The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-09-25
accident by the explosion of the dangerous
fluid. PowHATrAN.
For the Literary Echo.

to witness the recklessness of human life
which is so frequently manifested on many
Of our public thoroughfares, and in large
cities. This recklessness manifests itself
not only in that wholesale destruction of
human life which is frequently consum-
mated by the criminal carclessness, or
entire absence of qualifications on the part
of the person or persons having in charge
lives and treasures-by which hundreds of
hearts and frcsides are dcsolated, and a.
cloud of sadness is caused to settle down
on almost every town and hamlet in the
land-it is not only witnessed where the
fear of being " out done in speed" grants
an unlimited license to jeopardize the lives
of hundreds of men, women and children );
but is equally traceablo in the apparent
estimate of human life which is often man
ifested in regard to individuals. Many of
them give the most convincing proof, that
the life of fellow being is by them con-
sidcred about as valuable as the life of an
ordinary pig, or any other domestic animal.
An incident which is an Illustration of this
recklessness of the life of individuals, was
related to us by Doct. r., of New Jersey,
a few days since. We will give it as near
ly as we can recollect.
The DR.. was seated at the window of a
hotelin Albany, it being within few rods
of the dock where one of the night boats
plying between New York and Albany,
makes her landing. AS usual, a cloud Of
hackmen and carmen, were collected, each
anxiously waiting the instant when he
might jump on board, and secure his por-
ton of the business thus afforded In a
few minutes the steamer was within few
feet of the wharf, and the eager group one
after another, in quick succession leaped
upon her deck. But there was one poor
fellow who in his haste to obtain his share,
fell short of the boat and sunk in the
water. A slight sensation was manifested
by one or two of his fellow hackmen, unat-
tended by any decided efforts for his res
cue, and then all applied themselves with
redoubled energy to their wolfsh avoca-
ton. Seeing no farther anxiety manifest
ed on the part of those on the dock, or
any continued efforts to save the drowning
man, our informant concluded that he must
have been mistaken in what he had sup
posed to have been a man falling into the
water. 1t was not long, however, before
he was convinced that his first apprchen-
sions were but too true When the boat
was fairly at the wharf, and the passen-
gers landed, and as many as could be in
duced to "take carriage" were secured
and seated, the boat was deliberately
showed from the wharf, and the body of the
drowned man taken from the water. No
doubt was entertained but that the life OF
the unfortunate man mi ght have been
saved had any efficient timely aid been
offered him. But this was not "thelr
business" A shilling Or two might have
been lost, had they taken time to save a
drowning man! a sacrifice altogether too
great to be sustained at the present time,
by those whose business it is to transport
human souls and bodies.
The incident above narrated IS but a
single instance illustrative Of the lamenta-
bic and apparently growing evil of Which
we have been speaking. Scores OF others
to the same point might be produced
What safety can be felt by the travelling
multitudes, when such criminal reckless
ness of human life is manifested by COM
mon carriers, steamboat masters, and rail-
road conductors n. b. ID.