The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-05-17
IsIr CRIMINAL NEGLIoENcEs

The recent disaster In mid.ocean OF the
Florida, In which 1855 lives were lost. Ia
elicitlng discussion throughout the ooun'
Try regarding the causes leading TO the
numerous and appalling cases that have
recently occurred upon the bosom Of the
deep, and II IL believed that the wide range
OF the discussion will OF Las, lead 70 the
adoption of come measure that will, to =
great extent, lessen the number OF such
frightiui disasters aud the wholesale de-
s,ruction Of the lives Of human beings.
Formerly, whenever occurred disaster Ia
the nature Of the losa OF tho Florida, an
investigation by q board, appointed with
full powers 10 inquire Into oil the surround
ing circumstances attending the loss.
whether oiproperty or OF life, was rcsot,sd
70 az the only means OF arriving at n proper
and correct solution OF tho question OF
where 10 place tue blame. or negligence, II
there were neellgeuce, ana upon whom the
responsibility must rest. These inyosiiga-
lions have been frequent, but experience
has led US % believe that they
have been useless. This whitewash has
been too laylsbly used. No reason
has yet ever been assigned Tor the frequent
occurrence Of these disasters, and, with the
exception OF one Isolated case, no person or
rersons has ever been held accountable for
them. Hence II 10 that the public, since
the irightiul and disastrous loss OF The
Florida, is evincing 20 much interest In The
question, and tho people sEo evolving in
,hcir mind8 whether or not there IL orirni'
nal negligence attached 10 the frequent
r currenos OF such terrible and heart-rend'
ine scenes thst have OF late been spread be-
flrs cur readers through the prets OF the
country. 10 the case OF tie destruction o
The Florida, where two vessels met upon
mld-ocesn while the sea was smooth as
glass, with no unusual upheaval OF the
Vastly deep, and while the sky WAS clear
aud the stars shone out in oil their splendor
we can assign no other reason than criminal
negligence for the l-ss OF the brave ship
aud the unfortunate crew, To ssy that
such an accident occurred ut u timo whe
there was no disturbance IN the cir and
10 cloud In the sky, 10 simply to say that
somebody blundered. Such an aoci-
Ceut COulu mo- nuNt OCCuTcu Wi'hous
gross. nay, criminal negligence on the part
OF some one who had control OF the i'll
fatod ship. But an investigation OF the
affair by committee appointed by the
proper authorities would uuquestionably
lead to the came results se those OF the past
and the report OF such committee would no
doubt be the same old story; month
passes and all IL forgotten.
II may be difficult to ascertain the truth,
but IL is due to the people of both sides CT
the ocean to make every endeavor to reach
Il. And 1t would be well to make the Lesson
OF the negligence In this case. should it be
determined that By negligence the Florida
vas lost, salutatory, and not soon to be for
gotten. lit is found that there has bsen
criminal negligence in this Inst terrible dis
aster, Fl the responsibility upon the one or
more who have been criminslly negligent of
their duty and LEI punishment follow swift
and sure, and In the future such occurren-
ces will be lsrs frequent. The case is one
that calls for a rigid investigation, and Gil
the punishment that the Law admits OF.