The New York herald., 1872-08-23
THE RAM NUrsMANClA.
Tho Report Of Her. Being aground Verified
She Goes Orc Foot Into the Mud and
Re-Aains Fast Over an Hour.

The question Of dispute which arose week ago
between Pilot Commissioner Blunt Health Oficer
vanderpoel and Pilot Gillespie, OF Sandy Hook pilot
boat No. %, in reference to q safe and proper an
chorage for the infected yellow fever
frigate Numancia was decided yesterday In
such a manner as to thoroughly vindicate
the knowledge OF Pilot Gillespie and the prudence
Of Health OGlcer vanderpoel. 1t will be remem-
bered that on Monday, August 10, when the Nu-
mancia was plioted by Gillespie up to
the Narrows, DR.. vanderpoel, Immediately
upon learning that she had yellow fever
on board. directed Gillespie to take the
frigate back into the Lower Bay and give her
anchorage there Gillespie replied that he could
not do so, as there Isas no anchorage there for
vessel Of her great draught to which he could con-
scientlously take her and feel assured
that she was safe. II he were to be
broken or have his certificate revoked he
would as soon have 1t done for violation OF Quar-
antine rules as for anchorng vessel where accident
might befall her. DR.. Vanderpoe feeling, as he says
that he was sanitary officer and not navigating
officer In the port Of New York, declined
to order the vessel to place where the four or five
hundred souls on board might be imperilled, and
accordingly deferred to the pilots opinion and
permitted her to remain In the Narrows about mid
channel and over mile from the nearest
shore. Then came the dsputation in
the pubic prints headed by Commissioner Bunt's
opinion and assertion that there was an ocean Of
good anchorage for her In the Lower Bay; and on
Saturday last, IN compliance with his personal and
Sna ancSoraG IN the she main WAS cnann sss
m Ss q n buoy mile IN W
the frigate at her new anchorage, when the report
in the HERALD that she had been aground once and
new sensation among seaiaring men and and
particularly among the Board Of Pilot
CommisSioncrs The statement which was given en-
the awfully knowing ones, and as something radi-
cally absurd. On Tuesday and Wednesday Of this
gagged in making thorough tour Of inspection of
all the hospitals and qnarantned vessels in
s s s Ss sne sos
miles distant from the hospital ship Illinois and
other ships IN quarantine: ON boarding her Dr.
Captain Rovira Bellon, and was by that officer In
the presence OF the members Of his statf Informed
hard aground without dragging her anchors, and
remained fast for more than an hour: During this
so immovably fixed that the tides had no effect on
her direction. Her officers had soundings taken
one foot in the mud, and it is believed by them
that she just touches the bottom at every
low tide. Fortunately. the bottom is either sandy
or soft mud for q considerable distance about the
vessel and she came Off on the rise of the tide
without injury. This, therefore, sets at rest the
and fully vindicatee his professional reputation,
even though it may hurt some others in higher
positions.
The presumption is, of course, that the excep-
tional extremes OF tidewater this month have been
the cause of her grounding, but the fact that she
has been fast is none the less positive.
SehOr Uriate, the Spanish Consul, OBJ
tanned his information OF the reported grounding
OF the frgate from yesterdays HERALD, and
expressed considerable anxiety on the subject.
During the day ne called DR.. Vanderpoel, but at
that time no actual information had been obtained
on the subject. DR.. Mosher returned from his tour
In the Bay yesterday afternoon and reports every
thing as progressing iavorably among the yellow
fever patients No new cases and no further Deaths