Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-14
REPUBLIpAN lI.KET.
j Late Steamboat Disaster.

~
WORTH WELDIN.
Late SteambOat Disaster.
eamboat collisions in these days
ill and science are rare, especial
Rch as happened on Long Islam
nd on Friday night last, and frol
We now know of the affair it ooul
e been avoided had the crew bee
ient and the proner signals given
yet 1t lie just such an accident as |
pie to happen any time during til
iday season ofsummer stsamboating
Narragansett and the Stonington
onging to the same line ran or
song Island Sound between New Yorl
and Stonington, Connecticut, durin,
sac simmer season, generally leaving
Sxsh place in the night and arr;v
ing ct their destination in the morning
BY 50 doing much valuable time Il
| saved to the business community and
the boats being fitted up with berths
and staterooms were made as comfor able
40 the finest parlors and best beds in 4
motel. These two boats meet each
other every night about the vicinity
where the accident occurred, and the
greatest skill and care is
required to prevent collisions. Even
ON clear nights when the moon
10 shining the greatest of care has
TO be exercised. Friday night was
cloudy and very foggy so much SO that
the lights in the light houses along the
shores though not very far distant could
not be seen, and even the light from
an approaching steamboat was not dis.
eernible. Under these circumstances
the fog horn comfs into use and sound
signals take the Place of sight signals.
- 10 charged that the "Narragansett"
not use her fog horn on that foggy
! as often as she 81 ouid have done,
hence the "stonington" had no
nation of her whereabouts, and OF
30 could not be held r, sp9nsible for
share of the accident which re-.
I'd in the death of probably sixty
sventy souls. We are apt to lay
blame Of these accidents upon soms-
and in this instance the almost
Enimous opinion is that the fault
b With the crew of the "Nsrrapan-
tt." If 1t occurred threut h The omis.
Zion for single irs ance to How the
log horn then the charge is main.
salned and somebody ought to
DO made to suffer for neglectine ,
a duty which sent several scores ,
81 souls into eternity. If such an an.
palhng catastrophe can be traced to \
Tho neglect CT incomretency ct a sinRle
man on that Inflated steamboat, the .
Rnitentiary should be:eaf'er be. the =
aorne Of such nan. Human life i, too ,
precious to bs trifed with in that man.
'ef. In the appalling ca astrophe of .,
friday which shaols the community, a.
requires no great sitting of evidence a,
0 SHOW that there was gross neglect in
he equipment of both vessels. There
seemed to be an unusual quality Of q
as Ireservers, hut large number of 10
hem were without straps or means Of
asteniDg to the body. There were life II
oats, but they had holes tored in the "
ottoms as a convenient means Of let LII
mig the collected rain escape, and when Ai
ney we're wanted the plugs for the VI
oles could not be found. Other boats "
'ere found to to entirely destitute Of ~
DIV locks and oars. The life RATS. ~
hiGn are always efficient in such N'
wers found to be more for ~
low than fer seryice. The most 10
ekening part Of the disaster was 10
70 utter incompetency of tbs of ="
'ers and crew. 1h- former are said |"
have been ths fist tsl scape in the wi
BATS. At time like that IL is reason 'n'
'le to expect that strsng hearts would po
appalled,, In' men who have charge
4 steamboat with $50 living souls Ma
Jon it should he comp und of al le be,
dies and brave hearts. The men M
no had charge Of the Narrag ansett I'll
emed to be lacking sadly in the es- del
ntials OF bravery and humanity. and raj
nee the dismal consequences which va,
we followed ,io
The terrible disaster shows tb at there h.
several things yet wanting to MAKE aid
YER and sound steam boating safe. l. s,v
III not do to build floating palace "a,
Ted out in tbs best Of modern day i,i
yie and coumit it to intxpprienc. d Son
nds. None but men trained for the hat
'siness should he employed upon the will
az In any capacity, and in order TO
trained hands examinations should
made ty properly authorized com dal
ssion. Steamboats, should also be tina
Pjeoted to a thorough inspection Eve
NY few days to see that every thing ~
Kept in proper order and every MOI