The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-16

Tho Inmsn Wreck Investlgatlon-ln-
comfortable PROOF or Reckless and
Criminal Negligence.
The Official investigation into the causes
which led to the wreck of the Inman steam
ship City Of Washington throws additional
light on the disgraceful conduct of her off,
GERS. The captains testimony shows that he
was in . state of ignorance concerning
many material points in the navigation of
his vessel, and the evidence Of his immediate
subordinates does not improve the condition
of affairs in the least. The cargo, which was
mainly composed Of steel, is asserted to
have affected the compasses to considerable
degree yet no allowance whatever was made
in steering the ship for such large deviation,
In fact the first officer declares that he did
not know that there was steel on board Thus
for eight days the steamship rushed on the
course which dashed her against the rock
bound coast of Nova Scotia and imperilled
the lives of all on board.
But the most damaging part of the testi-
mony is that furnished by the worthy captain
himself. He says:-''We did not take sound
ings of ting Banks, believing We were ss A long
distance to the southwark Of them. We had
no sounding whatever during the passage"
The second officer remarks that they did not
heave the lead during the voyage. because they
thought il would be useless. The men on
the lookout aver that no notice Of che color Of
the water was taken. Every ordinary pre-
caution, it may be added, was neglected.
The chief engineer Of the City Of Washing
ton states that the engines were not slowed
down or stopped during the thick weather,
although he was ready at o moment TO do
so He naively adds that when the ship
struck he was ordered to stop the engines.
We believe that similar precaution was taken
when the Inflated Atlantic went ashore ON
the same coast. more deplorable example
of carelessness cannot be adduced in the his
tory of ocean navigation. The interposition
of Providence prevented another slaughter
like that which Mortified the community q
officers of the vessel, to whose care so many
lives were entrusted, who plunged ahead with
out taking soundings and made no allowance
for the deviation of the compasses, calls for
signal censure. Neither fog nor storm should
cause such an error in the reckoning as over
one hundred miles for eight days. We trust
that the Court of Investigation will make an
example of the offenders.
An Important Concession from Spain
to Cuba.
One Of our latest dispatches from Madrid
has it that the present government of Spain
has promulgated decree annulling all edicts
of sequestration upon the property of rebels
and rebel sympathizers in Cuba. There is so
much good sense in this decree that one finds
it difficult to understand how it could emanate
from Madrid. Will the decree be carried out?
That is the question. We have had for the
last three years SO many good intentions and
good purposes expressed regarding Cuba, not
one of which has taken effect, that if we look
upon this latest thing of the kind with GER
tain amount of doubt and suspicion, we are
not to be blamed. If, however, the decree is
carried out, it is not to be denied that it will
have powerful effect in bringing back to
loyal allegiance many Of the disafected spirits
in Cuba. 1t is the first sensible step taken in
many years by the Spanish government
towards Cuba. Everything, however depends
upon the question whether the government
now in power will last long enough to give
effect to the decree The continuance in power
of the present government is rendered doubt
full by our very latest news.
Mexico and tho United states.
A special telegram addressed to the HERALD
from Mexico City, by way of Matamoras re-
ports the situation of affairs existing in the
neighboring Republic as presented on the 5th
instant. The Congressional elections passed off
quietly, but the result of the voting had not
been promulgated. The law which directs the
Punishment Of ''pernicious" foreigners had
not been enforced. The Fourth of July cele-
y