Diary in America, Series Two. Фредерик Марриет

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СКАЧАТЬ 365 Asp 112 Gorgon 1111 Prospero 244 Avon 361 Hecate 815 Redwing 139 Beaver 128 Hecla 815 Radamanthus 813 Blazer 527 Hermes 716 Salamander 818 Boxer 159 Hydra 818 Shearwater 343 Carron 294 Jasper 230 Spitfire 553 Charon 125 Kite 300 Sprightly 234 Columbia 360 Lightning 296 Strombolo 966 Comet 238 Lucifer 387 Swallow 133 Confiance 295 Medea 835 Tartarus 523 Cuckoo 234 Medusa 889 Urgent 583 Cyclops 1190 Megaera 717 Vesuvius 966 Dasher 260 Merlin 889 Volcano 720 Dee 704 Messenger 733 Widgeon 164 Doterel 723 Meteor 296 Wildfire 186 Echo 298 Monkey 211 Zephyr 237

      Government Steam Vessels Building.

Alecto	799	Lizard	282	Polyphemus	799
Ardent	799	Locust	282	Prometheus	799
Dover	Iron	Medina	889

      I trust that the above statement will satisfy the Americans that we are ahead of them in steam navigation. In consequence of their isolation, and having no means of comparison with other countries, the Americans see only their own progress, and seem to have forgotten that other nations advance as well as themselves. They appear to imagine that while they are going ahead all others are standing still: forgetting that England with her immense resources is much more likely to surpass them than to be left behind.

      We must now examine the question of the proportionate security in steam boat travelling in the two countries. The following table, extracted from the Report of the Commissioners on Steam boat Accidents, will show the casualties which have occurred in this country in ten years.

      Abstract of ninety-two Accidents. Table not included.

      The principal portion of this loss of life has been occasioned by vessels having been built for sale, and not sea-worthy; an occurrence too common, I am afraid, in both countries.

      The author of “A Voice from America” states the list of steamboat disasters, on the waters of the United States, for twelve months out of the years 1837–38, by bursting of boilers, burning, wrecks, etcetera, besides numerous others of less consequence, comprehends the total loss of eight vessels and one thousand and eighty lives.

      So that we have in England, loss in ten years, 634; one year, 63.

      In America, loss in one year, 1,080.

      The report of Mr. Woodbury to Congress is imperfect, which is not to be wondered at, as it is almost impossible to arrive at the truth; there is, however, much to be gleaned from it. He states that, since the employment of steam vessels in the United States, 1,300 have been built, and of them two hundred and sixty have been lost by accidents.

      The greatest loss of life by collision and sinking, was in the Monmouth, (Indians transporting to the West), in 1837, by which three hundred lives were lost; Oronoka, by explosion, by which one hundred and thirty or more lives were lost and Moselle, at Cincinnati, by which from one hundred to one hundred and twenty lives were lost.

      The greatest loss by shipwreck was in the case of the Home, on the coast of South Carolina, when one hundred lives were lost; the greatest by fire, the Ben Sherrod, in 1837, by which one hundred and thirty perished.

      The three great casualties which occurred during my stay in America, were those of the Ben Sherrod, by fire; the Home, by wreck; and the Moselle, by explosion: and as I have authentic details of them, by Americans who were on board, or eye-witnesses, I shall lay them before my readers. The reader will observe that there is a great difference in the loss of life mentioned in Mr. Woodbury’s report and in the statements of those who were present. СКАЧАТЬ