The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-18
No New Cases and No Additional Deaths
Among Her Crew.
Arrival of Two More Fever
Ships.
Six Vessels and About Thirty Victims Of the
PeStilence Now In Port.
Pilot Commissioner Blunt on the
Situation.

the population of this great city which has been In
quandary whether to fly to the prairies or to re-
main here and die OF that yellow fever epidemic
which they believed to be 40 awfully imminent will
fan themselves gracefully down into state of per-
petual calm when they learn that the great Spanish
rigate Numancia, with It's few cases Of yellow
fever on board, Is twenty miles away from their
breakfast tables. At quarter to FIVE O'Clock last
evening the ram got under way and proceeded
quietly down the bay from the Narrows to the
Southwest Spit, where she now lies at anchor.
About one O'Clock yesterday afternoon the tugs N.
b. Starbuck, Captain Jacob Brandow and the w.
F. Walcott, Captain Monks stopped at the Quaran-
tine Station, Staten island. On the former vessel
was Pilot Gillespie who brought the Numancia into
port, and on the latter Pilot John l.. Rolf and his
brother, Peter W. R0ff Jr. also pilot. The pilots
called upon Health Officer vanderpoel, and Pilot
Gillespie stated that he was prepared to
pilot the Numancia to an anchorage in the Lower
Bay. Pilot John Rof however, exhibited an
order signed by Pilot Commissioner Blunt direct
ing him to take the vessel down and anchor her or
the Southwest Spit and OF course Pilot Gillespie at
once gave way to Rolf, who at once went on board
the Numancia from the Wa,cott aud informed her
commander that he would be prepared to navigate
the ship down by halfpast three or four O'Clock.
Not deeming 1t either prudent or necessary that he
should remain for an hour or two on board an in
fectcd vessel Ro returned to the landing, with his
tug, and AWAITED the hour e. departure gIsta
had been "banked" on Friday night, and
steam, therefore,. was soon gotten up for
the tugs. Shortly before four O'Clock the two tug
boats proceeded to the Numancia's anchorage, GIL
lespie remaining ashore, and the great frigate at
once commenced to haul In the slack OF her cables
AS soon as'she was short hauled the tugs, which
had already fastened their hawsers to the frgate,
began to give her Roadway, 80 that she might not
drop back with the tide. and as her anchor lett the
4:45 p. NJ fairly ON her course, steaming slowly
and steadily through the Narrows The tugs
KEEP kept up. up good pull on her bow, SO as
she passed the forts, @adsworth, Tompkins and
Lafayette, and at the same time about the narrow
est part OF the channel, the Plymouth Rock, looking
like pleasure palace on rampage, swept swiftly
past her on her way down to Long Branch. 1t was
marked contrast to see these Leviathan ships SO
close together and to feel that one great
engine OF war; with cloud of pestilence lowering
ease and freighted with hundreds OF happy people
speeding on to scenes OF enjoyment. Nothing
occurred to vary the monotony OF the voyage down,
and at seven O'Clock the Numanca was hove to on
the Southwest Spit.
THE rugs COMMENCED SOUNDING
at once, and found plenty OF room, with depth
varying from thrty-two TO thirty seven feet About
twenty-five minutes past seven the Numanca let
go her anchor at selected spot about three quar-
ters OF mile west-s0uthwest OF the Spit buoy, and
New York was eased OF bugbear which has been
worrying tiInid souls all the week. The Numancla
York, riding safely at anchor with sixty fathoms Of
cable out and with abundance OF swinging room,
II and 1ran,S half feet Of water
ish feet, or about twenty eight feet English
measurement. The tugs sounded at intervals all
through was five and half fathoms Before leav-
ing her s0undings were taken for over half q mile
all around her. and nothing shall0wer than thirty
two ieet was found. She Is about third Of q mile
from the regular ship channel, and inward or out
ward bound vessels need not make nearer approach
to her In passing than at that distance. The tugs
and pilots returned to the city about halfpast nine
O'Clock last night, having performed their work in
the most satisfactory manner. In order to show the
HISTORY OF THE SINGULAR DIFFICULTY
which has surrounded the Numancias visit to this
harbor, the following correspondence Will be OF In
terest:-
HEALTH OFFICERS DEPARTMENT,
QuARAN1JsF, TowrxIssyIILE s. J., August Is 1872
at tic once s had STe not Sssa
arrived len note requesting him to call on you and
with safety e w s rs he IF to the cCns"
take measures 70 have such removal made.
bridge until the ship IS anchored when he may leave at
once by small boat. which may accompany the vessel
L. Oakley vANDERPoEL Health officer.
The following certificate was furnished by the
commander OF the frlgate to Pilot Gillespie:-
On Board IRoN-CLAp FIIcArx NuxAScIA
pon Eduardo sSa ESyrn seG" Of I
Gillespie has navgated this Ship into port in highly in
rom YORK and from the his taxing charges
1 s es s @ e ss Of II ns
York, he has acted to my entire sa!isiaction norm.
Ponr OF New YORK, August 49, ls72 '''' ~ '
DR.. vanderpoel expressed the utmost satisfac-
ton when the frigate had at last got under way for
her new quarters. and was pleased that the ankle
ties OF the people were at last alayed in reference
to her presence on our waters. DR.. Mosher, Deputy
Health Onicer, boarded the Numancia short time
before her dcDarture and found
fever developed, and reports the convalescents as
doing well without exception. The patients
Bank Hospital are also prospering very
favorably and no additional deaths had
by the port Health sathortes While she lies at the
spot, and VIII be abundantly supplied with fresh
water, provisions and vegetables. The Spanish
noon and LETT with him some papers and packages
for the ships officers, which were duly forwarded
The following statement Of mr. Blunt made to
the Board OF Pilot Commissioners had surrendered
20 his decisi0n:-
STATEMENT OF MR.. BLUNT
I was sick yesterday (Tuesday) anu unable to at
tend the meeting Of the Board My old friend,
Admiral stringham, formerly Of the Ohio, whom
have known for ffty years. comedies entirely with
me that there Is 1tting anchorage for the human
cha In the Lower Bay, and sent me word to that
story, SO that you can Judge its merits ON Thurs.
day the Health Of1cer, DR.. vanderpOel came to see
me, unnecessarily excited, as thought, about my
the capacity OF the harb0r. took particular pains
to say to the Doctor that had heard good reports
from all the pilots as to his general disposition
and his desire to do his duty. I then called in
the pilot, Gillespie, before US, who,
VIOLATING QUARANTINE ORDINANCES,
had brought the Numancla up to the Narrows,
and told him that he had violated the Quarantine
rules OF the port. then said that should send her
down the bay at DR.. vanderpoes request The
Doctor asked my opinion about the lower anchor
age and mentioned as proper place between
Coney Island and the Lower Quarantine Hospital.
He said he did not like that 1t was In the track
OF the excursion steamboats, to Coney Island (which
anchor her OF the Southwest Spit" Gillespie, who
was then present, was suky aud did not want to
take her back. He has only had full branch for
two years. BY that l mean after man has safely
plotted, without complaint or accident for three
years In fourteen, sixteen and eighteen feet water
he Is entitled to what we call full branch
THE SPANISH CONSUL.
DR.. Vanderp0el, as an act OF courtesy, said he
should consult with the spanish Consul. | re-