE.-A tart race came off in the
harbor last evening for the championship and
an indefinite number of tarts between Messrs
j. W. Junkins and Geo. D. Loring of the
Alcyon Club. Messrs. Ladd and Banks of the
Ariel Club backed Loring, the other backed
himself. The course was one mile from the
stake-boat opposite the Una boat house. There
was smooth water and the mercury indicated
$50. Loring led the first half of the course,
but when opposite the Atlantic wharf bis
tights caught in the outrigger, which render
ed stop necessary. Junkins passed him here
and pulled the IT st of the course alone making
the distance in s. 10. The stakes were prompt
ly paid over at Coles Immediately after the
raceto the entire satisfaction of the parties
andtheir friends
APPROPRIATION GRANTED TO A PORTLAND
LADY.-One OF the last acts of the Forty-first
| Congress was to suspend the rules and pass
the bill to pay Mrs. Fl. L. Gates, widow of Col.
William Gates, United States army, who act
ed as collector of revenue or military contribu-
tions in the war with Mexico, $5567, being tho
amount of his share of the proceeds of the sale
of the schooner Oregon and cargo, seized and
copfscated in April, 1S47, at the port of Tam
pico. Mrs. Gates was the daughter of the late
ARENAS Carter of this city and formerly resd-
| ed here.
| /. o. o. Z. EXCURSION Under the auspices
of Unity Lodge No. ", 1. o. o. f. of Boston,
the members of that Lodge and the Order in
that city propose making an excursion to this
city, for the purpose of visiting the Order in
Portland and for recreation, on Thursday, the
18th inst, via boat, and returning on the fol-
lowing Saturday, via Boston and Maine rail-
road. During their stay in Portland they will
stop at the Falmouth House, and good social
1 a N In .A11