, 1876-07-21
EXCURSION BOATS.
WHAT TIE LAW REQUIRES.

It was reported In TnH TRIBUNE few days
ago that The new tug Ntglithawk had been re-
fused a certificate to carry passengers by the
United Stntca Inspectors BECAUSE alo wns
deemed unsafe for passenger business. The
action On tho part of the Inspectors In this case
was 1ust and totnmcndnble. The Niglthawk IL
unfit TO carry passengers, though she will do for
towing purposes. She L.. according to Inspect
or Warrcn's statement, built too low aud mar
row, md Is liable to roll over II crowded will,
passengers, not counting thu danger Of her hay
Ing m insufficient safety-rall. Though the de-
cision Of the Inspectors was Just, yet the owners
Of the Nighthawk felt much put out about
Y "na sH aasd g5s2t hue q era a. cry or aOqn M
,pectors who al!owcd the Ben Drako and Bret
tlArte to carly passengers, though neither OF
them was supplied with tho, necessary life.
laving apparatus required by Inv. They took
tpectors to Chief Inspector RALPH, At Detroit.
Dir. Ralph arrived hero yesterday, and looked
INTO tie matter, and soon found that there was
no cause for nn appeal, aud that the local H.
certificate to tho new tug. Mr: Ralph has not
ret promulgated Ills oiIlcial dccison but stated
10 TRIBUNE reporter yesterday afternoon Tint
andcr no circumstances would hu allow tho
Ntghthnwk to carry passengers.
Afterwards the reporter 'lad long talk with
Inspector ]. T. WnrgeH In regard to
THB COMPLAINTS NADB
that boats were allowed TO carry passengers
the Inv. Capt. Warren stated that aucl. charges
were unfoundcd, rs no boat could get ccrtlN-
cate beforo II had previously been inspected anil
found to be supplied with Al! necessary life
Inspectdrs not doug tllc!r duty. Il they neg
lected to 10 II the Government would soon lind
II out and appoint men who would do thu work
better. They hal duty to perform, a,,d thoY
Drake WA wctl attel to carry passengers. ahc
was strung, wide, aud still, aud he woulll not bD
afraid to Cr.kA tho lakes IN her In any kind Of
weather. 8hu was inspected this sprIuY mud re-
that number slle Is now supplied With all ncces-
sary apparatus.
TIE BRET uARrB,
Mr.. Warren admitted WIS uot q very strong
bout nor exactly Cited fot the excursion bHAl;
ncss, but she was vcFy wide and st!il, md had
plcuty VI accommodations. Sue has certificate
to carry forty passengers, and for this number
she had the necessary hoats and llfe-preecrycrs.
Ths reporter informed ths Inspector that 10
eighty anl the Bret llarte moro than turty
passengers at ons time. The Inspector rcplIcd
That he WIS aware Of that lact, but thu Inspert-
Dts could not halp It.. The law provided that II
certificate called for ahe was liale to a t'ne OF
$40 for every passenger carried over the regular
number,. thc informant to get laali
NuNl II 4Hy nI these Vessels car
RED mora passengers than allowel
by the certificate they were violating the law,
and the Inspectors could no mo1e help 1t THAI
any other private individual. The Inspectors
could not bu at the docks continually and watc!,
tllcse boats. ANY one had the rlght-anli It was
the duty Ut every law.abtling. cltlzen-to flo an
information against them. It WIS not ncces-
sary to Nuke Tho complaint to the inspectors,
buf 1t could oe madu directly to the United
atstes tsict,AttoFucy, who would prosecute
the guilty parties. '.
IT WAS TIE RULE oy TIE INSPECTIONS
to require boat 10 feet III length for every
thirty persons, one lifo.preservcs for every per-
COL. aulilcient hose, axes, buckets, etc. Tierc
were, however, exceptions 10 this rule. IL a
boat was running along the shore only Cd oeca-
stonal excursions, they would relax the rulrs
somewhat, and not De a. strict O. regards tho
number OF boats required, but In every case the
boat wsA required TO carry one-lltc preseryeE for
every passenger. Botore 4 boat, however, could
60 cue On mn excursion and take on moro pas,
keugers than were allowed by tho certificate, the
master Or owner had to apply Tor an inspection,
and get
SPECIAL CERTIFICATE.
Theso special certificates are u fuIluxs;
u master, having been provided with boats,
aud- Nfe- presesyers, In addition TO tho num.
her required BY hss esttineaia oi laspectioD, and