The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-23

Napoleon.
Ferry Mrsngcmenf-The Death or Mr..
Kcmpston.
The case Of Mr. Kempston, killed at the Ful-
ton ferry on Saturday night, should ak public
attention upon the necessity Of forcing the
ferry companies to take some measures for
securing the safety of their passengers. Mr..
Kempston came to an untimely end through
fbe istYpA jn9iaeyepee Of thalferrs Nsanag erSAa
i kRs &s9a(Aog Hyf,E}s4c,F l9r1c tx
paid his fare. shYs' deathS wa, ll1Er' rossat x
obstinate, wilful, long main'ainrd<gtd hitherto
successful resistance on the part Of the COM
pany to oil steps taken to compe! them TO
make such arrangements rs would render
daily slaughter not inevitable. As the helter-
SHELTER, reckless rushing embarkation and
debarkation now 60 on at the ferry slips !. is u
marvel that day should pass without its
bloody accident !; and it Is certain that it
would not so pass with any population he's 3
used to taking care OF itself, less keen eyed
and active, than ours. There are three or four
hours toward the close of every day when
each boat that comes from Brooklyn is bring
ing home to this city the hundreds Of people
that have been going in the other direction all
day on visits and business, and as the boat
nears the slip the crowd Of humanity on lis
forward deck is so dense that II il sometimes
impossible to turn In 1t, and never possible for
each person to govern his own movements
At the same time there Is assembled ON the
ferry bridge the throngiag mass OF those who
have been at business In the city ali day and
are hurrying to their homes in Brooklyn. Each
crowd Is equally eager, one to get on snt
the other to get or yet to control the move
ments Of these bodies that must necessarily b,
influenced by the reckless spirit OF the NOR,
active few there Is not the simplest mechanical
contrivance--not railing, not gate-nothinl
but the despised warning not to go on the boa
| till 1t Is made fast--a warning which only
means that the company will not "pay " TO
your broken bones il you do All this is bar
| barous, aud more care should be taken 10
even the life OF cattle. Wen might the police
man who was on duty say at this inquest :
"The arrangements for admitting passengers OF
these boats Is repreheasiblo and dangerous
| Ii Is surprising there are not moro accident
happening. as the rush Of people 1T this hon
OF the evening Is tremendous" Well, also
might The Coroner's jury soy ave seycrel
censure the Union Ferry Company for not pro
vidlng gates to prevent passengers from enter
ing boat until the same IA made tast aud a.
the passengers and vehicles landed. "
further recommend the city authorities to pas
an ordinance compelling said company 10 PVT
vide the same" But, finally. what IL the goo
Of having these thugs said, and what effv,
will they produces None; or, AZ most n
other effect than 70 cause the interested partis
to spend enough money in the Common Coui
Gil TO defea. the passage Of any ordinance tbs
would interfere with tho present obstinat
slolid, stupid, wilful, murderous managemer
OF the ferries. Ordinances Of the kind ind
Gated have been repeatedly urged and di
cussed. Public agitation on the subject
gates ut these ferries has been kept up Il
! years: but when tho general ideas take Il
form OF law the measure falls into the hen'
OF our money making legislators, and 70
dollars smother the whole matter for ycr
Such law as Is demanded recently passed Y
Board Of Councilmen by an almost unanimo
vote and went to the Board OF Aderme
Where IL II COW I In the pocket Of the pre-
dent OF the ferry company One thing s ca
| 80 ~. Of iha cnunUany