The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-17
A YELLOW FEVER DEADLOCK"
The Spanish Ram Nulnancia Still
Anchored in the NarTOws.
PUBLIC OFFICIALS on THE "SHIRK."
Does Anybody Know Anything About
Lower Bay AnchOrages?
me HEALTH OFFICER on HIS METTLE.

No New Cases and But Ono Addi-
tional Death Reported.
New York will be astonished this morning to
learn that the Spanish yellow fever frigate M.
manca, which was to have been plotted at noon
yesterday from the Narrows, on Staten Island, to
safe but more remote anchorage In the Lower Bay.
remains at present in the position she has occu-
pied since Monday ast-in the Narrows, opposite
Clifton.
In accordance with the order OF Pilot Commits
sioner Blunt, the commander Of the Numanca
had steam up all day yesterday, took
on board supply Of fresh water and
provisions, and removed the ships guns forward,
30 as to tighten her stern and put her on an even
keel, and at one O'Clock, the appointed hour, was
ready to proceed to the Lower Bay anchorage.
Until five O'Clock the great marine gladiator was
blowing or volumes Of steam through her safety
valves, with everything taut and trim for voyage
through the drenching rain down to the
Southwest Spit; but no pilot came, and no
tugboats, as promised, to convey her on her
intricate passage. About that hour, however,
Pilot Gillespie. the same 0flcer who brought the
rigate into port, reached the Quarantine station In
the tugboat Starbuck, and called upon Health OH
Ger vanderpoel with the statement that he (Gilles
pie) had been directed by the Pilot commissioners
to report to the Health Oficer for orders in refer
ence to the Numancia
| DR.. Vanderp0el at once replied that Commits
sioner Blunt having assumed the responsibility Of
stating that
THERE WERE SAFE ANCHoRAGEs
in the Lower Bay for the frigate, he would
decline to order the vessel to unless the
pilot had instructions from the Commissioners
as to the location Of such anchorage, or
unless the pilot would himself assume the re-
sponsibility Of selecting an anchorage and con.
veyng the vessel to 1t. As soon as some men,
Der OF the recognized navigators ocially assigned
the place and furnished the pilot he would at once
order the Numancia to quit the Narrows and pro-
coed to the newly appointed berth. II Gillespie
was so instructed ne would give tho necessary Or
ders for her removal at once, but he would assume
no responsibility which he was not justified in &C
cepting
Gillespie stated that he was entirely without any
definite instructions on the subject. He understood
that the Board OF Pilot Commissioners had virtually
rescnded Commissioner Blunt's order for her re-
moyal, or had declined to take any action ratlfyng
It, and that he (Gillespie could not single handed
assume the responsibility Of taking her down the
opinion result to the vessel.
Or. vanderpoel replied that under these clrcum;
$
to the Numancia lying about two miles distant, to
inform her commander that
THE VESSEL WOULD NOT BE REMOVED
last night, and that he would communicate with
him again on the subject to-day. Having finished
S es today day where she 's lying yesseHdsy
two places in the Lower Bay at which, in his Opin-
ion the Numanca might be a M,,h
s H ss
his opinion that 1t was from sanitary point of
view one OF the most dangerous places In the har-
bay would be likely to carry all reuse matter
thrown rom the Infected vessel with it. In this
way every one OF the ~ ,,,so,,s
who daily battle at Coney Island and along the
shores Of the bay would be subjected to the risk OF
ter in the water, and returning to New York and
Brooklyn might spread the dread disease In all
adjacent cities. Again, portions OF this waste
matter drifted to the beach might be picked
up oy te ana t e n ,as
of Long Island This was merely an opinion based
on possibilities, If not grave probabilities The
other place the pilot condemned on two grounds
first, because O northeast storm, very probable
occurrence would put the steamer to very great
feet Of water there, presenting the alternative Of
putting to sea or moving to her former harbor, q
dangerous experiment without an experienced
residence aboard q lever ship.
Commissioner Blunt was not present at the
| ported that his absence was owing to illness.
Commissioner W. c. thompson who was present,
declined to accept the responsibility of selecting
anchorage for the frigate, but he gave
| HIS OPINION
to Pilot Gillespie as fOlOws:-"My opinion Is that
the Numancla could be anchored safely In Graves
end Bay, moored three-quarters OF mile east Of
Buoy No. II, being at least one ,. and half mile
would ride in safety There Is no other place where
she would be safe except IN the Southwest Spit,
where she might be mo0red In thirty-fve feet in
low water, but would be much exposed I'm heavy
easterly gale" Gillespie had obtained this opinion
only an ''opnonu and not an instruction he could
| not avail himself OF 1t.
In conversation with HERALD reporter the
| Sinking conduct exhibited by the Pilot Commits
sioners. He said :-'I am placed IN charge of the
! am not expected to understand the navigation Of
the bay and harbor. That ia a separate and wholly
vsers on the subject il advice is needed in urgent
cases, the Pilot Commissioners and their agents
and officers the pilots themselves. This frgate has
OVER FOUR HUNDRED SOULS.
Am to jeopardize their lives by ordering the yes.
no knowledge w6atevers Suppose say to GILES.
pie, Take this vessel down and anchor her on the
Southwest Spit and afer he has taken her there
gale and capslzed by careening. The fault Of or.
dering her to an unsafe position would be mine. No,
to assume, and It is too grave subject for me to
| interfere In when am not properly authorized to
to the public anxiety on this question, to order the
Numancia to any place which the Commissioners
| direct, or to any place which any duly licensed
pilot Is willing to point out and assume the respon-
sibility OF taking her to. / shall not shirk
any Of the legitimate duties OF my posi-
ton. II the Pilot Commission shirk theirs
the question lies between them and
the public Will do this, however, with regard to
the public interests IF the Commissioners do not
| tomorrow to-day send me properly instructed
pilot shall visit pilotboat No Is, vessel which
know TO have O crew OF competent pilots ON board,
| and see III can get man from among them who
| Bay.n
In this position, therefore, the matter rested last
night, and to-day will bring out the fact, probably,
| whether the Numancia Is to remain In the Narrows
| or not. The matter has served very strongly to
AWAKEN A SUSPICION
In the minds or the people that neither the Pilot
| Commissioners nor the pilots as body know
NH a q n ahnuf bvdr onhv