Year: 1859

SrEAMBo ArGNG ON WHITE RIVER TIE RECENT COLLISION, &c.-We last week mo- ticed the collision between the steamers Re- turn and Evansville, and promised to advert to the subject again. Although we have been traduced and abused by Hugh Nixon, one of the pilots of the Return, for daring to even express an opinon,' as to who was to blame, in the late collision. we shall, nevertheless. without fear or favor," add that he was on watch at the time the boats came together that he was out of the piIot-house, and Henry Moore. an assistant and unlicensed pilot, was at the wheel--that Nixon, by dint of hard climbing, got into the pilot-house over the front portion of it, just in time to have hold of the wheel when the boats came together.

 With but very few exceptions, White river boatmen are careful and attentive class Of men. But the most efficient pilot that can be found is subject to err, unless he adheres closely to the < Rules and Regulations" The navigation of White river is rendered preca- rious in boats meeting, on account ot the many sholt-pontS that exist throughout its entire length. We take the liberty of suggesting to pilots that the law will not justify them in rurning the too frequent risks Of not "sound- ing their steam whistles" when they approach short points. Below we publish the Second and Sixth Rules '' for the government of pilots of steamers navigating rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico and it's tributaries" and leave an intelligent and discerning public to judge whether pilot who failed to do his duty should be justified in insulting and traducing us for daring to "speak the truth" Tn refer ence to a matter in which the lives ot men, women and children were at stake. We have no apologies to make, or regrets to disturb our mind in reference to this matter. We ask a careful perusal of the following Rules, and shall always take the privilege of advertlnS to those who violate them on White river

 RULE SECOND. When two steamers are about to meet each other. it shall be the duty of the pilot of the ascending boat to sound ms steam whistle once, if he shall wish to keeF his boat to the right; and it shall be the duty of the pilot of the descending boat to answer the same promptly by one sound of his steam whistle, and both boats shall be steered accord ing to such sgnal or if the pilot of the as cendiug boat shall wish to keep his boat to tho left. he shall sound his steam-whistle twice and it shall be the duty of the pilot of the de scenGirg boat to answer promptly by, two ] sounds of his steam-whistle, and both boat' shall be steered according to such signal Should the boats in meeting be likely to pass near each other, and the signals should not DC made and answered by the time they shail nave arrived at the distance of eight hundred yards from each other, the engines of both boat' shall be stopped; or should the signal be gIVer and not properly understood, from any cause whatever, both boats shall be backed until their headway shall be checked, and the en' zines shall not be again started ahead until the proper signals are made, answered, and under stood.

 

 RULE SIXTH. When any steamer, ascending or descending, is nearing short bend or poin in the river, where, from any cause, a steamer approaching in all opposite direction canno ss,s.- h.4r raAr ~..stu f fas