The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-30
THE Loss or THE sgEAuE4 pRgczss.


prom tho New orisans Commercial Balcsn, March 42
The following report was made yesterday 10 Judge
McCaleb, by the United States district grand jury, In re-
ation TO the late horrible casualty on the Mississippi,
and which they had been charged by the court 10 inquire
into:
To the Hon, Ibeo. fl. Mcoaleb, Judge Of the district
court OF the United States for the eastern district OF
Louisiana
The grand jury of the district court of the United
States in and for the eastern district of Louisiana, respect
fully represent that they have made inquisiiion into the
late lamentable occurrence of the explosion OF tho steam.
boat Princess, and after q careful aud extended examina-
ton OF the circumstances which attended the disaster,
have arrived at the conclusion that no ground exists for
the prosecution OF any person connected with the boat,
with a probability of conviction, under the law governing
the case the secoud engineer and his assistant then
having charge of the machinery, having themselves fall
len victims 10 the explosion, and no living witness
being found who could be supposed to be cognizant OF
any of the Immediately attendant circumstances. The
courts have decided that no person can be held to be
guilty of manslaughter in causing the death of another,
unless he shall have been proved TO be the immediate
cause of the death aud experience has shown that pros
eoutions of this nature, failing OF conviction, are more
productive of harm than benefit. .
1t is a most unusual thing for the boilers OF a steamer
to explode under way, especially going down stream.
All opinions, 30 far AS asccrtained, agree in ascribing the
occurrence to n deficiency of water. as the boilers were of
unusual thickness, and had been tested, by hydrostatic
pressure, up to ITO pounds to the square inch. Assn
ming this TO have been the case, the deceased engineer
was the more Immediately responsible individual but the
jury, from the evidence before them, feel bound TO ex-
press their deliberate conviction that much blame rests
elsewhere, and that the watclful vigilance and habitual
caution that should govern the conduct of persons charged
to 80 great an extent with the safe keeping OF life and
property was not always observed.
1t appears that the chief engineer, though in many re-
spects an estimable man, who would not, we believe, de-
liberately do what he knew to be wrong, is nevertheless
to be censured for the following reasons
lst. Because though aware that the second engineer
often carried too bluh steam tk0uUh he Ind several times
demonstrated with him therefor, he still retained him on
the boat.
I'd. Because, after having had important repairs made
on the boilers, he did not report the same to the board
of examiners, who might have considered it necessary
again to test their strength and tightness.
Sd. Because he instructed the strikers or assistant en-
gineers not to try the height of the water in the boilers
by the use of the common and simple gauge cocks, which
were placed there for the purpose, but to rely entirely
upon the magnetic gauge, thus reducing instead of multi
plying the means of ascertaining with certainty the state
of the water.
4th. Because, when he went off his watch at Port Hud-
son, about two hours run above the point at which the
explosion occurred-being aware that the ''doctor en-
CINE" was working too slowly to supply the boilers prop
erly, in case of the speed of the boat being increased by
the generation of higher steam he did not call the ut
tention of the second engin er to the fact when he took
charge of the engines. To the omission of this precau-
ton it seems probable, at least, that the subsequent dis
aster may be traced, bearing in mind the fact that the
second engineer sometimes carried steam higher than al
lowed by law, and that, on two occasions at least, while
he was on watch, the Evans's alloy safety valves blew of
steam, the pressure, at the time, being at least lao
pounds to the square inch, or ~ pounds above the maxi
mum allowed by the certificate of the board of exam
liners. u.
The mere observance of the letter of the law, to the
neglect OF It's spirit, cannot be deemed sufficient in those
on whom so heavy responsibility rests AS the officers OF
passenger steamers. The fact that the captain has en-
gagged the services of a first engineer of acknowledged
competency to take charge of the machinery of his boat
does not exempt him from the obligation to know, from
- IL ,n-AN: TIA 4ta. a,ofpaa n au ne .Iufr faith
fully. Nor, when the chief engineer has employed capa-
bile assistants, is he exempt from ccnsn.e, If he relaxes
his oua vigilance or throws too much responsibility on
his subordinates. He should not be satisfied with the
knowledge that this or that precaution Is taken, but he
is bound to use every e~xpedient that science or experience
may suggest, to ensure the safety Of those whose conf
dence may place their lives In his keeping = he assumes a
moral responsibility, higher and more sacred than can be
reached by the laws of the States.
We believe that to the absence of a correct apprecia-
ton of these responsibilities may be traced a calamity
that has shocked this communit more than any previous
one of similar character for if there was any vessel on
which the thousands who habitually travelled on her
considered themselves safe, IL teas The Princess. A too
fatal sense of security on the part of her officers has
probably led to a calamity that has hurried scores into
eternity, thrown the pail of mourning over a multitude
of human hearts, deprived the community of valuable
citizens, destroyed a large amount of property, and shaken
public confidence.
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