New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-28
The Southwest Pass.

The bar at the mouth o. the river aas
again been in bad condition. owing TO
the steamship Legislator having for sew
erai days been lying across its entrance.
1t was no dout. bad policy, and against the
Judgment OF the pilot, putting this
steamer on the bar at this low stage of
water: bu: the eagerness Of all enterpris.
ing shipmaster 20 make qNick passages
will often induce them to talks large risks.
in opposition 20 their own better reason.
The pilots relation to them. IN one sense.
is that of cbligatio and consequently ne
is bound to be influenced more or less by
the master. the result of which ends. many
times, in serious disaster. IN the case OF
the Legislator. the captain urged. the pilot
ventured. and 1.-The end is not yet tor
already five days have elapsed since the ax-
pertinent, and this vessel still lies hard and
fast. little east OF the channel. q: the
Southwest Pass.
Those who have been fortunate enough
to cross and recross the bar without deten-
ton seldom think of the serious conse-
quences IN lying across or il close prOE-
unity to the channel at this point. We
will cite the fate ct the Legislator, since she
has been lying in this condition. Three
days ago the bark Beyenta IN attempting
to pass the Legislator. cOlllded with her.
running her lib boom through the smoke.
stack of the steamer. staVing one Of her
boats, besides breaking her rail and badly
cutting her plank shear. The Beventa lost
her jib-boOm befor. getting clear. In the
meantime the barkentine Royal Harry ran
into the Beverta. staving hole in ne: side
with her anchor. and in getting the two
vessels clear. the Roya; Harry's anchor
vas left in the side of the Beyenta. The
captain ma. since refused to have the 81.
chor withdraw. The reason can no. be
imagined. unless it is through fear Of great
pain. and the Beventa's bleeding TO death.
A survey consisting of shipmastecs was
held on board the Legislator on Tuesday.
and the damage sustained estimated at
t:!50. The damage to the othe- vessels las
Not been fully aseertaiRed.
Another cause for putting this large
steamship upon the bar can "e traced -
the too apparent fact CT the pilot being at
lOggerheads with the tOwboat people. The
previous blockade was most earnestly car
ried out by the towhoats: the recent one
mosB successfully BY the 2iiots anj witt.
all the nus and cry" made By those in
terested in towing, against Major Howell.
and the dredgeboats. to them are the peo-
pie of New Orleans indebted for the .lr
rival OF tn. New York steamers and many
other ships that have come u,. since the
Dilharree was pulled OF by the dredge.
boats, and the Legislators position changed
by the same power. so that vessels of more
moderate draft are enabled TO pass IL.
The McAiesteF and EssaTon. eithe- O:
them, can pul! more than any three tow
boats AZ the pass. and all of their work IS
gratu5tous and cheerfully done--done n
the interest of our commerce AMI because
it intecteres with the pockets OF few no-
nopOllsts. should this great assistance 20
our shipping cease: Not at all Beside
the large amount Of cotton or hand wait
ing for shipment there ia $40, 011 bushels o!
grain atiOat and on the way from st. Louis
TO this port, all Of which can he placed on
ship6Oard At fifty cents per bushel. me
lowest sun since the war. Already orders
have been given at the elevator to work
night and day TO free the barges.
Major Howell, being aware Of theae facts.
il bound to push the dredgin: OF the bar
to its uttermOst: and we have no doubt
that twenty feet of water AZ least Vii. M
obtained in 4 few days.