New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-17
VERDICT ON THE FERRY-BOAT MURDER

VERDICT ON THE FERRf-BOAI MChDFh.
The verdict of the COroner's Jury in
the Westfeld explosion is electrifying.
It comes to the point, lodges no issue,
and shows no fear of a wealthy cOrpOra-
ton or wealthy men. Usually, cOro-
ner's inquest is considered a mere concession
to passing public indignaton-a formal pro-
test of official authority against frequency of
crimes and casualties, but possessing no inf1u-
ence beyond that Somehow, we have come
to consider solemn inquiry into the circum-
stances of great and fatal disaster
as little better than solemn farce.
certain sense of decency is concil-
ated; the friends of the deceased are
told that their loved and lost have been taken
away by visitation of God and, saving a few
instances where reluctant trial juries have re-
turned damages for loss of life and limb, or cor
porations have grudgingly paid out a small sum
as compromise, the whole dreadful affair melts
away in the,curTents of busy life, as a passing
bubble is absorbed in the ripples of hurrying
stream. The verdict of the COroner's jury
impaneled to inquire into the causes of the
Westfeld disaster, by which ninety-five
people lost their lives, will do great deal
to restore public confidence in this class of
legal investigation. 1t is the first pointed
verdict which has been rendered in such
a case for many year. After patient exam
nation into the possible causes of the disaster,
in which the jury were materially assisted to
just conclusion by an elaborate Government
investigation, the verdict of Criminal Negli-
"gencen is reached and the District Attorney
is requested to take prompt action in the
matter. In accordance with this decision by
the Jury, the Coroner has issued warrants for
the arrest of Jacob Vanderbilt President of
the Staten Island Ferry Company, James IL.
BREASTED, Superintendent, and Harry Rob
inson, engineer of the wrecked steamboat.
These men are now in the hands
of the law, the plain requirements
of which they have criminally neglected. We
| hope they will be dealt with justly and fear
lessly, not in any spirit of revenge, but in such
manner that all who have intrusted to their
care the lives and property of others may learn
how strict is the accountability to which they
| will be held. No considerations of wealth or
power should be permitted to palliate the crime
which has been committed, and no plea OF ig-
norance can possibly avail to temper the rgid
justice which an outraged community demands
shall be exacted upon the offenders.
| In the hurry and scramble of life, in which
every man is busy looking out for himself, we
are apt to overlook the criminal negligence
which has stricken down our fellows. But the
late disaster in NewYOrk Bay was greatly ag
gravated the loss of life was fearful. and the
horrors OF the occasion were highly intensi-
fled; the negligence of the poorly-qualified
engineer was conspicuous and inexcusable; the
management of the boats had been criminally
careless and wickedly cheap; the careless in
difference of President Vanderbilt and the
brutal self-importance of Superintendent
BREASTED had stood forever in the way
OF every lawful effort TO exercise
such supervision of the boats of the Ferry
Company as was demanded by statutes relat-
ing to the safe custody of the lives of pass
engers. No punishment can repair the fearful
waste OF life which the community has suffered.
\ No rcDaTatlon can be made for the agonies