Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14

IL, SATURDAY, MARCH
ards were commissioned to enter the rooms
and bfIng Out designated articles. and
many yaluables were thus secured. But
some OF those who went through the state
rooms during this period looted right and
leIt. Those passengers who got into their
state rooms before leaving the wreck found
IN many instances their small articles OF
value missing.
Many trunks-and valises and bundles Of
Clothing and loose articles In pillow cases or
aagnt-draugft tug-tne Packer-which after
the women and a number Of the men had
Deen transferred to the Gladisfen came
nearly alongside the Madiana. This bag
gage was put in a warehouse in Ham
flton. The contents OF the blanket and
pillow case bundles in many instances
passenger was supposed to go through the
miscellaneous mass and Identify and re-
move what belonged to him. Many things
undoubtedly went astray IN this clumsy
process Inadequate precautions were
taken to insure that only passengers rum
mayed through and picked from the collec-
ton Such baggage and personal belong
ings as were not thrown into this hodge
podge, and were brought ashore the next
day by the wreckfng tug. were In many
cases SO mishandled as to become valueless
to the owners. A few trunks and valises
came to the dock broken open and empty.
The hint to those about to travel Is to
examine as carefully into the character of
the crew to whose keeping their lives and
property are entrusted as into the itinerary
OF the cruise. Here was an English steam
ship starting from an American port, car
rying party Of Americans, and not one
OF the crew was an Engiishman. Many of
them could not understand English. The
very men at the helm had to give their
evidence at the court Of inquiry through an
interpreter. The court expressed the op.n-
lon that only men who understand and
speak English should be employed to steer
British passenger ships. Common sense
speaking sailors for the other positions
also. 1t is outrageous that a crew should
be so composed that In case OF an emer-
gency-as fire. collision, leak, shipwreck-
any Of the crew should be unable to under
stand the orders of the officers and so be
prevented from obeytng unaccustomed and
unexpected commands promptly and accu-
rately.
To reassure passengers the steamship
company should be able to convince them
that the crew Is of fairly good material.
reasonably in touch with the officers and
disciplined in fire and lifeboat drill. 1t
should be assured that the life preservers
(many of which on the Madiana were de-
fective) the lifeboats and life RATS have
been recently inspected and that their COM
plete efficiency has been demonstrated.
The careful, periodic adjustment Of COM
passes should be guaranteed. Nothing in
the condition Of the compass-the ships
eye-should be permitted to exist which
might cause the deviation from the ships
course which sent the Madiana on the
rocks.
Bermuda's Defective Lights.
The court of inquiry says very mildly: at
would appear from the evidence adduced
that the power of Gibbs Hill light at the
present time is insufficient to fully insure
the. safety of vessels approaching Ber-
nd OF ME he rd No
one who followed the testimony before the
court of inquiry and who read the discus
sion in the Hamilton papers by pilots and
others with expert knowledge of the de-
feets of Gibbs Hill light could escape the
conviction that the Bermudan government
shares the responsibility for this disaster.
Many months ago an explosion of the Oil
used in this light and resulting fire de-
stroyed a large number of the mirror re-
Electors of the light and these have been
crudelyl replaced by tin The light has
been decreased in visibility by official adj
mission to eighteen miles from twenty
four. But what has not been admitted,
though at least one pilot now makes
public statement to this effect, is that the
light has become variable and uncertain as
well fainter; that it shows sometimes to
the extent of it's decreased visibility when
first lighted and early in the evening and
that 1t often seems to grow DINNER as the
night wears on: that when seen at some
angles it does not disappear as a revolving
flashes as dim fixed Aght; that it's visible
ity is affected by the weather and that in
some conditions of the atmosphere it has
pot been seen by skilled Observers, though
far withinsstts nominal range of visibility.
The aBermudan government sonae months
ago, tardiiygrecegniziHg It's duty appropri-
ated for "a new light, which is now being
constructed in England and which, it is ex-
pected. will be Installed next summer. The
Bermuda Colonist scores the government
for precrastination in the matter in vigor-
GUS terms 1t says:
According to Pilot Virtue, for months
the Gibbs Hill light has been little better
than wrecker's beacon--a decoy Turing
ships to their destruction. For months the
world has been led to believe that there
is still reliable revolving light upon Gibbs
Hill, but that its visibility is decreased in
consequence of the accident Of last year,
whereas, in fact, the light is, and for some
time has been, absolutely unreliable. With
in the last ten months several vessels have
struck on the reefs during the night, but
1t Is only now, after a fine passenger
steamer has become a total wreck and
scores of valuable lives have been i'm
periled, that the truth has zen made
public.
Zone thing is now certain-the executive
ought to lose time-ought to spare no
expense-in installing upon Gibbs Hill the
new apparatus for which provision was
made during the last legislative session. Its
completion by the manufacturers and its
dispatch to Bermuda should be persistently
urged and the executive should not rest in
the matter until the new light has been in
stalled and is in perfect opera ton. This is
something that concerns the civilized
world, and the commercial welfare of Ber-
muda is seriously involved.
1.-THE inefi1ciency of the Gioos Hill light-a
danger signal which for over half century
has been anxiously looked for by mariners
approaching "a most perilous coast-for even
one night was a serious matter to naviga-
ton, though a delay of even two or three
months might have reasonably been excus-
ed, taking into consideration the remoteness
Of this colony and the time required to get
materials out here. But nefficiency after a
lapse of ten months is quite another matter
and one which may provoke, from friends
and enemies alike, very grave question"
81 next season powerful light will prob
ably again shine from Gibbs Hill, but mean
while this lighthouse is more apt to serve as
a beacon of destruction than of safety. 1t
means danger, danger, ,danger-which ought
to be lessened by every conceivable tempo
rary device. Every possible warning in the
shape of boats bearing lights moored in the
smooth water just inside the reefs or In au-
tomato whistling buoys other approved
marine danger signals in the vicinity of
North Reef should be provided; or else to
every ship which plans to come near Ber-
muda there should be carefully and system
atically extended the Information that no re-