The Indianapolis journal., 1883-07-26
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DISASTER.

sity for the use of all possible means to pre-
vent, as far as can be done, fatal catastrophes
in the future. There is a series of unfore-
seen and unsupported accidents for which
there seems to be no remedy and against
which the utmost caution is futile. The sud
den destruction of the railroad bridge by wind
orlightning few miles ahead of the midnight
express is seemingly a matter of fate, and
with present facilities the destruction of life
and property that must follow could not be
anticipated. So with all similar mishaps of
this class. But there is another line of seri-
Gus calamities altogether within the power of
man to prevent. In many cases the exercise
of due caution would save everything.
Usually, at public entertainments in church
buildings and halls the audience banishes
and abandons everything but the interest or
pleasantly of the hour, and the most trivial
cause will therefore throw them into panic,
and then the stampede with its sickening re-
suits follows. While people are
not expected to attend pub
lie entertainments burdened throughout
the performance with a sense of impending
danger of fire or giving away of floors or
walls yet every person at such places should
so keep his wits about him as to be able to act
with GOODNESS and judgment in case an emer-
gency should arise. True, there are many
who have such peculiar nervous consti-
To fbau ba1V int ha
of imminent danger; but, on the other hand,
there are always a sufficient number in
every crowd of grown people who have
self-control and who, under trying circum
stances, could be relied on to manage the rest.
1t has been said that if only one-third of a
large gathering keep their heads panic and
stampede can always be prevented. There
are stronger cases even than this. Instances
are numerous where single COOL clear
headed person has saved an entire audience
from injury by assuring them in a posi-
tive, commanding way of the absence of
danger, or, if present, by leading them to
use intelligent methods to avoid and
escape it. 1t is said of
man who has travelled much
and been exposed to every sort of accident,
by fire, wreck and panic, that be never re-
tires to his bed in a hotel without first care
fully planning his escape in case OF fire, not
ing carefully the location of the heating
room, bar-room, and other points from which
fire is most likely to originate. Upon enter
ing public hall or theatre, the means of en-
trance and exit are carefully fixed in his
mind, so that in case of danger he can act
intelligently in saving himself and others.
This mans ideas are good, and if the same
precautions were generally observed by grown
people, many of the heart-rending scenes in
the daily papers would not have to be record
ed. With large gatherings of children these
remarks would not apply though very much
can be done by teaching them the habit of
self-control also. The idea could very appro-
priately be impressed in our public schools.
Among the miscellaneous exercises an occa-
sional brief, pointed talk upon this subject
would do much toward aiding the children
IN acquiring the habit of self-possession. If
this were put upon the programme, and en-
forced with other exercises, the presence of
beetle, mouse or spider could not
create a stampede in the school-room.
The teachers could very readily point out by
illustration the difference between real
danger and these groundless alarms, and the
;Ia fal i,,f III l,ol1 e
making the distinction afterward for them
selves. With pcnics and excursions COM
posed largely of children, whenever there is
failure to have older persons to accompany
them in sufficient numbers to control the
little ones, there is criminal negligence.
The platforms to be occupied, bridges to be
crossed piers and boats, should be carefully
inspected in advance by some one fully COM
petent to determine their safety. In the hor-
rible calamity of Monday night hundreds OF
people rushed like so many sheep upon
spent the day about it without a thought as
to the safety or security of the structure. 1t
may become expedient in the future to send
police officers with all such parties in ad-
vance, and let it be their duty to examine
and inspect the surroundings and guard
the people against such dangers as they may
be able to discover. An additional feature
in the way of precaution would be the appli-
cation of the old rule in some European
countries of compelling these picnics and as
semblages of children to disband before dark
and go home. This regulation would have
night Ali will agree that something must
be done to avert, so far as human foresight