The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-21
A QuarlerIy eturn.

! The papers have teemed for weeks with repeated
accounts of disasters by field and food. The fire.
quency OF these called accidents has diverted
| attention from the causes which induced the ca
tastrophes. but the interest centreinR in one event
has hardly arrived a its climax before the occur
renee OF something else, even terrible in it's
nature, brings up new subject for painful medi.
tauon. The results of the numerous collisions
burnngs, and explosions which have taken place
during the quarter are frightful The causes of
the Disaster, doubtless mainly attributable to
careessness In the cases o. the Independene. the
Jenny Lind, the Wiliiam and Mary, and the Ten
rsssse, on the water; nd in those of the New
Haven, Erie, and Michigan railroads, the negli
gence of captains, ngineers, and agents was very
clearly indicated. In or two of these instances
an attempt has been made to hold the parties re.
sponsible, and this is particularly the case with
the railroads IN Michigan. In far too many of
them, however, the blame has been sffi xed to no
particular individua; the officers re still retained
IN their positions in the service of the companies
and are again at liberty to put in peril the lives of
passengers who may hereafter be entrusted to
their care.
In order that the real extent of these calami,ies
may be fairly presented for consideration we have
prepared a summary statement of the disasters To
vessels, and on the railroads of the Union OF which
ndings were received here between the datea of
April and May Is. The exhibit ia painfully in
teresting:
Steamer independence Wrecked and burnt. Feb
ruary 10, near Margarita Island in the Pacific I67
miles north of Cape ST. Lucas; 1879 lives lost
Steamer Tennsssse Went ashore, March is. near
San Miguel on he Pacific. Six hundred passen-
gers on boar d; all rescued.
Steamer Jenny ind-Exploded, April 9, while
on the way from San Francisco to San JOSE: 81
lives lost, 10 persons injured.
s gunner s. s. Le,cis.-Went ashore in the Pa
cihc, near Boinas Bay, April 9. Four hundred
and forty passengers on board; all saved
Stsomer Aboross.-Lost in the G uIf. while on
her way from New York TO Vera Cruz April TO-
Steamer Ocean Waue.-Burned on Lake Ontario.
Sat. rdor Ami N. -
and crew 10.
Byq'u W,lliam aud Mary.-Wrecked on rsefs
in Bahama Channel, May 3; ITO lives lost
RAILROADS.
Camden and Amboy Acknowledgement train
from Philadelphia, Saturday, April 23-ran off the
dra w-bridge at Rancocas Creek
Michigan Southern ard Central Railroads Col
sion at the crossing, April %; l6 lives lost, many
persons injured.
Boston and Maine Railroad. One man run over
and killed, April D, at Read ng depot ~. -
Rsadtng Raiiroad.-One man killed near the
Falls of the Schuylkill. May S. lai-IT
New Havsn Railroad Morning express train
from New York, Friday, Nav 6orap OFF drsw
bridge at Norwaik; 40 lives lost
NsU York and Erie Railroad Rnmapo Branch -
Collision on Monday, May 9; 2 lives Lost.
Old Colony Railroad. Freight train thrown off
near North Braintree, Massachusetts. Nav IL
cause, misplaced switch. -
Ialsnton Branch Raiiroad-Trsin thrown off
Saturday, May Z; Is persons injured-cause. a
NeD York Central RGilroad Collision near
Syracuse, May 3. between passenger and cattle
trains; engineer hurt. .. - 80
Hudsoa Riuer Raiiroad.-Child killed in this citv
Monday. May 8.
Itfoi-Loss of life during three months on sea
and river steamers, s67. On railroads, 66. 40
gregate lose, 4SS.
From this statement it will be seen that upward
Of four Hundred persons have lost their lives during
the transt from place to place various routes
Of travel, in the short space of three months. Re-
side the wrecks OF sea going vessels attended with
loss of life, no less than three first steamsbin.
have foundered; each containing a large number
OF passengers, varying from one hundred and fifty
to six hundred persons each vessel. These were
rescued by strenuous exertions; but under less IA
vorable circumstances, they might have be en- add
ed to the list OF dead. These results indicate
amentable laxty of discipline, a want of energy.
and an absence Of foresight, which demand ~.
most vigorous investigation.-N. Y. Times. 1914.