New-York tribune., 1880-06-14
THE NnuND DISISTER.

In all probability, we must wait 1or the
official inquiry before knowing whether the
distressing reports concerning the conduct ol
the officers of the Narragansett are true; be-
fore knowing whether, as some do not hesl-
tate TO declare, both boats were running at
higher rate of speed than the law allows
in such q fog; before knowing, in short, how
much, if any, of the responsibility of this dis
astcr can be definitely placed. Tine officers
refuse to make anv full statement i'll ad-
vance of the investigation, and most of the
rescued passengers will, no doubt, he scat
tered in all directions before it begins.
We need not wait for the investigation, how
ever, to draw tie one great and obvious les
son of the affa +. 1t can be settled hereafter,
if that is possible, who is responsible for the
collision. But it is plain enough now that the
provision for rescue in case of such accidents
was not properly made. 1t is horrible to read,
as We do this morning, of a steamer putting
out with 500 passengers on board ana the
plugs that should have been i'll the
Jife-boats, but had been taken ont long
before to allow rain-water to run off,
missing! When these boats were lowered on
Friday night. some of them filled and turned
over. For others plugs were made by cutting
corks from the life-preservcrs. The davlts
were rusty and would not work properly.
There were no oars, in some OF the boats at
least, and the ropes were out OF order. In
one case the passengers carried the boat ont OF
danger Of suction by the sinking vessel, only by
paddling with their hats and board they
had picked up. The life preservcrs were use
less in number of cases, because the straps
hrOl-or op wanting OltOuptlpr
All this is mOnstrOus 1t is quite serious
a matter to be drowned in Long Island Sound
rs off the coast of Newfoundland. Every one
of these great Sound boats and all
other boats for that matter, whether carry
ing passengers by night or by day,
should observe, and steadily observe, and
continually observe, the same regulations for
| the preservation of life IN case OF accident as
are followed on the great ocean steamers.
| Eternal vigilance is the only price
| of life in these matters. Every part
of the life-saving machinery should be
inspected regularly and frcquently-Once a
week If not once day. few drops OF oil
| here and there, a strap or two, little care OF
| The apparatus of the life-bOats and the life
RATS, may mean the difference between rescue
and death to many who trustfully commit
themselves to the hands OF these carriers.
The crew should bo carefully and frequently
drilled for duty in such emergencies. 1t would
be better that such precautions should be taken
year after year, without any necessity for
their use arising, than that for the want
of them there should ever be so much
as one life lost.
The same is true of every place
where men take human lives in their
charge, which it is their duty, before God and
man, to keep unharmed so far as lies in their
power 1t is of no use to provide additional
exits from theatres, for example, if there Is
no regular inspection of the apparatus, and
when the fire comes, one rusted bolt cages a
| crowd of dying men and women like rats IN
n hole. 1t is OF no use to provide liic-bOatS
| on steamboats,, and then leave the plugs
out so long that, as our account says
| of the Narlagansett to-day, the officers lost
| sight of them! There should be constant pre-
caution, watchfulness and drill. The NELL
whether they lie stockholders, managers OF
! officers, who allow boat to leave her dock,
carrying huge human freight, and being as
poorly provided against disaster as the Nara
cansett war, are morally guilty Of manslaugh-
ter; and would still be, if she escaped acci-
| dent for a dozen years.