Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet., 1867-01-17
THE FASHION DISASTER.

of Local Steamboat Inspectors, from
which we make few extracts:
The testimony in this case shows,
that, all who were thoughtful, or sane
enough, at the time to avail them
selves of the life preservers at hand,
live to-day to testify to their great
value and efficacy in saving life,
in just such lamentable cases as
this one.
! The origin Of this unfortunate dis
aster was evidently through the
lodgment of sparks from the chin
neys, which again shows the import
ance Of strict compliance with the
laws enacted especially to prevent
such sad disasters.
The law requires all cotton on the
decks or guards of steamers to be
suitably covered, so as to avoid the
danger Of fire. 1t unfortunately ap-
pears in evidence in this case that
the officers in charge of this "boat"
were remiss in this important par
ticular. -.- .s
The report Of the Board, we sup
pose, will about end the matter Of in
vestigation in the above case. Such
palaver usually does, in all similar
cases. What comforting JUNCTION to
the souls of those who were hurried
into eternity by one of the most de-
plorable of steamboat disasters and
how pleasant and satisfactory to
them and to the passengers and crew
who so barely escaped with their
lives and limbs, to know that now,
perhaps, after the horse is out, the
stable door is to be closed, at least
for little while.
"a strict compliance with the
laws enacted especially to prevent
such sad disasters may endure for
brief season an extra tarpaulin or
two to cover the cotton, sober wide
awake watchman to guard against
"the lodgment of sparks from the
chimney's" and an extra life boat
aoiM oars, (Which we believe the
Fashions yawls were unprovided
with all these little precautions
may come into vogue and to be OBJ
served temporarily among steamboat
owners and commanders hitherto at
fault in these particulars but, BY
and-by, when the public pulse is
stilled, the sensation of disaster is
passed aud steamboatmen grow cold
and lukewarm from sense of habit
and reckless self security, and are
content to pay a few light fines
rather than continue being bothered
BY "a strict compliance with the
laws"-then will come relapse into
the same old careless and Indifferent
habit-their measures of precaution
will become "more honored in the
breach than in the observance, lead
ing to the recurrence of one catas-
trophe and another similar to that of
the Fashionable "Board of Local
Steamboat Inspectors" will sum up
an advisory sort of report on the
subject and perhaps a "card Of
thanks" from certain ones of the
passengers will appear, "soft-sawder-
ng" officers and crew, and going to
show that nobody was to blame in
such death-dealing transactions. A
orief sensation may ensue, another
'pasmodic effort be made to guard
against danger, and the same routine
action and reaction, as above de.
'cribed-be gone through with to
he end Of the chapter-to lull the
public mind to rest and finally to
cheat it almost into a sense of belief
hat if anybody IS hurt, "nobody's
o blame," but that all such accidents
ire to be classed among the inscru-
able dispensations of Providence.
Thus it is and thus it ever will be,
Until those having in their charge
he transportation of passengers and
upon our rivers, are made
igidly responsible and held to the
x-,a4ant o.,a,r+,I I:J;@~r ,,Jo. A. |