Daily Alta California, January 9, 1853
We readily give the following communication from Capt. Hutchings, and
Mr. Ford, Pilot, place in our columns and as readily admit the possibility
of Mr. Martin, our reporter, having made a hasty statement, though we
think it bears no evidence of having been written by an "enraged man."
His excitement, moreover, was quite natural under the circumstances. The
testimony of Messrs. Flint & Peabody, appended to the statement made
by Capt. Hutchings, is sufficient to screen the general character of that
officer from reproach.
Disgraceful and Inhuman Conduct
The undersigned having known Captain J.B. Hutchings for several years, in the employ of the owners of the Ork, have ever regarded him as a humane and considerate man, and believe him utterly incapable of seeing a fellow-being in distress without rendering aid, if possible. It is known that in the month of January, 1851, while on his way from Boston to Oregon in the Ork, during a severe gale of wind, he fell in with the wreck of the British brig Emblem, of Halifax, and saved her crew of six men, at the risk of his own life and that of his crew, with the loss of both of his boats.San Francisco, January 8, 1853
EDITORS ALTA--Gentlemen:--The article in your paper of today headed "Disgraceful and Inhuman Conduct," places us in a most unenviable position before the public, solely on the representation of an enraged and hasty man. You are aware that there are always two sides to a case; we will therefore state the circumstances attending the capsizing of the news boat, and the reason why aid was not rendered.
At the moment the boat came alongside, a squall struck the barque, parting the fore and main topgallant staysail and jib halyards, and of course the crew were all busily engaged in taking in sail, to save the masts of the vessel.I, B.F. Ford, the Pilot, threw a line to the boat, but in coming alongside, she capsized, and, as stated by Mr. Martin, himself and another man reached the barque, and we saw the third get upon the boat.
Mr. Martin at once demanded that a heavy yawl boat (by him called a small boat lashed on the house for the voyage, should be put over to rescue the lad. It was actually impossible to launch such a boat under the circumstances, and he must have seen it with us, if he had not been so nearly made, for on finding it impossible to do anything, he threatened to shoot us, and swore to have our lives if the boy was lost.
After the vessel was under safe canvas, we hove our foretopsail to the mast, and waited for a Whitehall boat to come alongside for Mr. Martin. We regret that the excitement he was under should prevent him from seeing that in the condition of the barque at that time it was impossible to render the assistance required.
J.B. Hutchings, Master of barque Ork,
B.F. Ford, Pilot
(Since the above was handed in, the following message from Mr. Martin has been received, from which it appears that Mr. Ford, Pilot, who subscribes to the above, has concluded to carry his resentment against newspapers and the public in general so far as to deny reporters the usual privileges accorded the representatives of the public press in collecting intelligence. Inquiry will be made into this matter.)
MESSRS. EDITORS--I went alongside the Globe last evening after dark, between Fort Point and the Heads, when the Pilot, Mr. Ford, refused to give me a line, or allow me to come alongside. On inquiry, I found he was the same who was Pilot of the Ork, when my boat capsized. He told me to publish him again, and also informed me that I should never board another vessel that he was on board of. In consequence of his not giving me a line, or allowing me to come on board, the public are without the usual information.R.S. Martin