The daily gazette., 1877-05-29
The Fatal Launch.
rHR OPINION OF A PRACTICAL MAN.

For the 0AzETTE. a-.asa..a t...f- ai,..ss...s
Mr.. EDIToR:-When a man makes q
fatal mistake, fatal to himself as well as
to others, we can find 1t in our hearts to
forgive him pity then allows no room for
censure; but when man makes a mis-
take causing the death not of himself, but
Of several others, and then as an extenua-
tion seeks to attribute the fatal results to
the disobedience of the victims he merits,
and should be made to feel the conden
nation of every one.
Shortly after the launching of the
Saratoga, at Chester, 1 read small article
in your paper severely rebuking the per-
son in charge of that launch. At that
time thought your language was most
too strong, for reasoned, the ship must
have tore herself loose; but now, after
reading the testimony taken at the
coroner's inquest, and more especially
that Of the Superintendent himself, am
ready to agree with you. In fact, 1 think
your rebuke inadequately small for so
much carelessness, and the mean way in
which they are trying to excuse it,
If this Superintendent was temporarily
laboring under the influence Of nervous
ness why don't he shoulder the whole
affair like a man and not seek shelter un-
der frivolous assertions?
The. triumph of ship builder is TO
place his vessel safely in the water. To
secure this end he is very particular in the
construction of the "cradie" in which
the ship is committed to the deep, and of
the "ways" which carry her from the
shore to the water. Although launching
a ship requires great care, in ''laying the
ways" and cool calm Judgment in hand
ling the men, it is after all, Mr.. Editor,
very easy for an expertto do. Very few
accidents have occurred in this branch
of shipbuilding considering the number
of vesselsDthat are launched yearly, and
ninetenths of what have occurred could
have been avoided, as for instance this
affair at Chester
Mr.. Wright, by one of the victims of this
launch was one Of our best practical
| shipbuilders, and an agreeable fellow
workman, capable Of taking command
or of being commanded Therefore, had
he received orders to get out from under
the bottom of the ship he would have
obeyed, for no one knew better than he
the necessity of complying at once to
| such an order.
| nave WOrkcu uuu6r MT. w rlRuU, anu
| l always found him kind and considerate
to those under his charge, and remem-
bering his kindness I cannot remain
quiet while be is being slandered by
those who caused his death.
| The Superintendent tries to make it
appear that it was necessary, in order to
save more lives, that he should give the
order to saw through the ''sole-pieces"
and hberate the ship. This order he
II tcax xuno rrtxy oh
moving. Why sir, shipbuilders will tell
you that they like to see a ship "pull,"
for they very well know that the bolts
which prevent her from sliding off hold
better when they have a slight inclina-
ton than when standing upright, and
this pulling convinces them that the ship
will, when the saws are put through the
"sole-pieces," slide off quickley. 1t is
agonizing to o shipbuilder to see the
ship that he has just built creeping with
a slow uncertain motion down the
"launching ways" But it is time when
a ship shows a disposition to tare herself
loose, to get every body from under the
bottom particularly those aft where there
is less space between the ships bottom
and the "slip" than at any other place.
] What would have been the consequ-
ence had the Superintendent failed to
give the order to cut the ship loose? The
answer is, in my humble opinion,
simple. The Superintendent would have
had time to go fore and aft the ship and
seen that bis men were safely situated,
besides noticing the position of the
blocks. While attending to this, his first
duty, should the ship continue to "pull,"
why, let her "pull" for at best she can
only tear herself loose. .-H
| The Superintendent seemed to think
that the ship would fall between the
"ways." If his "wasys" were properly
''shoved" such a thing as cantlng the
| blocks or spreading the "ways" was ut
| terly impossible, even if there was such a
danger apprehended, did it justify him
in sacrificing seven lives to avoid it.
If you will give this space In your pa
per you will o6lige friend of one of the
victims. Very truly yours,
Jos. L. THATCHER.
Wilmington May 2Sth, 1877.