New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-16

Southwest Pass channel eighteen feet in
depth at extreme low tide, twenty feet at
high tide-the bottom soft. One dredge
boat, in working order, was on hand TO
keep the channel open, and was sufficient
for the work; the other vas laid up in New
Orleans, for the sake of economy. The
worst stage of the river for shOaling the
bars had passed.
March 6, the throttle valve OF The
dredge on duty lowing to carelessness of
the men cleaning it, blew out, disabling the
dredging engines, and had to be sent to
New Orleans for repairs. OF this Major
Howell was not informed until late Oh the
| morning of the seventh. On the night of
the eighth the reserve boat reached South
west Pass. On the ninth there was a dense
fog On the bar, making it an impossibility
| to attempt work. On the tenth there was
also fog, so dense that the buoys marking
the channel could not be seen. At low tide
! this day, the ring ran the ship Dilharre,
drawing nineteen feet of water on the bar,
grounded her as they knew they would, and
started the blockade; then left her imme.
diately and sent all their boats to the rich
picking offered by the burning ship John
Parker. The next day the dense fog con-
tinued. On the next and to the end of the
mo nth either one or both of the dredges
was at work on the bar to clear il of
grounded vessels, without doing which it
was impossible to dredge with any useful
effect.
Before the Dilharre could be got on. OF
the way the steamship Fandala was
grounded; before the Vandalia was of the
steamship Legislator was run on; before
she was off the steamship Missouri was
grounded, and during the whole time
lighter draft steamers and ships we're being
forced in the way, aided by towboats so as
to not only Obstruct the efforts Of the
dredges, but also to cause them considera-
BILE damage from collisions.
In spite of all this licensed and organ.
lied opposition on the morning of March 81
the dredges had succeeded in getting all
grounded vessels out of the way except the
Missouri, and at A. M. both dredges COM
mence6 pulling on her. Here is what Cap
tain Henry Matthias, of the Missouri, says
of the tactics adopted to keep him on the
bar another day:
March 81, l873.-About $50 A. NJ the Missouri
was straight in the channel. with the government
boat Mc5lester alongside. We were all in motion
and going ahead fast, and should without any
doubt have Gle AIRED the bar, but the tug Lone Star
at this time vas towing in bark, noIwithstand-
ing that warning had been given that We were n
motion To avoid collision and damage our Ell
gines had to be turned back, the result of which
ended il our getting across the channel and hav-
Ing to wait until the rise OF tide again.
Master steamship Missouri
The pilot and captain of the bark were
both loud in condemnation of the action of
the towboat, but when asked to put their
statements in writing declined to do so Tor
alleged fear Of the ring.
During this time there were waiting
inside three heavy ships, and outside one.
with towboats alongside ready to rush them
on the bar and continue the blockade, as
soon as the Missouri got off. Thus, after
twenty days hard work to get the bar clear
for dredging, the officers of the dredge
found preparations made to continue the
blockade an indefinite time. Under the
circumstances it was decided to abandon
place that offered No chance for improve
ment, and go to PASCAL Outre. One dredge
started inside that night the other re-
NAMED towed the Missouri Oft, thus clear
ing the bar next morning, and Immediately
proceeded outside to Pass-alOutre. That
put an end to grounding ships. The ring
did not dare continue its practices with no
dredges at hand 10 receive the blame.
They have since consulted the tide and
draught Of vessel before attempting cross.
ing. If they will keep away from Pass
a-rOutre very short time we shal! have an
excellent channel there.