Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-15
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Manufacturing Pr etudiee I'm Refer.
enee 20 sne Awaset Calamity.
TO ne Editor q TAs star.-I think you will
agree with me ths.e there seems to be a dispose
ton to PREJUDICE the sad circumstance which has
lately caused 20 much sorrow and distress among
us. Even ut home we have hints and innuendoes
intended 20 implicate the employees of the boat,
and the newspapers abroad, inspired by that
prevailing nightmare of prejudice against w ash
the Suinine Of the wss esty sss
and cruel device. The only wonder is that our
foreign enemies have not charged tdirect 10 the
matter comfortably and TO their liking.
1t seems quite unnecessary that the public
mind In our own vicinity should, by daily insin-
nations, be provoked to PREJUDICE the case, or
that the board of investigation should have the
work taken out Of their hands and verdict pre-
pared for them on their arrivals We must not
infer that the Potomac ferry company have
been guilty of any conscious wrong until, by
accurate and undoubted proof, il is shown that
the Wawaset was burned IN consequence of
something they did or neglected to do. The
most that we know or can know Is that the de-
struction of the boat was sudden, and that the
time for resOrting to the usual safe guards was
limited to few moments. There were plenty
OF life preservers; two three at least for each
passenger. Every one who has travelled on the
boat knows that she was always we'll provided
with them. That they were not used is not the
fault ct the captain or his crew. At such time
it was not possible for them to give personal at
tentiOn 10 seeing the passengers supplied. When
one dispassionately considers the circumstances,
II is not so greatly TO be wondered - that the
proportion of the lost was so great. About half
were saved; and nearly in this proportion they
were distributed fore and attofthe vessel. while
the flames amidship formed barrier that pre-
vented escape. The most that the owners are
responsible for Is the cause and origin of the
fire. In reference to this nothing probable or
satisfactory is known That it is so i not 50 re-
markable a circumstance TO justify convic-
ton, nor is il an isolated fact. In the numerous
instances recorded of the burning of steamers.
the origin of the fires has in nine cases out of
ten remained a mystery.
When the steamer Chagard was burned many
years ago on Lake Michigan, on the western
shore, off Sheboygan, the fire was known to
have originated in the hold, but where or how
was never known. The loss of life was very
great. but there was no criminality charged.
More recently the steamer Seabird was burned
in the same waters, not far north of Chicago,
and the loss of life terrible. The fire in this
case did not originate below decks, nor was there
any way TO account for it except from the re-
port that a cabin boy was seen to throw over
board pan of ashes, from which spark may
possibly have ignited the deck load.
The danger in travelling upon all steamboats,
is from fire. and it is an element that inspires
terror and distraction whether afloat or ashore.
In our cities we employ men who are skilled in
the use of costly machinery for subduing it,
and we know how difficult it is even for them
TO succeed in the saving of life or property
when both are in jeopardy.
AS the origin of fires on land is often and
nearly always mystery, 40 they may be on the
water. The Potomac ferry company did not
burn their boat deliberately, and the sacrifice
of life was an inevitable consequence, Just as
IL has been on all similar occasions. What adj
vantage is it to the people of Washington to at
tempt to fix special criminality upon the owners
for this their first accident of the kind? IL can
avail nothing TO the stricken hearts who have
been suddenly called to mourn the loss of
friends, nor can il avail anything to the future
safety OF travellers. If il shall be proven that
the law has been violated, and this calamity,
beyond peTddrentre traced 20 such rotation then
a nrHi 90
In the meantime let's be jUst-patent, and not
premature. CIV.