The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-11
From The National Gazette
STEAMBOAT ACCIDENTS-No.3

Explosions Of boilers, it is well known, are not
confined TO steamboats, nor the accidents Of steam
boats 10 explosions OF their boilers. The frame and
whole construction OF the vessel may be defective in
material, or too imperfect in model to endure the
violent actions to which it is subjected 1t may con-
sequenly al an earlier later period be wrecked or
destroyed before its age would warrant us in anci-
paiing such a result. The Home was probably
case in point In the list of Western boats already
referred TO- we find that the average duration Of
those boats which are marked worn OUT is about
fire years. This average is formed from compa-
rison of about eighty boats, Of which the commence
ment Of running and the abandonment from decay
are both stated, in MIR. Halls work.
We think the sea-going merchant vessel, or the
public armed vessel which should last but FIVE years
in fair service. would be deservedly regarded ms q
frail structure, unfit for sea from the beginning
Besides insufficient, in strength endure the general
action OF the machinery and the burden OF It's freight
the steamboat is liable TO condagration far beyond
the chances which affect sea- going vessels The in
tense heat of furnaces and iues, and the inceSsant
scattering OF The sparks, together with the almost to-
tai absence, in many boats OF every proper defence
against fire, and every adequate means for its extnc
tion render the accidents from this cause scarcely
less numerous than those from the explosions Of
boilers OF the boats on the Western rivers which
were lost or destroyed previously 1885, not less
than thriyfour were burnt, and these accidents have
within the last two or three years rather increased
than diminished both in frequency and destructive
ness.
In its demands upon the care and caution of steam
boat propneors, the public should, IL seems 10 u.s.
make security against confagration one of The most
imperative. Sheets of zinc, on many parts of the
wood work exposed 10 the immediate effects of
radiation, would prove sufficient defence. Yet
how seldom Is this or any similar precauiion OBJ
served The adoption OF tler rods Of iron is an
other Improvement worthy OF the highes, recomme!-
daton. The provision of boats and life preservers
should be ample, and the necessity for all expedents
of this kind is obviously increased, the number
and variety Of accidents TO which the vessel is ex-
posed are augmented. II is therefore much greater
in steamboats, than in sailing vessels.
Il is doubtless true, that in certain situations other
causes of injury to steamboats,, as frequently prove
rninous as any We have enumerated Fearful col
lisions have often resulted from the inexperiehce
negligence wanton malice of pilots; or from the
omission to carry good and sufficient lights at night,
or TO adopt other cxpedents to warn vessels of their
proximity. The collisions few years ago, Of two
large steamboats, on Long Island Sound by which
one OF them was totally lost, must be fresh in the
minds Of our readers.
On certain rivers, the accidents from floating or
half sunken logs, formerly proved mere destructive
10 steamboats, than any other cause. Whatever pre-
cautions right have been adopted 10 prevent explo
sions whatever strength to resist ordinary accidents
and to sustain the necessary action of machinery any
boat might have possessed, and whatever 6efences
against confagration she might have been provided
with, all would have been inadequate TO prolong
sentially the average duration Of boats on the Mis-
sissppi and its tributaries long as the channel of
the stream was obstructed in the manner above al
luded 10.
The government very properly provided means
for clearing the channels and to the skill and perse
verance Of Capt Shreve are mainly indebted for
devising and executing the plan which has almost
entirely removed that source of danger. But the
idea that no "snogs" were any longer in their way
has probably contributed its share In lulling steam
navigaors at the west into false security with re-
gard to all the other dangers which beset them.
Our Legislators have down 10 the recent session of
Congress done little or nothing towards rendering
steam navigation secure. Committees have occa-
sionally been apponted inquiries by executive off,
have been authorized and certain parts Of the
subject great amount of facts has been accumu-
lated, sufficient one would suppose to become the
basis Of enlightened Legislation. There can indeed
be no excuse for crude enactments on this subject,
since, in addition 10 the information elected by the
inquiries instituted by the British House of Com
mons and by the government of France, we have a
series OF philosophical Investigations and Of ord-
nances founded upon Them all designed to secure
the lives and property of those who may entrust
either on board Of steam vessels. We have also
probably had in our own country, more direct re-
search applied 10 this subject than 10 any other part
Of the world. lfany thing yet remains TO be accom-
plished in the way of apparatus to indicate or to OBJ
viate dangers from PHYSICAL causes we havethe full
est confidence that the ingenuity OF our countrymen
will ere long supply II. Our subsequent remarks
may indicate what has been and what remains to be
ACCOMPLISHED