New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-12
FACTS ABOUT STEAMBOAT TRAVEL.

FACIS ABOUT STEAMBOAT IhAN EL
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NsPECToR-GENERAL on
STAN vFssELs-THE sEAwANHAKA DISASTER
TIE COLLISION BETWEEN THE NAgEAGANsErf
AND sIOSISGTON-TOTAL NUMBER OF LIVES
LOST DURING HE YEAR 185,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-games A. Dumonf,
Supervising Steam Vessels III his
annual report for the fiscal ening June 30,lSSo
devOes considerable space the suD"cJ OF coorbln
ness. Various instances cited showing the peculiar
effect of the infmy. REGARDING the number OF casual
Ties during the last year. General Dumont says: Dur
ing the year there have zen only tweDtysix accidents
involving OF life, as against hirtytwO during the
preceding year. There were three less In NUMBER Dy
explosions, two less by collisions and three le-s by
snags wrecks and sinking while by fire the number Of
accidents in OF that OF last year. and the
total number OF lives lost greater by eight"
III referring collision Of tue steamers Narragan-
sett anu stonngton ho says: About thirty lives
lost by this accident. due almost wholly IL Is believed
to the demorazed condition Of the master OF the Nara
gansett, who among the first TO leave HIS vessel
The collision was the result Of gross oareessness on
the part of the captains Of the respective yes'es IL
having ntimated that the inspectors at New London
had failed properly inspect the steamer Narraga satt
at her last annual inspection, visited her at Noank
Conn.,. and assisted in taxing from her CABINS 300 me-
proservers in good order showing that there had been
deficiency in tnat element OF safety as mad Deeh
Charged inquiries upon the sulDec1 satsHeu US h1V
when the left the hands OF the inspectors sne
had complied in every with the requirements OF
law and that had proper discipline existed 1t is more
than probable that not single life would have been
lost"
The case Of the steamer seawanhaka burned on
her passage from New York TO Glen Cove on
the afternoon OF June %, is mentioned, aud
the report says There was want Of discipline IN this
case less from desert0n OF their posts by the officers
lack previous assignment 10 speclc posts
OF duty provision IN such emergencIes-d fault
spccOs which has exempted river steamers such rs the
Seawanahaka from the requirements Of rule 81 IL VIII
be asked 10 remedy this a. H. next meeting can see
no reason why thls rule cannot De appIed 10 every
steamer afOQt carrying passeugers. Tee report suZ
gests that the nominations or inspectors might
properly be made by the supervising inspector alone,
who would solely lOnsiDlc
unsuitable appointments should b. made and who would
be subject 10 the discipline OF the department. Tor all
During year total number OF vessels inspected
1886; total tonnage ~ vessels inspected
SOSO5; total number oil officers licensed, 1851,
showing increase over the preceding year As follows
Increase I'm number OF vessels 24s increase In TONNAGE,
30 i53 90; increase IN number licensed officers, l4@9
Ihc total NUM- OF lives lost by accidents from various
during the fiscal year GUIDING June 80 1S6O was
as fOOws EXPLOSIONS. % fire, 52 COLLISIONS, 60
snags, wrecks and sinAlng, IL accidental droTn-
ing % miscellaneous casualties u; total uScS
lost, 1s5. The to.al Dumber Of accidents
steam vessels during the year resulting IN loss OIL HE
shipwreck ana sinking 8 tota, 2G The report con
cudes as follows: 30 perhaps 22OOOAOOO transported
vessels during the last Twelve months-a dahy
average OF over GOOOOO-ony lSO lives nave oeen Ot
through causes incidental 10 steamboat travel. 1O3
beng those of passengers; and teeI warranted III
asserting that the only person lost out
OF 100000 persons carried argues degree or
skill on the part OF the licensed officers
Of steam vessels officers OF this service unsur
and scarcely equtllea III any other service
No mode of at the present day presents SO low
percentage OF accidents travel by steam vessels