Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-24
SAFEGUARDS FOR STEAMBOAT USE.

SAFEGUARDS FOR STEAMBOAT Use.
The following Letter, being from gentleman
(whose initials will be recognised by many Of grea.
sagacity, as well as acute observation, is entitled to
more than ordinary consideration:
Messrs GALES & SEATos Having passed over Lake
Erie, from Buffalo Sandusky, with part of my family,
few days before the fearful disaster of the steamer Griffith
have been led consider of Of averng the
fatal of such accidents the destruction of
man life. It is well known that the human body is rather
lighter than its bulk of water Dr. FRAsKLIs said that per-
son in water in an posture, would sink down his
eyes but If the lungs filed with water, by attempting
to breath in it. the body would sink entirely This happens
to most PERSONS who cannot swm upon falling into water
they had presence of mind hold their breath while UNDER they
would rise again but this cannot be bene6cay those
who swim lit is only mentioned to show how small
matter, when properly applied, would support person with
entire safety.
The means proposed provide for each vessel
Der proportoned that of the persons usually boar Of
pieces Of dry pine anng, say six inches square and eight
feet long, having 4nch hole bored through the middle
and carefully stopped each end This piece Of timber will
weigh about oryour pounds and dispace cubic feet
hundred and twentyou pounds Of water making
ference Of eighty pounds which viii be the load required
70 sink it. If we suppose the human head average
pounds this float will support eight adults with their heads
out of For convenience Of holding there should be
small cord fastened the ends along sides Of the float
and riders, where the stream would carry them away
promscuousy thrown overheard several Of them should be
attached by cords, and line to connect with boat
anchor, the steamer twenty Of these floats would 6
but forty cubic feet, and admit Of compact sowage They
might alse be used for seats &C. for the deck passengers
with small improvementof their comfort These might
save each fully loaded, hundred and sixty lives
But making allowances for every thing, twenty floats might
be estimated to hundred persons from drowning
Much Of the fatal misfortune attending the explosion Of
boilers and burning of vessels the lakes and rivers arises
from the want Of any efficient Of relief and of pre-
of mind to make the best of such there are
When provided and the minds Of and
aiazed to hem the appalling terror and conse
quent conusions will be greatly averted If each person
knew that he could in the last extremity, be oated Of
DANGER there would be opportunity and mental energy for
making useful arrangements for safety, while the crews
having their minds still better disciplined for the OCCASION
could be most benefciay employed in distributing the floats
to passengers for the best effect Many other devices for
buoyancy might be employed but those have suggested
be convenient and effective not liable to be out Of
order, and point Of expense wholly unexceponabe Some
provision of this kind besides additional security in the
" uihocCSS iuou0 ~ iSoiaAuB
iron from the surrounding wood, should be made condition
of granting license to steam vessels.
It is singular fact that in country where human life is
valuable than any other and in demand there
should be the least taken Of by the Government We
hear Of daily disasters in and railroad cars scarcely
Of which, if thoroughly and honestly investigated, but
could be traced to immediate remote negligence careless
ness other Encouragement which, evey person employed
had performed his ordinary duty would not have happened
locomotive engineer, with hundred passen-
gers in his train whose duty is constantly be the look
out ahead. at least carefully stage driver is obliged
do negects this duty, and upon obstacle the
rail, COW, upon switch in the wrong position
the train is thrown of the road many passengers killed
wounded, with mutated limbs and mangled bodies, which
ordinary would have aveed. Steam boilers
Poded either by the weakness Of the metal from corroson
the application Of unreasonable heat get ahead Of
petor. Vessels set fire by regular communication
from the heat Of the furnace the combusble wooden frame
work Of the structure, which proper care and skill in the
sructon would have avoided may be confidently said
nine Of ten Of all the socaed accidents that hap
pen, land water, the immediate consequence Of
negligence want Of skill Human life, to
nothing Of property, is thus exposed to the most fearful
catastophes and the only consolation for the sufferer ard
their friends is that cooner jury, when it is thought worth
while to summon one, has found out that nobody was to
blame" ~ 8. D. l.
Curious history Of the trade in Pegged Boots
- M