New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-20
THE RISK or THE OBELISK.

Few men in England will for while occupy
more unenyiablc position under the public
gaze, than the captain of the Olga, who aban-
doned Ceopatras Needle at sea. The fact
that it was recovered by another vessel, II cir
cumstance that has brought pleasure to nearly
all the rest of the world must be a source of
new vexation to him. Possibly, he curses the
uplucky monolith rs the grayestone Of
his reputation. Perhaps his seamanship
was the best that was possible under the circum-
stances. He had frightfully clumsy craft in
tow. Shipmasters who have attempted towage
of any great bulk in storm, know very well
how much it adds to the peril. IL seems to
be almost the regular thing TO do, to cut
the tow-line in heavy weather; just as
prudent commanders, when their vessels
are anchored in rOadstead, are apt to slip
their cables and go TO sea, in furious gale
Even in the case Of steamers engaged in lay
ing ocean cables, and fully equipped for that
task there have been frequent instances of
cutting adIift from the heavy drag in stormy
weather.
There was tho addition in this case of the
danger to the lives Of the crew that were on
the caissOn. Even in rescuing them, some
were lost. Ii ia evident that all were seized
with the impression that the craft was about
to sink. If it had merely rolled over, the
result would have been almost equally fatal
to those who were upon it. Possibly
too there wac some superstition about the
obelisk. Jack is very apt to have such notions
about anything like monument Sailors
don't like to have cOrpses or mummies or
grayestones aboard they may have had
similar prejudice against the old relic. Their
superstition might be excused if they had
known that, in all probability, this 0bclisls has
olready cost the lives of thousands Of men.
who, diving under the lash of Egyptial task
masters. doubtless cursed the great stone to
which their lives were sacrificed. Again, per-
hans the captain of the Olga reflected that if
the caisson filled and sunk Suddenly, his own
vessel n ,ght be dragged down stern foremost
before he could cut loose from this 2O0-ton
anchor.
There aye, however. other people beside the
caplain of the Olga in England who have suf-
fered "A disappointment. There were tho rivals
of the contractor, who did not believe in his
way of transporting tho stone, and who
doubtless said, 81 told you So" when
the first report of Abandonment arrived. There
WAS "Senex,n who had of course written
a letter to The 7Imes-as EnGishmcn are ever
ready to do-to dcnounce from beginning to
end this whole business of moving monuments
from their ancient places and had cited, as u
parallel instance, the way in which some of
the Elgn marbles were thrown overheard
during transportation, To save the vessel
that was carrying them. There were the poets,
too. Dozens of odes we're no doubt under
way, in which the Nations tear responded to
Cape Finsterre, and the fearful risk was
matched 10 tho obellsk. What crushing
misfortune must the recovery Of tho stone
have been to the man who had succeeded
after mornings labor, in bringing
forth rhymes to such tough words as
Thothmes and Cleopatra! What would the po-
cts of England have not given to have had the
obelisk down fathoins deep. with the ines