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MARINE LAW. COLLISIONS—FORCE OF THE TIDE AND OF RUNNING ICE, Southern Dist. of New York, Sept. 26, 1859. This was a libel in rem, filed in the District Court, by the owners of the schooner Sarah E. Packer, against the steam ferryboat Brooklyn, to recover damages for a collision which occurred between the two vessels on the evening of the 10 of January, 1856, in the East river, ‘The schooner was lying in a slip at the south side of the dock, just above the Fulton ferry slip or dock, on the Brook- lyn side of the river. ‘The ferryboat left her berth at Whitehall, between five and six o'clock in the evening, fora trip on the South Ferry to Atlantic street, in Brooklyn. The usual trip in occupied some seven or eight minutes. ‘The East river, at this time, was full of broken and running ice. It was flood tide, which set the ice over against the Brooklyn shore. After the ferryboat had passed across about two-thirds of the way, she found the ice so compact and solid, that she was obliged to desist from her efforts to enter the Atlantic street dock. She ‘then drifted, with the tide, up the river, and at- tempted to enter the Montague street dock, but failed. She then passed turther on, with the view of entering the Fulton street dock, but, on reaching it, and being about to enter it, she encountered a large block of ice, which checked her progress, aud while she was thus obstructed, the tide and the ice outside swung her stern up the river, and brought it against the bow of the schooner, whieh lay next the river, breaking, her jib- boom and bowsprit, besides doing some other damage, by forcing her against a brig that was stationed in’ the slip between her and the dock, ‘The ferryboat had on board from 500 to 600 passengers, besides as many teams as could be taken on that trip. The night was excessively cold, and some two or three hours wére consumed in the efforts to cross the riverand land the passengers and teams. ‘he Court below dismissed the libel, and the libellants appealed. to’ this Court. . Nelson, J.—I have looked attentively into the proofs in this case, and all the facts and _ circumstances attending the trip of the ferry boat and, after the fullest consideration, cannot see that any fault was committed in-her navigation. Every effort seems to have been made, by the hands on board of her which skill and attention could suggest, to gain the dock at Atlantic street, and failing in this, to enter the nearest dock practicable on the Brooklyn side. The Ful- ton street dock, in the attempt to enter. which the accident occurred, belonged to the proprietors’ of the boat. Besides, therefore, the force of the tide and ice which carried her there, it was a place where she had a right to enter and land ker passengers ; and it seems to me that, having reached this point, the accident was the result of circum- stances entirely beyond the control of the hands on the boat. It has been argued, that the boat should ‘ not have left her berth at Whitehall, taking into consideration the night and the . con- dition of the river. But she had been running her trips regularly through the day, and. the last trip was made just before five o’clock. The ice had been running in the river some weeks, and great difficulties were encounter- ed in crossing, yet no one thought of closing the ferries between the two great cities on account of the obstructions. . It has also been argued, that the ferryboat, after having failed to enter her dock at Atlantic street, should have returned to her berth at Whitehall. But the master and hands owed aduty to the passengers on board, which they wonld have greatly tailed to fulfil if further efforts had not been made to enable them to reach their homes. * These eftorts, in my judgment, are entitled to commendation rather than censure, and manifest a spirit and energy corresponding to the dangers and difficulties of the occasion, and to the responsibilities arising out of it. The locality of the schooner, as unskilfal and improper, has been relied on on the part of the claimants, and the, circumstance that it was the purpose of the pilot of the ferryboat to enter the slip ahead of the schooner. But these points are in con- troversy upon the evidence. I have pre- ferred to place my opinion upon the undis- —_ FO iwtste rrr OO OOoOoOoOrmp,—,C1717°' [7KW0—0 CORRESPONDENCE. THE EDITORS TRIP, New York April 16 83, Readers of the Recorp: We believe our last letter was from New York in which we told you something re- garding the opinions ot the leading shippers of uhat city. On Thursday evening at five o’clock we took passage on the fine steamer Bristol of Old Colony Line. If you have never taken a trip on the Sonnd on one of these floating Palaces you can scarcely form an opinion of them by any description we can give. We will try however and do the best we can by The engine is of the vertical beam type with one 110 inch cylinder and 12 feet stroke of piston, developing & power equal to 2,800 horses. Steam is furnished to this giant engine by three low-pressure boilers, each of which is 35 feet long, and 149 inches diameter of shell. They are made by: the very best boiler-plate iron, 3g inches thick; each has 10 main flues, and 136 return flues Sinches in diameter; each one tested to allow the boat to carry 34 pounds steam, the usual working pressure being 24 pounds to the squareinch. She has two feed-pumps 81g inches in diameter and 60 inch stroke. Scattered through the saloons, are fire-ex- tinguishers ; three large fire-pumps are ready giving you engravings of the steamers. You will find a large illustration on the front page of this week’s “REcorD” which will give you a better idea than the accompaning engravings. ee : Within the last few years, great improve- ments have been made in the construction of steamboats adding largely to the comfort and convenience of travel. In the first rank of these improvements stands the Fall River Line, whose magnificent palace steamships “Bristol” and “Providence,” ply ing between New York and Boston, via Newport and’ Fall River, have no superiors in the world. These superb steamers cost a million and aquarter each. The staterooms are large SIDE WHEEL STEAMER BRISTOL. at all times, with hose attached, and having 15 connections; large water-tanks are always filled and ready for use; and axes are in their