The New York herald., 1875-12-04

mg very fask Strong efforts made BY passengers
and freight customers 70 persuade the captain OF the
% E 70 remain an hour longer put ne conslaered
the RISK 700 great Suffice 10 the Schuyler passed
through the heavy barriers OF and arrived New
York a. half four O'Clock the following morning in
safety II the Sunnyside had not taken the steamer
Golden Gate in tow, and had followed closely In the
wake Of the Schuyler, there be no question but
that this terrible accident would have been syerted
The SuBnyside was a weak lightly built boat hav-
ing been cut two and heightened both forward and
freghts between New York and Troy bsra ny
shallowness OF the water between Troy and Albany
caused her TO rub over the bars nearly every trip is
well known by every freghter and merchant doing
business on the Hudson; and further badly was she
strained and her bottom worn that in the month OF
September SHE obliged 70 keep her main engines at
work while at the dock prevent her from sinking
She hauled out, and instead OF having thorough
repair, was patched up for temporary use agree.
with you Mr. Editor that the catastrophe causing the
loss OF life OF 80 many innocent persons demands
thorough and searching investigation, and the pub
lie will duly appreciate the influence OF the hKnALD
in their behalf A PASSENGER
THE OWNERS OF THE LOST STEAMER DEFENDEn
To THE EDITOR OF HERALD
Permit me 70 offer few remarks In answer t
your editorial on the Sunnyside disaster this morn
ing
have been acquainted with Joseph Cornell the Vics
President OF the Troy line for twenty-five years.
He was brought up from early boyhood in the service
OF MAYOR Thomas Cornell Of Rondout n. T., who u
wen known 70 be one OF the largest steamboat owners
on the North River. Joseph Cornell was for many
years the outdoor manager for Thomas Cornell and
had entire charge Of his boats while active service
under repairs.
Some six or seven years ago he, in company with tvs
other young men, who had been in steamboat business
for many years bought out the Catskl line OF and
after the lapse OF three four they bought the
Sunnyside, and in connection with the Thomas Powell
her in the CatsSt line until they took the Troy
line. Now, is>it possible that with the exper-
ience of Mr. Cornell in steamboats, would deliberately
invest all he worth in rotten and worthless
besides inducing two other steamboat mon to join him
TO the extent OF every dollar they possessed9
The suggestion you make that IL was "one of those
ghasty by which ships bottom is prepared
for destruction with view TO the insurance. Is
trely out OF the question those who know Joseph
Cornell as well rs do There no insurance on the
boat except against fire, and she is total loss tho
owners must pocket It,
Beside this the Troy line Is known TO be prosperous,
and has pair OF boilers, new lying at Rondout,
which 10 60 in her this winter. Experienced
men would hardly build new boilers for rotten and
worthless craft The general idea of steamboat
against which she forced for distance Of fifty
sixty miles, gradually cut long hole<n her side, per-
haps both sides, but owing to the ice keeping the hole
filled the water did not show ITSELF but the
hole and the watcr poured in. This idea accounts for
Captain Teson keeping his mate below IN the bow to
watch for water Captain J. A. Dumont, Government
Inspector pier 13 North River, an old steamboat
man. lost the steamboat Saratoga in 1859 in precisely
the and at about the same place. He told
me no showed itself until the boat had
entirely out of the ice 1t is doubtful whether the
Sunnyside is broken IN two. The hurricane deck was
broken up by the water but there is nothing 70 show
that the hull s broken. The company will raise the
permit Until the company has had chance to be
heard from l ask the public to suspend its opinion
Respectfully, THOMAS J, SAWYER, JE., n
i13 East Fourteenth street, New York