, 1872-11-22
Interesting Statistics Of Acct
dents During the Past
Year.
Richardson Mentioned as BoutWeiI's
Temporary Successor.
John ". Forney Sued for Libel by
a Department Clerk.

the Hon. Joseph Nimmo, Jr., the Supervising
Inspector General Of Steamboats,, has been
finished and sent to the printer. It is dated
Nov. 19, 1872. The report shows that the num-
ber Of casualties by fire, explosion, and wreck,
during the year 1871, WIS IS, against the aver
age number during the three preceding years OF
81; value Of property destroyed BY casualties
in 1871, 1885,, ,661 average value Of property
destroyed during the three preceding years,
4,439, ,622 number OF lives lost by casualties in
1871, 1863 average number Of lives lost by cas-
ualties during the three preceding years, 377 ;
number Of steamers inspected in 1871. 9,297 :;
average number Of steamers inspected during
the three preceding years, 9,170; number Of il
censes issued to pilots and engineers in 1871,
and engineers during the three preceding years,
9,9s8.
The foregoing statement shows the average
number OF casualties during the year 1871 WAS
81 per cent less than the average for the
three preceding years. ro.s also that t1s
cent less. 1t the same time it appears that
during the year 1871 the number Of steamers
inspected was 4 per cent greater, and the num-
ber Of licenses issued to pilots and engineers
VAS 18 per cent greater than the average for the
three proceeding years.
The total loss Of life on steam vessels from all
causes during the year 1871 was 1868, while the
average loss Of life during the six preceding
meeting OF the Board, several serious
casualties have occurred. On the 11th Of April
last, the boilers OF the steamer Oceanus e1-
ploded at q point on the Mississippi River, about
twenty miles above Cairo, II. The boat subse-
quently burnt to the waters edge and sunk.
FoEty-one lives were lost.
On the 10th of August, the steamer Bristol, Of
the Narragansett Steamship Company, collided
with brig in Newport harbor- The nature of
the damage done to the steamer was not known
until it was discovered she was sinking For
tunately, she was run ashore in time to prevent
any loss Of life. Such casualty to one Of the
largest and most costly steamers in the United
States, by which the lives Of six
Connection with the fact that the Bristol had but
a few weeks before collided with another
steamer, the latter having been sunk, points to
the necessity for greater care and efficiency IN
the management of such vessels. The Local
Board OF Inspectors at New London will try the
Master and the pilot in charge OF the wheel at
the time of the casualty, in order to ascertain
whether their Licenses shall or shall not be sus-
pended or revoked.
On the 18th of August, the steamer BienEile,
Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, was
burned at sea. Fortyone lives are believed to
have been lost. The safety OF life aud proper
tt On board OF this ship we're dependent on the
efficiency and reliability OF one steam pump.
IhH suggests the RTope Of
AtIP~~@5 ~3E1eA0ASJ
when, as in the case Of the Bienyille, a part Of
the cargo consists of kerosene oil, matches,
and other dangerous articles.
On Aug. 29th, the steamer Metis, Of Progi-
Sound, and sunk in about an hour and quarter
afterward. The nature Of the danger VAS not
discovered till within few minutes before she
went down. By this casualty % lives are known
to have been lost. The Investigating Board in
this case recommend the revocation Of the
licenses OF the Master and First and Second
Pilots, and suspension for six months Of the
license Of the chief mate. These officers are
now being tried. The record shows that the
Metis collided twice with other vessels in the
year 1871.
On the 18th Of September, while the steamer
Dean Richmond was on her passage from New
York to Albany, fue Of one Of her boilers
burst. Owing to the thorough equipment OF
Of her officers and crew, the fire, caused BY the
flames driven from the furnace, was speedily ex-
tinguished. The fault in this case was the fail
ure OF the manager Of the Line to have the boil
ers inspected, the steamer having been laid up
for several months.
On the I'd of October the steamer
Missouri, of the Atlantic Mail Steam
ship Company, while on her pas
sage from New York to Havana, was burned
at sea, and about eighty lives we're lost. A. Board
has been appointed to Investigate the circum-
stances attending this loss.
The casualties to the h1etis and Bristol point
to the necessity for more strict attention to
discipline on boErd of steam vessels. Equally
apparent is the Importance OF having such drills
as are required by the rules OF the service, for
the purpose Of instructing the crew in the use OF
ife-saving apparatus, and as to their conduct in
cases OF accident generally.
The appliances placed on board steamers for
the purpose Of saving the vessel and the lives
Of the passengers are not automatic. In order
that they may answer the purposes for which
they we're intended, there must be . thorough
practical knowledge Of their use, which can only
be obtained by strict discipline and frequent
drilling Of officers and crew. Upon steamers car
rying large number OF passengers, the officers
and crew should be required to Wear some dis
tinctive badge or uniform.
The law requires that boiler-plates should be
tensile strength, toughness, homogeneous
ness, and ability to Withstand the effects
OF repeated heating md cooling, in order
that this requirement may be carried into ef-
feet, it is necessary that steamboat inspection
service shall be supplied with q sufficient num-
system of tests has been adopted, it is to be
hoped that boiler plate will be rated in the
markets OF the country according to their as-
certained qualities, rather than: on the repnta-
ton Of various makes. The principal manufac-
turers Of the country have been called on to
present plans of testing machines designed to
meet certain requirements, which have been
submitted to them. When these plans
nave p6en Iece1etu, bpeCluchL1ons WILL De
drawn, and steps taken to procure the ma
Chimes.
In the case Of explosions On steam vessels,
the conditions attending such disasters are eel-
dom known to the person in charge Of the boil
ers and engines, and even when known, there
are frequently motives which lead to suppress
sion Of the real facts in the case. In course of
scientific experiments, however, all conditions
are known and properly estimated in arriving at
the solution OF the results developed. During
the last session Of Congress-, bill
was introduced authorizing such expert;
important to guard against the bursting Of steam
boilers. I Istrongly recommend the passage Of
information could thus be obtained for the
better security Of life and property on steam
vessels. Experiments should be made on boil
ers of various forms and on vessels Of the sea-
board. the lakes, and Of Western rivers.
By the terms Of section4 act Of Feb. %, 1871,
passenger steamers are prohibited from carrying
coal oil, crude or refined petroleum: either as
freight or stores, with the single
exception that refined petroleum, which
will not ignite at lower temperature than ITO
degrees Fahrenheit, may be carried on such