The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-03

To EDITOR HERALD:-
In tho summer OF 1874 I Of small party
that sailed tho il-iatcd steamer Metropolis for
the island OF Hayn. The steamer left the port Of
New York with full but not overloaded cargo. Va
encountered rough weather, but 1t easily dis
cerpibo by all on board, ana expressed that che
was anything but safe sea boat, but not until the
arrival at estimation did know of the compare
tive danger that we had passed The mate a cap.
OF an steamer having kindly feel nss toward
me, advised mo to return her, lie SAID he
would not himself II his wages did depend max
na tns roupa trim He gave as his reasoa Tor so adj
vsng that the ship IN nisopnion Was not seaworthy
that when she hau been !engthened (alicred from
Odd Stars aud Sripcs she had sprung several inches
and that II we mad encountered rough weather wo
would have gone 10 The bottom Her machinery
was also TOO light to drive vessel OF her srzs.
ielt convinced that IN storm such
as tins Ia which she has just been lost she never
could nave made her stccraseway One "Trip 10 tho
seven days. look this steamer ten days, and this
IN comparatively smooth sea ana no nead winds.
In her trip from Bermuda Tho following year she
blown about the until SECURED by SAILING vessel
aud towed into port IL Is IA noticeable feature in
by the day ana not by the trip. Your
article IN yesterday mornings paper rs truthiuiiy
headed "a Crime" ii IS In the fullest sense crime &c
have sent such vessela mere tub--across tins long
aud almost deserted sei loadod 10 the guards win
was not accom- mediation for lity 1t was cheap char.
ter money that her this long trip, and made
the nomos of nearly leo families wretched.
You are right Place the respons bility where Il
belongs and let this sending of such craft TO
make noating conus oil be put q stop to- l.. ID. W.
SEA CAPTAINS DECLARE THAT THE METRoPo-
LIS WAS ovERLADEN-uER MACHINERY UN.
EQUAL TO HER PROPULSION.
From the Philadelphia Press, Feb. 81
A well known retired captain Of somo nifty odd
years. exps the high seas when nicrrcgatcd
by Press reporter yesterday as TO whether the YES
sci overiaden, rephcd:-"r general impression
among prominent nautical mea Is that she was the
heaviest vessel that lott this port In fact
SO heavy that wator could be dipped from tho river
with a bucket without tho assist ance Of rope Al
though hor registered tonnage 500 sho safely
carry 1000 tons dead woignt, but " IS my opinion
that she had more than that amount on board" us
the coast of North Carolina dangerous as II Is
ported DC 2" ''No, sir: do not CONSIDER It any
dangerous than the coast between Cape Nay and
New York Harbor. rno wreck ing OF the Huron and this
hnvo created the idea that the
have sailed many aud many time co3e the
shore that could throw biscuit from my vessel "a
tho strand AS TO The direct cause oil the wreck it
my belief that the engines, which wero Old,
heavy northeast wind which was blowing the
time; consequently. hcr timhers must have been
strained and she sprang leak. Her captain,
knowing that with q dead cargo on board she must
sink and all would be lost II Is very probable headed
her toward tho shore, with tho OF saving many
OF passengers he could Even had she not
sprung leak, II was utterly Impossible, In her heavy
laden condition, Tor nor TO have crossed the Gulf
known seaman, seemed TO be OF the same opin on,
aud remarked: -"Why, whom saw the Metropolis
being towod down the stream and observed tho heavy
burden she was carrying, SAID, That Is tho last OF
experience elected the assertion that 'shs over.
laden.'