proper places. The “Bristol”? has 13 life-boats, all of metal, two large life-rafts, and cork mattresses; 700 cork life-belts are on board, and one is placed in each berth. To man_ these floating palaces requires one hundred and thirty persons, divided as follows; captain, officers, and crew, 40; engineers’ departments, 24; .steward’s de- partment, 61; watchmen and lookouts, 5. The entire boat is lighted by gas which blazes from hundreds of jets in the massive chandaliers. It.is elegantly carpeted with velvet brussels atid furnished with pluceh INTERIOR VIEW OF and sumptuous; the grand saloons are unsurpassed. “The furniture and _fitting-up are not excelied by any hotel in the land. Order, system, and the most elegant ac- commodations greet the traveler. The ample tables, spread in European style, enable travelers to consult their comfort when they dine. All the luxuries of the season are secured. Bands of music add to the ex- hilarations and attractions of the passage. The officers selected are among the ablest that navigate the Sound. The Bristol was built by W. H. Webb of New York and is 373 feet in length 83 feet beam and 16 feet depth of hold and has a measurment of 3,000 tons. GRAND SALOON upholstry. It contains 240 staterooms any one of which will compare favorably with the chambers of any of our most elegant houses on shore. You will see by one of the small illustrations that there isa gallery around the grand saloon, This is some what dif- ferent from our lake crafts and may appear strange to those who have not rode on ocean steamers, The same grandure of proportions as marks the sister boat are to be found on the “Providence”? and there are many who travel on this line who scarce can tell one from the other; yet there isa perceptible difference when you come to examine closely VIEW OF NEWPORY. The massive machinery was designed by| the interior decorations. In upholstering, puted facts in the case. The decree of the Erastus W. Smith, consulting engineer, and | different colors have been introduced and built by John Roach & Son of this city,| blended with a richness of effect not to be Court is affirmed. found on any class of vessels in the world Amid all this luxuriousness of outfit, cleanli- ness and order prevail everywhere, The massive machinery shows not a dot of rust; the more elaborated parts of the engine shine Ike a new silver dollar; while as muck care, if,not more, is bestowed upon the efficiency of this large and powerful triumph of the engineer’s skill. As in seasons past, celebrated brass, - reed and string bands will add their attractions to the pleasures and enjoyements of the trip on the steamers of this popular line, by their promenade concerts. It is ‘needless to ex- patiate on the merits of the celebrated bands. ‘The boats leave New York, from Pier 28, North River, From Boston the connection is made by trains leaving the Old Colony Railroad depot, South and Kneeland streets. In the morning we awoke to find ourselves in Fall River. , Leaving Fall River by the early train we were soon in Providence where we called the American Ship Windlass Company who have theirfactory here. We were there about ayear ago and were surprised to see how their works have grown, From a very small shop it has been added too until it now occupies two very large buildings, which are fitted up with every kind of machinery for turning out first class work. A large supply of capstangs are kept constantly on hand so that orders are filled promptly and with dispatch. ‘They are now constructing one of thelr new style windlasses which is built entirsly on one bed plate, for the large steamer building by James Davidson of Bay City. They have a large number of orders for windlasses on hand which they are turning out‘as fast a possible. From this place we went to Boston where we called on the well known firm of Bagnall & Loud. What we saw at these large work will occupy an article by itself which w will give next week. They are’ however crowded with orders and are manufacturing a first class block. They manufacture the sleeve roller bushing, and blocks with these bushings are superiorto any other’ kind. The large ship Onoko has an entire fitout of these blocks and they give the utmost satis- faction. Our vessel owners on the lakes are very far behind those on the seaboard in fitting out their vessels with improved con- trivences of this kind and we think they miss what they. are aiming at, which is generally to buy that which is the cheapest. But we have already made this letter too long and there is very little more to say as we leave for home on the next train. INSPECTION OF FOREIGN VESSELS. A Wasbington Dispatch. says: Secretary Folger has issued a circular promulgating rules governing the inspection of foreign passenger steam vessels. Collectors are re- quired to furnish every such steamer with two copies of the Inspection act with the rules. Inspectors will require steam vessels to be placed in dock so that every part of the hull may be examined, except, in cases where vessels may have been docked within the previous year under the direction of for- eign officials. Apparatus for extinguishing fire must be thoroughly tested by the in- |spectors. There must be a cork life-pre- server for every person on the steamer. ‘The rule as to the number and capacity of the boats to be carried is the same as the British . Board of Trade rule for vessels of 1,000 tons register and upwards. Life ratts are to be substituted for one-quarter of the aggregate capacity of the buats whenever new boat out- fits are needed. ‘The rules provide for a de- tailed annual inspection of the steam boilers. Every steamer is required to carry steam- pipes with branches leading to each sepa- rate hold and compartment for extinguish- ing fires. The carriage of petroleum and gunpowder is regulated with a view to se cure safety from explosions and fires, The collector is authorized to make clearances from vessels until deficiencies to equipment reported by the inspectors are supplied. The rules enjoin upon the inspecters the neces- sity of carrying out the laws in such a man- ner as not to be needlessly objectionable, <a A Minnesota paper says that the ice on the lakes and rivers from Minneapolis northward remains as solid as_ in January while the snow has nearly disappeared, There are 7,000 men at work on De. Lesseps’ Panama Canal.