The native American., 1840-01-25

AZ might have | ech saked Her life boat, u =
COED one would have sustained fifty persons
with ease, and all her boats would nave carried
Il tie whole company at once. And this firmness
4 decision Of the captain, might have turned
ue crowd back to look the danger in the face,
it, throwing over the cotton, and 10 worl. with
the buckets. But il would be highly improper
in the absence Of all evidence, to charge the
captain with want of courage, or presence Of
mind. Perhaps bis crew became wholly nsubor-
dinate, and the chief actors in lowering the boats
Still there must have been half dozen men,
who could stand firm and collected amid the
fearful scene, end hose united energies il right
" directed, might have diminished the loss. We
can only repeat the reflection that an inscrutable
Providence destined the event, and can only
urge upon the living the unspeakable importance
of being calm and colectedin moment Of peril
.alpays stop and think before you act. As in
this case, acts proceeding from a momenlary
impulse Of tear, are more likely to result in des.
rucion than safety.
Legislation may diminish, but it cannot pre-
vent these direlul caIamities. Steam boats will
continue to burn and explode, and steam cars
will run eff the track Nor do we join in the
noisy aud wholesale denunciation OF owners,
gents and officers Of boats. No doubt they are
often culrable, but the chief cause of these ap-
paIling scenes lies in the public mind. We must
remove the cause, before we can change the Ell
feet. We would suggest in addition to the pre-
sent laws that every steam boat should have
fire engine and hose attached to her machinery,
and that it should be worked erery dag Ito keep
it in order for use in case Of emergency under
a heavy penalty and that every boat should
carry life boats and life preservers enough for
the average number of her passengers and crew.
| Bey ond this men must be left to their own re-
sources. But after all the safeguards which
law and public opinion can throw around the
traveller his only surety is in being always
prepared for the worst, and in the moment OF
trial to preserve his reason, and act for the best.
We have no inclination to increase the public
indignation against the captain Of the 'slooP
Improvement" who was near enough 10 rescue
the sufferers, and still kept on his course. We
think if he has any of the attributes of humanity
left, his cup will be full enough for the rest Of
this life; but we cannot resist the belief, that
had we been either among his passengers OF
crew, we should have tried the strength of our
lungs aud our arms, even to have raised mutt
ny (if necessary to take his command from him
to 90 to the rescue. Our own consciousness Q
having done an act Of humanity, would foreve
sustain US for such deed against all the trials O.
punishments of law.
We hope, in conclusion that the survivors
Capt. Hilliard and Capt. Manchester, the pilot
will give the public detailed statements of the
whole catastrophe, SO far as they wit messed it
The effect may be salutary in preventing future
travellers, in moments OF peril, from adoptinl
measures, and pursuing course, which leads t.
fatal results.