Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-05-02
VINO Is to Blame .

1t is seldom that any great shipwreck
or railroad disaster occurs at the pres
ent day where blame will attach to no
one. Steamships are 80 constructed,
and 50 well provided with guards. a
gaipst danger. that in skilIful, judicious
and sober hands the largest Of them are
readily controlled and guided at the will
of the master. The loss Of the Great
Republic Ia calm weather aud where
seemingly there could have been no
danger, excites wonder everywhere, aud
IL II no Wonder that 80 many specuIa.
tions ars rife eoncsruingthe cause. Sew
eral Of the papers are bald to assert
that both stupidity and recklessness are
apparent in the case, end some charge
the fault directly to the pilot; aud
be tells his own story and admits that
be wass mistaken 10 tho force Of tho ebb
tide, which had driited the vessel faster
than his reckoniog. The captain claims
to have warned the pilot ofthe too near
approach to the fatal sand spit. This
certainly ought 10 have induced the
pilot to Immediately change the course
Of the vessel. But the pilot was the
commands aud ii he really understood
bis business, he was in no need of eau.
tion by the captain, and doubtless he SO
considered his position. We notice
that one or two journals 90 30 far as to
imputa criminal intent to lose this
vessel \. the WY place where she was
lost, sss Aefs mighskbe full
hope Of saving the yes Of all % board
Such suspicion is not pleasant to en-
terrain, and yet greater crimes have
boon atsem pied with seagoing vsssals.
TAssmotisesw which World impal. d such
q crime. are seldom made manifest. II
We knew that all the officers OF said
steamship were duly sober we should be
inclined to attribute the calamity more
to error Of judgement than to any Grim
inal intent. In the 6rst place it was
error TO make tho attempt to cross the
Columbia river bar and follow the mar.
rewswindings Of Aho 9ha1bd 20 Astoril
With Cd largeIa ship vi.hso many iivel
on board, and 50 fr.ignted, 10 the nigh
time. Neither captain nes pilot Should
have ventured night entrance ovel
the bar. Again when the vessel strucl
and ~ sbb tide. instead of waiting fol
several hours ior the lids, tps turn ane
foat her OF the sands, it would hav,
been far better the mark 81 good anc
skiluul commander, 70 have light net
q quick as possible, that sllc might ia,
mediately Goat and regain the channel
II had been done BY relieving tn,
ship Of ! portion of her cargo, tn
chances are that 10 four hours time sh
would have hosted into the channe
and tho ship would have been safe an,
all on board, and what cargo wa
thrown overheard would have been
ANAL loss compared with what has bee,
suffered. There is no spot between ID
outer bar 1t Astoria 10 the caanne
where il is safe for large ship to wal
long for ! food tide, Winds 40,
storms and dangerous seas are liable /,
suddenly make their appearance an
tho large ship that stops BY the way i
that chaDnsl and more especially Q
some shoalnear the ehanncl, is In imm
nent danger Of becoming q, total wreck
We notice that already the press is a,
tive in sounding the dangers Of til
Columbia river bar, and although wit
proper judgement. and skill employed
We do not understand why the eutranc
At tire mouth Of tho Columbia riv.
cannot = safely be made as can the 81
trance ofNew York harbor. II certair
y Is Of great Importance to the con
merce Of Oregon that the real cause
Of the loss Of the Republic should
fully ferie',el out and We shalt expe.
that the most thoroush and careful il
vestigation Of all the facts viii tai
place.
NEw MAp.--We have received h
second conv of Eastwick 4 Norr;s, M,