The New York herald., 1869-04-04

a Visit to and Inspection Of Our Inland
PaSsenger-Carryyiing "'vSsuis.
How They Arc Fitted with Life-Saving
Appurtenances-Mean OF Escape in
Times Of Peril-The Remedies
That Should be Instituted.

lO the nspection of the hus and machinery OF YES
sells designed to carry passengers plying upon the
sea. lakes rivers and sounds, with the view OF
two great ends-the protection OF lie anu the
security OF property. These were measurapy
sunlcient In their various PROVISIONS OUT
5here was required additional Legislation touch-
1ng the equipEs7k OF steamboats,, which the law
makers endeavored to supply by the passage OF
Ahe s.,teaInboat Act of 1852" wherein are embodied
excellent provisions and just requirements in refe-
renee to the quality OF the materials used in the con-
Structi0n Of huls the sufiiciency and adequate
nature of machinery, the precautionary measures to
prevent fire and its extin9uishment, the necessary
provision OF life preservers, the possession OF lle-
boats, &c. These elab0rately detailed IN the
act and, il compiled with In every particular by
khose whose positions make the discharge Of the
duty mora obligation, the steamboats, or this
portion OF the country would then be entitled
10 praise secure and safe mediums OF
transportation, even as they are now open to con-
0emnation. Each and every one OF these measures
nave 80 repeatedly been violated and non-complied
with that the STORY Is "twice told tale. Frequent
disasters the direct cause Of such omissions have
sent the cry of mourning into thousands of families
and made the nation shudder with horror as the ago
Nizing recitals came laden with chapters OF hard
ehps and suferings 1t would require long ilst 10
sum up the number OF steamboats, In this country
that have met with accidents since the first intro
duction OF steam navigation, as there are recorded
scores OF cases where, upon lake. river ana SOUND
brave vessels have gone down with hundreds OF
souls. Occasionally the causes OF these disasters
were very trivial in their nature and by the proper
equipment of the vessels might have been averledi
but in the absence of such precautionary measures
there have been appalling culninaons, that for the
time startled from their lethargy the men ap-
pointed and handsomely paid to see that the
laws made and provided to avert such Ca
lamities compiled with The existence
OF the stain that the proportiona.e loss OF
life by steamboat disasters is greater with us than
with any other nation does not add much to the
Innated regulations these officials often possess.
The HERALD in times gone by has fully inquired into
the matter where tnis negligence in executing
righteous law rests and has given the substance OF
such Investigations to the public fully showing that
by ignorance and criminal collision such men have
continued to contribute their share to the dsasers of
steamboats, on the ana its tributaries the loss oil
lives and the horrors incident to which conceded
universally to be the most frghtful OF all terors.
In the further prosecution OF this purpose IL Is at
this time designed condne lis remarks TO the in
Hand steamboats, plying from this hsrbor, with view
Of calling the attention Of the travelling public TO
their onlcon, aad at times iamentable deficiency
In being suitably provided with boats, lhe-savinS
apparatus fire nose and other necessary appurten-
ances together with their adopted security and pro-
visions against fire.
At this season, when the grand channels OF stean-
boat traffic from the metropolis are again about to
be opened and the decks and saloons of thousand
and one crafts will be laden with precious human
freight, sain. here and there, through the Sound,
along the Hudson along tho East river, about the
bay and up and down the hundreds OF tributaries
that pour their waters into this grand commercial
basin 1t Is particularly desired to attempt this
ration telling the Interested millions or passengers
who will seek this mode OF business communication
or Of pleasure during the in what in stances
owners and officers OF such boats are criminay neg
lectful In the provision adopted for the prescrva
ton Of life Of fire, collision or other disaster
1t also proposed to refer to the charact er OF the
modern life preserver, an instrument designed to
save life upon occasions of terror and alarm, but
which really, because OF Its miserable construction
or long neglect when slowed away on vessels be-
comes an element assisting In TOO many instances
the waves In swalo wing up their victims.
To this end, within the past few days an inspector,
duly authorized left the HERALD ONCE and visited
the inland steamboats, which he found at the piers
along the North and East rivers, 10 note how far
these met the requirements OF the act referred to in
the matter Of remedial measures whoh their owners
have adopted TO arrest or av ert disaster
LIFE-sAvING APPLIANCES.
the liie-saving appliances required by law. ana iheir
character, such that II suggested nconpeteney,
unfalthfulness ana criminaty on the part OF ocerS
and owners. True, I'm the matter OF the possession
OF the number OF life and wooden boats the law re-
been almost in all the literally complied with;
but their locations In the majority OF instances
are 50 absurdly inconvenient and lnaccessl-
Bile that they might we-before terror
stricken and frenzed lot OF passengers could
use them--be hundred miles away from
the scene OF the disaster, as on board There
n also seen the neglect OF the judcious provision
made in the law that such boats should be fur-
nished with and necessary apparatus, meaning
TO include thole pins rudders llfelines &C. IL may
seem triiing work ana easily remediei 10 place IN
boat designed to save life IN the lace OF calamity te
necessary oars and tholc pins as required by the
emergency OF the case but seconds at such times are
very precious, and can be more probtably employed
tnan IN searching vessel for oars or procuring
something to act as substitutes for tnoe pins. The
accessible position OF boat should be demanded by
carry out the provisions OF just law, but such
demand should be made by each and every one OF
the passengers who trust their lives sometimes 10
the care Of Incompetent and reckless captains and
crews. They should never be slowed away on hur-
ricane decks-as mas been observed and VIII mere @
siderable time would necessarily he consumed
In reaching them IN order 70 r,., &c. ,hem EN-
should they 10 hampered with Old lumber. buckets
or rubbish OF any kind. In too many instances are
the boats also unseaworthy, as many poor fellows
would lind out 10 their sorrow had they TO entrIst
their lives IN them OF a dark night far from shore
This hoTs De combat condition OF several OF the
boats observed shou rst open the eyes OF the
munty, II not our legislators to the reckless dsre-
gard for human life IN this manner displayen W., we
fear that OF the large fleet OF steamboats, tnat VIII
soon dart about and pass continually between new
York and our suburban towns Albany and Boston,
with the charming summer resorts set like diamonds
IN emerald surroundings that border the lakes,
rivers and bays about that some time one OF their
number, laden to the waters edge with passengers.
may have a terrible accident befall her. A,
such period would there not happen something
similar to that which befeli the unfortunates
of the disaster on Lake Michigan when
the Sea Bird was burned and over 9
hundred passengers went DOWN II will be remem.
bered the burning boat was seen from the shore
and an effort was made to launch the lifeboat Wan
kegan, when, on examination, II was found securel,
locked MP In warehouse and finally proved who'll,
unseawOrthy and to have venrured out on the storm,
lake in her would have been certain death. There
were found IN this emergent moment but one thol'
pin and two oars In the boat the rest having bcef