Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-10
THE RUTLAND HERALD
TIE CRY OF WASHINGTON.

THE CRY OF WASHINGTON.
Nearly every day this week the tele-
graph has been bringing to us additional
particulars of the loss of the lnman
steamer CITY of Washington, which
was wrecked on Gull Rock bar, Nova
Scotia, at two o'clock, Saturday after
noon, July 5th. The point where this
disaster occurred is some seventy miles
westerly from Sambro Light, and only
about fifteen miles from Cape Sable
Island, the shoals of which are most
dreaded by mariners of any on that
rock bound and wreck strewn coast.
1t is not yet explained how this vessel
come to be in position where she could
be forced on to the bar at Port LIE Bear
which is very many miles north OF the
regular line Of travel between Queens
town and New York, and was equally
out of course if the steamer was attempt
ing to make Halifax. There is no point
that this vessel could legitimately be at
tempting to reach, that would bring the
point Of disaster near its course, and we
are forced to the conclusion that from
negligence or some other cause, the City
of Washington was far out of her reck-
oning, and that her officers were as ig-
norant of her Whereabouts as was Capt.
Williams of his, when he run the i'll
fated Atlantic upon Mars Head.
The dispatches tell us there was mo
excitement when the City of Washing
ton struck the shoals, and that the pas
sengers and crew were all safely landed,
and that not a life was lost. This was
very fortunate, and speaks well for the
efficiency of the officers of the boat, and
the subordnation and discipline Of the
crew, but in our rejoicing that there was
not a great loss of life, and our thank
fulness that we are saved another Attain
tic disaster, we must not forget that
there is a grave responsibility resting
somewhere that the possibility of
passenger boat, freigbted with. over four
hundred precious live, being driven hun
dreds of miles out of her established
line of travel, and wrecked upon a dan
gerous coast, is not only warning to
the travelling public, but casts burden
of great responsibility upon steamship
lines and officers of vessels. Thick
weather and heavy fog will doubtless
be made the scapegoat upon which to
cast the blame of the loss of this vessel,
but it must be remembered that on ev-
cry trip across the ocean, every boat is
liable to have heavy weather and run
into fogs and that if one steamer must
rush upon the Nova Scotia coast, instead
of running into the harbor of New
York, all others may, and the public
have right to demand that no passen-
ger boat shall be run in any weather,
unless its commander knows Just where
he is.
The City of Washington was a screw
steamer of two thousand three hundred
and eighty tons burden, drawing twenty
one feet of water, and was built on the
Clyde in 1866. She was 371 feet in
length and As feet breadth of beam, of
sat very low in the water, and was de- !
signed, like the other vessels of the In |
man line, for speed. Size had two en-
gines, and was propelled by a screw in
steed of the side pad dle-wheels She
had been recently overhauled and re-
paired, and was considered safe and sea-
worthy. Her commander, Capt. Lock |
head, is an experienced officer, and has a
good reputation for prudence and accu-
racy. The owners and agents of the In
man line have promptly used all availa-
BILE means, regardless of expense, for the
safety and comfort of the passengers of
the wrecked steamer, but all this ought
not to satisfy public opinion. We are
entitled to know who is responsible for
this shipwreck. Why the vessel was
where it could be wrecked, and it will
be imperatively demanded that search
ing investigation be had, and that all in
authority over this steamer, be held to a
strict account for any faults in the navi-
cation of the ship, and if the owners
neglect this, public confidence will be
greatly lessened in the safety of the In
man line, and travellers will shun their
vessels as they now do those of the
White Star line since the terrible night
on Mars Rock.