Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-10
HE RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1873.
a wrong somewhere.


been considered as a science, and taught
-apd practiced as such for centuries.
The best mechanical and engineering I
skill in the world is, and has been Tor
years, engaged in the construction OF
locomotives, railways, steamships ana
other vessels. Immense amounts OF
capital are invested therein. The tri-
umphs of engineering skill are wonder
full and almost past comprehension.
The ocean, as well as the land, has been
surveyed and mapped ont. Not only IS
every island. bay, inlet and cape known |
and designated, but the very rocks and
shoals markell and. mapped with the
most remarkable precision. Locomo-
tiyes and railroad trains are run by and |
under the control of thoroughly compe-
tent. reliable men. They are in the
same danger and run the same risks or
life as the passenger. Navigation IS, as
we have said, science. Every vessel |
that attempts to cross the Atlantic Is
supposed to be put in the care OF edu-
Gated experienced, competent officers.
With their maps and instruments, they
are, or should be, able, at any hour OF
the day or night, to ascertain the almost
exact postion of the vessel under their
charge. Notwithstanding that all this
is true, and has been true for years, we
are having constantly recurring disas-
tiers by sea and land. We have, in the
short space of six days, had this fact
brought home to us, with startling and
fearful force and earnestness, three
times. We need not recall the accidents
at Shushan and at Bennington on the
land, or the still more appalling calamity
on the sea, off Halifax. We all know
the painful details. They have occupied
our minds and hearts to the exclusion,
almost, of other topics. Is it right that
these things should occur? We are not
speaking of question of morality, or
of the Supreme power. With the pro-
gress made in engineering, locomotlon,
navigation and the mechanical arts,
should there be so many and so fearful
disastersl There is class of disasters
which used to be classed by Blackstone
"as the act of God on the kings enc
mics" for which subject could not be
held responsible. There are now rail-
road accidents and shipwrecks which no
human foresight could have prevented
The larger number, however, in our
Judgment, could have been prevented
by due care and precaution. We know
not where the trouble lies. We do not
think that any act of the employees
could have prevented the accidents or
Sunday and Thursday. They seem to
have done their entire duty in the prem
ises, and were prompt in the discharge
of every act rendered necessary by the
circumstances of the case, both before
and after the accidents. 1t is not al
ways so, however. We do not think the
that the officers of the Atlantic are free
from blame. Notwithstanding the vote
of confidence, thanks, etc, to g Captain
Williams and all his officers passed by
the rescued passengers, we think that
disaster could have been prevented.
Indeed, Captain Williams confesses as
much when he says, In reply to an in
quiry as to the cause of the disaster, 6
can hardly say, unless it was because we
had overrun our distance. | thought we
were going about eleven knots, but the
speed must have been greater than that,
or we could never have got so far out of
our course" Here was cause enough,
and sufficient to throw the responsibility
on him, his under officers and the COM
pany. But we did not intend to speak
of these particular cases. 1t is the gen.
eral question of preventing all such dis
asters that should attract the public at
tention. We have no remedy to sug-
gest We are not sufficiently familiar
with the science of navigation or the
practical running of railroads to attempt
such a task. We know, however, that
practical, scientific men, under the d.
rection of government, could, in a
large degree, control and reduce the
causes of these accidents. Human life
is of more value than mere property.
Profits on investments should never be
allowed to interfere with the safety of
human life. We are aware that inyesti-
cations have been rendered somewhat
ridiculous in the past year or two.
There are reasons why this might have
been expected. But Investigation
searching, fearless investigation-into
the causes of every accident to a rail
road train or a vessel, followed by
prompt and appropriate legislation,
would soon find the wrong and provide
the remedy. This might be work of
time, but time has been necessary for
the accomplishment OF every important
undertaking.