Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-30

The fun story of Saturday nights storm
may never be told. It's deadly Intensity is
revealed by degrees in the wreckage which
floats ashore, and perhaps In few days
some approximate estimate of the havoc
then Wrought on the New England coast
may be approachable- Meanwhile 1t is
clelr that at least one great disaster
marked the gale and that many lives were
sacrificed. The steamer Portland went 10
pieces some time Saturday night or Sunday
morning. so far out of her course as to
show that the storm was of resistIess
strength and that 1t was the most criminal
folly for her captain to put out from port.
The Portland's run is short. from Boston
to Portland, ordinarily occupying about
twelve hours. and at no time does 1t carry
the steamer far from the mainland On
such run the ordinary weather warnings
ought to be scrupulously needed. In this
instance. however. they were not only ig-
nored. but the captain of the vessel put to
sea, it is said in defiance of positive orders
to remain in port. He is now dead and
has received his own great punishment for
his criminal blunder but this In meas
ure compensates for the scores of lives
sacrificed to his obstinacy.
At half-past 10 on Saturday morning the
observers along the New England coast the
following order:
Hoist northeast storm signals; east to
northeast gales, with heavy snow tonight"
The observers were also directed to warn
all railroad and transportation interests of
the coming of heavy snow throughout New
England. The warning about the snow was
particularly important. Often a ship can
go to sea with comparative safety in the
face of a storm IL the air is not clouded,
but when the snow is flying landmarks are
Obscured. light houses are useless and the
vessel is left to fate. The snow blinds the
eyes of pilots as not even do the heaviest
rains The lights from the coast cannot
penetrate the driving mass of flakes.
The extreme warming used by the weather
bureau. the hurricane signal. was not or
dered. for the reason that Saturday morn
ing there was no foreseeing the fact that
two storms would unite and would create
the terrible commotion of the elements
which ensued. But the warning which was
given was ample for the purpose of indi-
eating the practically certain approach of
extremely dangerous conditions, especially
for vessels whose routes would carry them
close to the coast. a ship headed for the
open sea might have a chance to ride out
the gale by driving into its teeth. but even
this would require the staunchest of en-
gines and hulls.
The Portlands captain ignored the Official
warning the gale then blowing, the heavy
snow then falling and the direct orders Of
his superior to keep in port. He carried
with him to death over hundred people.
who had no knowledge. presumably, of the
desperate chances which he was taking.
This tragedy serves to suggest that perhaps
there may be some more positive method
of preventing disasters in the face of SOL
emn warning that danger is at hand. The
travelling public ought to have some safe
guard against this chance of death. A fool
hardy commander should not be permitted
to carry out to meet the hurricane his crew
and passengers. who rely upon his judG-
ment. In many states the owners of ships
which are put to sea in the face Of the
official danger warnings can not recover
their insurance money. 1t may perhaps be
possible for the states to go further and
take steps to actually prevent the sailing
of vessels under such circumstances. How
ever impracticable such a plan may appear
at first glance the circumstances of the
Portlaud's wreck warrant the consideration
of any suggestion tending to prevent repe-
titionS OF the tragedy.