New-York tribune., 1872-12-07
THE MISSOURI DISASTER.
ANOTHER MARVELLOUS ESCAPE.

HAVANA, Dec. Orchard Smith. another
survivor nom the burned steamer Missouri has arrived
at Nassau. Smith was the man who abandoned Con-
ways and swan 10 the capszed boat for the pur
nos, OF rhting her Conway cut the painter connecting
the wO and they dfted out OF sight OF each other
Smith aud Alfred steward. drifted with the boat bottom
inward for three days at the mercy OF the On
the fourth day they managed right the boat and max
ing sail from feprcservers they finally landed on the
most western KEY Of AbacO the seventh day After
landing steward died from fever produced by exhaus-
tion smith caught little rain water on the ninth day
and that with prckly pears and softshell crabs sus
taned him until the seventeenth day when he was taken
of the ISLAND and brought 10 Nassau. He goes to New
York on the steamer Columbia.
MARK TWAIN on LAUNCHING SHIPS BOATS.
Mr.. Mark Twain. in private letter which
We venture to publish below, ncoses the following ex
tract from TRIBUNE editorial the Missouri disaster.
aud adds the appended comment;
Twelve persons we're saved in one boat and four IN
another; all the rest were o no account Ia 9r
management by the ships crew, there might nave
been itte or no loss OF life But the boats were unski
fully handled aud danged in mid-air. pouring their
ppS,,,nsi the aide OF the ship Five or six boats
were not enough Tor Passenger steamship
like the Missouri and though it was true that heavy
sea was running the time, II il disgrace TO science
aud civilization say that tris impossible TO lower
safely "A boat under circfnstahceS. Organization
and discipline would have done wonders this psrteu-
lar even though the boats insufficient II there is
no tackle or other machinery by which boat can be got
from ships deck to the alongside without wreck
or swaInping. IN humanty's name let ingenuity ana
skill brought bear that single point before We
hear of any Inventions To increase speed OF dle
yiate the mere dscomforts OF the sea voYasr.
70 me EditOr Of Fhe TrIbHHe.
SIR: This Missouri is bad business You
know that none bat sailors can untackle ships
boats and get them into the water right side up;
and YOU know perlous time the frantic paSsen
yer. wont yiye the sailors chance TO do this work SUE
cessfulIy Now DOM you believe that n every vessel
carried several fe-rans dixie the lifesages o Western
,teanboats lashed upon tnelr upper decks with axes
eated 10 them which the usaues passenger could nse
If, .utting their fastenngs, that many lives would be
.avedt N the RATS thrown overheard. aud the
rrzy messengers after them, the sailors might
then work ~ tho hamperng aud complicated tackle OF
The boats with some method and show OF success
Tney could launch them right side up. aud 20 and take
| the people from the RATS.
In time OF danger Won cannot successfully Launch 4
boAt even ON the quiet OF the Mississippi, uu
yon nave driven all the human cattle into the river first
I'm an old boatmsn and speak by the card.
Yours truly,
Hartford, Dec. 5. SAM" L. CLEMENS
THE INVESTIGATION CLOSED.
The Missouri investigation was closed yes
erliy The testimony gwen went 10 show that the hre
/ ori ginated around the boilers.