Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-07-25

The Sallie passed up last night with
feather-weight cargo.
The Spray, Captain Brown, is now at
the wharf receiving, and will leave at
five o'clock this evening for Cairo,
Louisville and Cincinnati
The Olive Branch struck pile Of
logs that tore out about half her bottom.
She will undoubtedly prove total loss.
Little Alfred, only son Of Capt. Ale
G. luther, agent of the Star Union Line,
died yesterday, and will be buried atfour
pm. to-day from st. Peters Church.
The bereaved parents have the deepest
sympathy Of their many friends.
The St. Louis papers report business
exceedingly dull there.
The st. Louis Times publishes the fol-
lowing interesting letter from Commo
dore Roilingpn to the Board of United
States Inspectors at Washington.
OK BOARD STEAMER BULL-oF-THE WooDs,
July2) 1871. J
GENTS: " lite you these few lines to
congratulate you upon the success at
tending your deliberations at the meet
ing Just brought to a close at Wash
ington. / have watched your proceed
ings with lively interest, for you see the
Bull-ofthe-W Gods only carries nine
hundred tons, and the floats, lil
boats, cork-bottomed chairs, double back
action waterproof cylinder timbers, and
the thousand other apparatus" which
your wisdom has found necessary to pr
scribe, threatens to amount to more than
that weight, and you know fellow don't
like to be swamped; but I'll try and pull
through by towing a barge. Your
code of signals are good. Whistling
in the fog is a capital idea. / always
whistle On such occasions, and generally
when running dark streets and gray
yards This rule was doubtless sue
gested by nature; and will be readily
understood by boatmen. 1t is only to be
reg .etted that you didn't prescribe how
often they we're to wet their whistles, |
can't quite agree with you in regard TO
the "fog horn" don't think it practi-
cal out here for chap to "blow his
horn. / never undertook it but once
in my life, and my ,fe didn't know me
for six weeks after only by my voice
agree with you that all officers, includ-
ing the chambermaid, should be in
spected and licensed, the barkeeper
alone accepted. The enormous price he
generally pays for the bar should entitle
him to a square deal, and the Mississippi
to draw too. You can't be too rigid
with chambermaids. Some of the worst
explosions / ever knew was caused by
this class. 1t may be added, however,
that the captains wives did the blowing
up. Your idea of having the local in
spector carry the key to the safety valve,
is a good one. This " IL relieve the
engineer from all responsibility and
enable him to sleep soundly on watch.
1t VII also give feeling of security to
passengers, not heretofore enjoyed. AS
precautionary measure, looking to the
public safety. it could not be improved
upon otherwise than having the steam
manufactured on shore. Discipline, in
case of accident, is also essential, esp
cially in case of explosions. AT such
times every man should know his place.
nus lar Il nave Uccu dDlc W hbOM illHtf
but l regret to say | have seen many
who didn't. They had lost their heads.
A committee whose duty should be to
provide feather-beds for people to light
on when returning from q frst-class
blow.up would be a big thing, On the
whole | think your deliberations are
calculated to meet the desired end and
in very few years you can dsband and
say: "Our work is accomplished; dis
aster on the great Mississippi has be
come impossible; there is nothing left to
navigate it but the primeval catfish. F"
COMMODORE RoLLINGPIN.
P. S. The Bull-of-the-Woods is still
choking stump at the mouth of Duck
creek, and l think I'll let her choke.
So please accept my checks; l can't
stand the raise; I've quit. G. r,