Star.
London, England, 1825-10-29 00:00:00

STEAM BOATS.

The loss of the Comet naturally calls public attention
to the safety, or rather dangers of steam-boats, and
had a calamity like ibis occurred in the first year after
they were hint:dined, it would have excited a very
strung prejudice against steam navigation, theugh of
its value there can be no doubt. We have already no-
ticed the opinion of a skilful engineer, that Inspectors
should be appointed to examine the steam-boats at all
the porn ; a correspondent in a Morning Paper suggests,
that they should only be employed to tow other vessels,
and should not carry the passengers.. Had the Comet,
he says, been a sailing, anti not a steam boat, she
might have been saved, as it would stem that the
paddle was first struck; but be that as it may, had the
passengers been on board another vessel astern of her,
this boilable waste of human life certainly would not have
happened. He further adds, that by employing a com-
modious vessel for passengers, instead of a yearn-boat,
many di-comforts would be avoided; such as the smell
of the grease, the chances of fire, boilers burs ing, &c.
This is certainly all very true, but before we abandon
the use oF steam-boats as passage vessels, we ought to
leave no means untried to tender tl.em as safe as pos-
sible, and much in this respect may be done in the
ways we have pointed out. On the mere subject of sea-
manship, which appears to have been sadly neglected
in the recent fatal instance, the Glaspra. Coutier has
the follow.ng sensible observations :
" To guard to the utmost against every danger which may lie in
the way, no master of a steam -vessel ought on any account to leave
the deck, more especially by night, without appointing a trusty
man to look out, and another to be ready in case of any appearance
of danger to stop the engine at a moment's notice, if required.
Where any accident ensued the vessel which had not taken off her
steam, and which had taken the wrong side, ought to pay all
damages. Beery steam-vessel going towards the land, into
any bay, harbour or creek, or up any river, ought to keep to-
wards the forbeard side; and all steam vessels coming from the
land, from any harbour, creek, or bay, or going down any river
to the sea, ought to keep to the starboard—or always to the right
hand, and every vessel coming into port or up any river, should have
lights up—distinguishing and conspicuous, as are used by men of war
for night signals, hung out forwards. By these simple regulations
being enforced and attended to, many lives may be saved and much
damage prevented. Also it would be proper in dark nights and in
narrow channels to ring a bell or blow a horn at near intervals.
While on this subject also, we would suggest, and before any fatal
accident compels us to call public attention to it, that all steam-
boats should have buckets on board, to enable them to extinguish
any Are which may break out, and the machinery may be at, con-
structed, that the engines, in case of necessity, could be made to
pour in water into any part of the vessel which may be on fire.—
Why should any precaution be wanting which could save life, and
add to the security of property r