Evening star., 1898-05-06


Is Not Very Great.
From the New York Post ---
Twenty years ago danger was ever pres
ent to the ocean traveller. Its elimination,
or rather reduction, to an occasional Incl
dent Is the ultimate effect Of competition
among the transatlantic steamship compa-
MES, as may be readily shown. An acci-
dent-howeyer mconsequential, T. had al
most said-not only hurts the pride of the
company. but AFFECTS its reputation and con-
sequently lesSers its earnings for time
The companies have, therefore, for years
and In every possible way encouraged the
invention of provisions against common ac-
cidents. As q result, the construction and
equipment of Nfan5going steamers has
passed from trade piled in haphazard
fashion to q. sGiSntific profession; safety
appliances haYe dbeen introduced and are
continuously I'M process of Improvement
the Instruments sof navigation have we'll
nigh reached perfection itself-Sir William
Thompson's compensating compass Is an
instance In point the science of navigation
has wonderfully, developed the watchrul-
ness OF officsrS End crew has increased; !;
there is less 1ntemperance and a higher or
der, OF ydiscipfinaS seafnen Of every grade
have become better educated, and SO have
aequired"a n0bier idea Of their profession
In short i .nisY beiisaid ii that every pfecau-
known TO be,7possibie.-i Nowadays Wei call
accidents tor the first class ocean .Jtnrrs
acts of Go8'Athat is to say,a somsthins
sEht of as,s ssaa sag no toss
Of no hap beaa
SO marked as that OF ocean steamship trav-
ei'. ana possibly nc. modern invention does
greater honor to the human fssee than the
ocean steamship I9think the general pub
nc Is beginning to realize all this, for we
near less OF peril on the sea-" and part
1ngs on the pier have something less of the
agony OF the last parting about them.
Fhe most dangerously threatening aeci-
oent to the ocean liner Is collision. Here.
perhaps, Is the real danger But the prob
aDlilty OF Its occurrence Is very small In
clear weather collisions are removed from
tne range OF possibilities: in foggy weather
tnere Is something to be feared Careful
progress, constant watchfulness and fog
"nisties. however, are safeguards so effec-
tual that no passenger need lose an hours
steep through worry. The precaution taken
10 avoid the iceberg danger Is sImply to
give wide berth to the ice region when
1cehergs are likely to be found there. The
a .iosl common accident Is the breaking of
some some part or the machinery. The probable
ity OF serious outcome Of such an accident
Is exceedingly small. Discomfort and delav
lnousn' are sure to result and the compa-
MES, as matter of course have their pre-
cduIonary measures. The machinery Is in
spected part by part-where 1t can be seen
peIore the vessel leaves port and duplfcate
parts are carried aboard If their substftu-
@ aIoh lot broken parts at sea is practicable
- ne uanger Is that in some vital wheel or
smart there may be an inherent defect: this
cannot be guarded against. The danger
from nre Is fnconsiderable The steamers
are as nreproof as modern sky-scraper.
ana are built In compartments, so that any
part may be flooded without injury to anv
other part. The only possible origin is
spontaneous combustion, and how real is
such a danger? Then the protective meas
ures are such that 1t would hardly be pos
sibie for q fire to gain threatening head
way. even II It had a deal to feed on. No.
II can be said that this, once the most aw-
nifcant e
Are the lives OF the passengers at any
time IN any real danger? Really, no; not,
at at any rate. on the f1rst-class transatlantic
liners. A landsman would, no doubt, find it
hard to credit this; but, nevertheless there
Is no longer real danger of a disaster as
the writer In LIE Temps has 1t. The chance
OF collision Is. as have said. so slight as
TO be tnconsiderable; there is absolutely no
danger from fire, and almost as little from
a break to the machinery. People excite
times when a liner is delayed by a broken
SHAFT But this Is all very silly. The liner
has only to wait until assistance comes to
her-an uncomfortable experience for the
passengers. no doubt. She may be tossed
about somewhat. If control Of her Is lost,
and she may drift for many miles over q
quiet sea or be blown here and there over
an angry one: but, ultimately she Is bound
70 be met and .toWed to her port She is
ment. AS foft he danger from storm-that
Is not to be- considered. The ocean liners
can can S,ea weather safe to say. ANY storm
In these days daHy SI1h the discomfort Of ocean
travel is a subject, for thought. not the dan
ger. On occasions. 1t must be admitted,
there Is some discomfort.