The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-02

Guion line, now carrying the mails from this
country TO England. The Samaria hoisted
the usual signals of distress, and did all in her
power to attract the attention of the Manhat-
tan. The latter steamer paid not the least
attention to this appeal but passed on as
rapidly as she could-quite indifferent as to
TIE fate of the Samaria.
This statement was at once contradicted by
the captain of the Manhattan and 10y two or
three passengers; but it is now fully cOrrobo-
rated by the narrative of the cabin passen-
gers of the Samaria. 1t seems to us that
their evidence is conclusive as against the
evidence hitherto brought forward on the
other side. They allege distinctly that the
Samaria exhibited the regular signals of the
commercial code, intimating II wish to
communicate" ''engines disabled, and that
the maintopgallant sail was lowered--a
well-known signal of distress all the world
over. The Manhattan answered these signals
by setting her ensign, but declined to render
any assistance. Guns were fired from the
Samaria, and two sailing vessels, at greater
distance from the steamer than the Manhat-
tan, bore down for her-so that 1T Is most
improbable that the guns were not heard, or
the signals not seen, on board the Man
haitian.
1t is impossible that case Of this kind can
be permitted to rest here. II the captain of
the Manhattan cannot clear himself, we do
not see how any respectable company can
continue to place confidence in him. Con-
duct of the kind ascribed to him must
not be tolerated on the high seas. We are
all deploring the disappearance of the City of
Boston, and it is quite impossible to avoid
the suspicion that she, too, may have been
seen in distress, and barbarously left to per-
ish by some captain who cared for nothing
but making quick voyage. 1t is to reassure
the public mind on this point that an inquiry
ought to be held into the charges brought by
the passengers and crew of the Samaria
against the Manhattan. The authorities in
England are bound to let us know the whole
truth of the matter, and that without delay.
Contrast the behavior of one British cap
tain to another with that of an American
captain towards the British mail steamer
Venezuela This vessel met with an accident
which makes us marvel that she remained
afloat a single hour afterward, but being skill
fully and gallantly commanded she was kept
above water for some time. In the midst of
her distress the American steamship Camilla,
from Palermo for New York, came in sight
Her captain did not run away as fast as he
could when he was appealed to for assistance
To be sure he was not in command of a rival
steamer trying to carry the mails at decent
rate of speed, but still he might have found
an excuse for refusing help, for the weather
was extremely boiBterous Instead of adopt
ing this inhuman course, he took the passen-
gers of the Venezuela on board, and brought
them to New York in safety. The captain
and crew of the British steamship declared
they would stand by their vessel to the last
| and there is too much reason to fear that
| they have lost their lives by so doing They
were brave and faithful men, and if they
have perished their fate will awaken sympathy
and regret wherever the story of it is heard.
@We are approaching the season of the yeal
when many thousands of Americans travel in
foreign steamships. 1t is of great conse
quence that we should understand whether
the policy is henceforth to be adopted OF
passing unheeded vessels in distress. If So
it will not be of much use for any ship il
peril to keep in the beaten track We prefer
to hope that the cases we have recently heard
of are only exceptions, and will be regarded
rather in the light of a warning than an ex
ample by the great body of seafaring men.