Year: 1873




It is q good time, after the first honor
of the disaster to the steamship Atlantic
has passed away, to consider and dis
c1ss, with calmness and candOr, the
question as to the responsibility for that
wholesale sacrifice of the lives of inno-
cent and trustful passengers. Where
was the blame? We are now inclined
to place it at the door of Capt. Williams
chart-room. 1t is no more than just to
believe that he did the best he knew
how to do. His own safety was involved
with that of his passengers, and his
action after the wreck showed that he
considered his own life worth saving as
we'll as that of his passengers. Was he
considerably caution under the circum-
stances in which he found himself
Probably notl Did he prove himself to
be a good navigator We think not.
Would the ship have been lost in the
hands of man who understood the
| dangers of the coast, and thoroughly
| felt the tremendous responsibilities of
his office? Possibly net-probably not.
But who placed Capt Williams in com
mand of the ship? Who but thes anne
company that sent him out of port with
shamefully small supply of coal, and
| thus forced him into the circumstances
which he proved himself to be incompe-
| tent and master?


If Capt. Williams was an incompetent
/ navigator, the fact must have been
known to the company as well before as
after the disaster. His life has not been
hid under a bushel. He has command
ed steamers sailing between New York
and Liverpool for years. If there was
anything in his character, habits or
nautical education, which made him
anything less than the best man possible
/ for his place, the company knew 1t, or,
if they did not know it, ought to have
known it. Primarily, then, the COM
| panv Is responsible for every mistake
that Capt Williams made, and for
everything culpable-if there was any
thing culpable-in his mismanagement.
That he made great and awfully fatal
mistakes, is evident enough, but we 60
no further than this IN awarding blame
to him. We are willing TO believe that
! he did the best he knew; but the ques-
/ ton is Was the best he knew the best
that was known? If not-and we be
lieve that the general conviction Is that
it was not-then we must hold the COM
pany responsible for placing him in
position of such tremendous respOnsi-
bility. They are responsible for their
commander; they are responsible for
sending him to sea unprepared for the
exigencies of the voyage; they are re-
sponsible for all the death and woe that
have resulted from their course. IF
Capt Williams was not the man for his
place, he ought not to have been init.


It is time that the American people,
who furnish three-quarters of the fares
of the finest lines, should know some
thing Of the dangers to which they are
subject by the foreign owners and com
uanders of the vessels which furnish the
only means of transport to European
shores. Tens of thousands Of our best
people are going back and forth every
year on these lines. The world daes
not possess another line Of ocean travel
50 freighted withlife and treasure as this
4 orone which demands, from the interests
involved, such faultless vessels and sneh
thorough seamanship and high character
on the part Of those engaged in its man
agement We trust 10 these command
ers our own lives. and the lives of oar
childreusaud friends,