The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-10-30

says that the statement that the
boiler was carrying one hundred
pounds Of steam is preposterous,
from the very fact that it was fitted
with one Of the Government steam
guages which all similar vessels are
required to use. The guages are so
arranged that it is impossible to car
ry more than eighty pounds Of steam
the remainder being blown off when
the maximum of eighty pounds is
reached. Other well known steam
boat men are ofthe opinion that the
explosion can only be attributed TO
one cause-low water.
LOOKED LIKE RACING.
The captain of the tug Hercules
says the Brooklyn was making very
rapid time, and that it looked to him
as if she was racing with the propell-
er Cuba.
INHUMANITY.
After the explosion the river was
covered with freight and debris. The
former attracted the immediate at
tention of some fishermen near by.
Other fishermen in the vicinity kept
at their work as if nothing had hap
pened, not thinking or caring that
it was in their power to save some
of their fellow beings.
The pantry boy informed Captain
Mills Of the Hercules that he was
refused to be allowed to come on
board the Cuba's small boat from a
piece Of wreck to which he was
floating. Whether the boat was al
ready filed to its full capacity he did
not state, but if he was allowed to
float away on the river on his frail
support it did not evidence a very
humane feeling on the part of the
boats crew, who should have tried
to remain near him until help came.
THE BROOKLYN.
The Brooklyn was owned by the
Northern Transportation Company,
was of full canal size, ran between
Ogdensburg and Chicago, vas about
six years old and a staunch boat.
She was valued at $4,000 and in
sured for one half that amount. She
had on board sixty tons of miseel-
laneous freight, consigned from
points East to merchants in this city
and points in the interior of the
State.
The Chicago Inter Ocean does not
seem TO be satisfied with the proba-
bic result of the inquest aad opens
its mind as follows:
The officers of the propellar Cuba
deny that race was in progress be-
tween that boat and the BROOKLYN
when the latter blew up; others on
board, however, seem to think both
we're doing their "level best" and
wide open.
A gentleman who visited the en-
gine room of the Cuba during the al
legged contest says extra exertions
were being made by the firemen. A
coroner's investigation like that. at
Detroit no one will pay the slightest
attention to, and it is to be hoped
that the government officials in their
proper capacity will make the most
rigorous inquiry, and place the re-
sponsibility for the sacrifice OF life
where it belongs. There was no ex-
plosion on the Cuba, to be sure, but
there might have been, and those in
charge on that boat are just as guilty
as the others if the two steamers
Gere indeed making a trial Of speed.
As arule, steamboat inspectors know
moro themselves than to simply in
form engineers to "Watch the pumps
and a great deal cannot be looked
for from them. If things we're as
they should be, and the inspectors
good engineers themselves, the many
drunken incompetents would not be
in the engine rooms of 50 many tugs
in our own harbor, and in the en-
CINE rooms Of so many of our lake
propellers. How these fellows get
their licenses is a wonder to skillful
men, who have spent the best por-
tion of their lives in the shop or
afoat, and only draw the same wa
ges. There is point here that must
be borne in mind. The boiler of the
Brooklyn was q good one, at least so
announced by the inspectors, and
Mr.. Stoddard, the first engineer, was
a man who knew his business. There
are bad boilers in Chicago harbor
and on the lakes, though, and unsafe
hulls that the writer knows of, but
which the inspectors seem to know
nothing of, or, at least, they take no
notice of. A poor mans boat is al
ways vigorously inspected, but the
boats of a wealthy, influential cor
poration are allowed to look after
themselves. There must be reform
in inspection on the lakes, and it is
not necessary that another wholesale
slaughter like that of the Brooklyn
should take place before it is inaug-
urated. Let US have an investiga-
tionl