National Republican (Washington City

The Seventh-Street Calamity.
To the Editor of The National Republican:
Sir: The lamentable accident which occurred at the Seventh-street wharf on Monday night might and could have been prevented—but how? To have a wharf properly lighted where any passengers are to arrive and depart from is very well, and the owners should be compelled to attend to this all-important matter. But how are we going to make people have common sense who have not got any is something else. The steamer Corcoran on the night of the accident did not run into her slip, in consequence of their making some repairs, but hauled alongside of the outer end of the same wharf. The steamboat men get out three hand lights, two of which were held on board the boat at the gangway and the other upon the wharf. This man Hoeflinger, having Mrs. Rollins in charge, passed off with the crowd, and when having passed the man with the light on the dock, left the crowd, which was pursuing the safe road, and turning short to the right deliberately walked off the dock. It appears they were not missed, and this perhaps is not so strange, but that there was no alarm given by the unfortunates in the water is strange, and stranger still that the man when rescued said nothing about his companion, whom it should have been his first duty to protect. If Mr. Hoeflinger had shown the least prudence the accident would not have occurred, or, if occurring, it would have required but little sagacity and pluck to have had both himself and Mrs. Rollins saved.
S.