The hydraulic press., 1860-06-30
Tht Audra,1lir grfss.
Disrerard Of Waman Lie.

Disregard or Elusnan Life.
The San Francisco Call furnishes the fol-
lowing sensible article, which has a general
application to stage coaches, and other modes
of travel, as well as to steamboats,:
There is a degree of carelessness mani
tested by steamboat owners in the United
States, in regard to human life, such as is
permitted in no other country. Men who
are interested in selling boilers, are made
boiler inspectors men who know 1ittleaboat
machinery are frequently appointed engi-
neers; and captains who hrag that they will
beat in = race, or blow the beat to hell r. are
placed in charge of thousands of valuable
lives. It is not, ander. the circumstances,
greatly to be wondered at, that nine men
out of ten, hen they step on board steam
boat, realize a feeiiag somewhat akin to that
of the gambler, who stakes his all on the
turn of card. IF they arrive, without mis-
hap, at their place of destination, they are
thankful for their good lack. During the
trip, they take every possible precantion to
be remote from the boiler in case of explos-
sion; and THEN constant anxiety to be pre-
pared for the ever-recurring bursting con-
tingency, takes away all the pleasure and
comfort that is experienced by the traveller
IN other countries. Even ferry boats, in the
United States, are not considered safe, al
though thousands Of people pass and repass
on them every hour during the day. 1t is
not very long siuce boat blew up on the
Oakland ferry, and killed and wounded
large number of persons. The greatest neg
ligence-that of permitting the boiler to
become dry-was proved home to the engi-
neer, and yet, neither he nor the party hiring
him, was punished for the criminality. The
FRI opfr rYodh ho.l IL L
where it lodged, and is now used by foun-
dry on Market street-as business sign,
we presume.
defective boilers in steamboats,, however,
are risks that the traveller is compelled to
take. He cannot constitute himself an in
spector, and find out whether his policy of
life-insurance is likely to be presented for
payment in a few days, if he goes on such
or such a steamboat. There are, however,
tangible, palpable, outside defects which he
can detect himself and which, when detect
ed, should induce him to travel on such boats
never for pleasure, and as seldom on busi-
ness as possible. These defects we find are
very apparent on the boats now running
between this city and Oakland. They con-
sist in great scarcity of life boats and life
preservers. No steamboat should be per-
mitted to cross this wide and bosterous Bay
with passengers, without large complement
of small boats An accident which would
require the instant launching of number
of small boats, in order to save the lives of
the passengers. is liable to happen at any
moment. During the immense fogs, a col
lision might take place, and the steamboat,
freighted with human life, might sink with
all on board, before assistance from the out
side could arrive. There might be sufficient
time to save everybody, if life boats were
where they ought to be; but owing to the
criminal negligence, cupidity or rapacity of
the owners, the catastrophe would result in
a complete and terrible destruction"