New-York tribune., 1872-09-02

G.. Guild, passenger, says 345 1t was fuli
hour after that, according to the tremans
statement, when the propeller was put toward
shore, and by that time the water covered the
forecastle deck and she was entirely unman-
ageable. In the meantime she had wasted ten
or fifteen minutes looking for the schooner,
and then had gone on her course. Capt.
Burton says he sent the mates and pilot below
to see if she was making any water, and they
reported she was not. The fireman, on the
contrary, when he heard the crash of the col
lision event forward and found the first
"mate mailing on board and canvas to keep
"out the water" II is inconceivable that with
q moderately careful examination the extent
of the damage should not then have been dis
covered; yet we are told that the officers sup
posed the injury to be inconsiderable,- which
they had no business to suppOse,--the Captain
made no examination in person, and the ship
proceeded for at least an hour before any
alarm was given. Ten or fifteen minutes after
the passengers had been aroused the Nets
went down.
When the loss of the vessel was seen to be
inevitable there was no discipline among tne
crew nor organization of the passengers
Men and women were not aroused untu Ine
water was already over the cabin hoors' NO
snecal exertions were made to save the
women and children. There was no efficiency
in manning the boats; and how the transfer
of persons to the boats was regulated Is EVIL
dent enough from the fact that the only one
which reached shore brought director OF Che
steamship company and five deck-hands, ana
not another soul. The passengers who escaped
either hoated ashore on fragments OF the
wreck or kept themselves above water by
means of the life-preservers until they were
picked up by other vessels. There were only
three boats, and it may be doubted whether
they were in condition for immediate
launching. From one cause or another
they seem to have been nearly useless; I;
vet a sea in which seventy people
foated for hours on an open raft could not
have been too bOisterous for hfe-boat. An
official investigation is to be made INTO the
causes and circumstances OF the disaster
From this we shall probably learn who was
at fault in the collision, and whether the
Metis was properly equipped and manned Tor
the emergency which overlook her. But
whatever the official Judgment may say, it
will be impossible to persuade mankind that
when the vessel was struck only twenty min
utes from shore, and was able to Keep III
motion and obey her helm for more than an hour
afterward, every creature on board could not
have been brought safely to land. We can
imagine no circumstance which will excuse
Can't. Burton from not knowing the condition
of his ship Immediately after the collision.
The case of the Bienville is very different.
Here there was perhaps carelessness in the
precautions against fire; there was certainly
carelessness in the means provided to eX-
tinguish it. The steam pumps, We are told,
would not work. Whether they were originally
defective, or had been disarranged by neglect,
it is possibly not too late to learn; at any
rate, an attempt should be made to fix the
responsibility for this fatal defect where 1t
belongs. But it is gratifying to be able to
record that with the same gallantry which
Burton displayed on the Metis, Maury on the
Bienvile combined perfect discipline and cool
ness. During nearly four hours the crew
fought bravely against the fire, and when all
hone of subduing the flames was exhausted
the six boats were launched, and the pas
sengers and crew embarked.
Now let us have rigid examination into
both these disasters. In both there was a
grave fault somewhere and if it cannot be
detected and punished our steamboat laws are
useless, and we may look for two or three
preventible disasters every season. Some OF
the qualities of greatness are required of the
commander of passenger steamer. Bravery
is not enough. Seamanshp is not enough A
portly bearing, gruff voice, magnificent
manner, and the ability to swear at deck
hands and emigrants, even these virtues are
not all we ask. But the captain must have
the skill of thorough sailor, the scientific
knowledge of an engineer, the eyes of Argus,
the power to command, an imperturbable
GOODNESS, a faultless judgment, and a soldiers
gallantry. Anybody in charge of steamboat
who is not conscious of possessing these quail
fications will do well to seek some other pro-
fessiOn.