Early Steamboating On The Hudson

The Albany Argus bas an article ou Hudson river boatiog of early days. It say8 " Opposition" in the early days mcant a great deal more tlian at present. The captains and pilots of the different line ol boats made it a poiüt of duty to interfiere with the business of' their opponents in every possible uianner, and the feelings ol passenger were oftetrenlisted in behalf ol the vessel they chanced to be on. Many atónos are told of boats running into each othor, of pilots exchanging v'o"' , -a .r„i.„. uu ¦¦luuutiim mi the rivrr between opposition boats and their crewu. Oneof these, occurring in September,18;i5, is rolated in the Argus of the 2l2d of that month. While the North America was preparing to land its passengers at Coxsackie, the Eiuerald caiue along and collidcd with her, but so slightly as to do lit tle damage. After the boata had left Cox sackie, however, and while, as the officers of the North America asserted, she was pursuing her course quietly, the Euierald starled directly across the river toward her. She struck the Xorth Amorica's wheelhouse with her larboard bow, carrying away side-house, railing, bow crank, etc. The Eruerald's whetl passed over Nonh Atuerica'8 small boat, which was lowered down, and stove it to atoms. As the North America slowly cleared trom the Emerald, the Emerald raked her wkole tide lnnu wheel-house aft. lmmediatoly after she cleared a cheer was started at the wheelhouse of the Emerald and responded to by her passengers. The direotor of the North America steatuboat company assert that they had in their possession a certifícate of a person on board the Etnerald, who heard the captain and pilot agreo to run into the North America and do her all the injury they could, and that in f ullfilliuent of fchis agreement the boat was steered directly aoross the river so aa to strike the North America, and the passeugers were requested to go to the starboard side so as to put the Emerald in a position to do as great injury as possible.