The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-06-18

PIE

s. ~. horror and the pathoS OIL me
es,f.ht IN 15fcatastroDhe in the EastszriF-S
.er, near New York, yesterday, when es
Il hundreds Of lives were lost by a fire
- ) steamer crowded with excur-5
ssonists. 1T is inexpressibly% sad that
many of those who perished were
2.Children, who had left the great city
3 for a day of innocent recreation.
Their outing was not for a day, but
FOR eternity Death came to some OF
them IN that terrible form-death by
sfe names 1t was heartbrea king
sragedy-one which is SO oyerwh elm
ifns that even vast community like
New York is stunned by it,
Less than six months ago on De-
cember 80, 1908, the country was
shocked by the Iroquoise Theatre dis
aster in Chicago, when 591 persons
mere killed in a fire panic. Many
children persisted in this catastrophe.
IN the mad rush of the frenZled au-
Iience for the exits from the theatre
To the street, the little ones We're
Knocked down and trampled upon by
the panic stricken crowd. a few We're
burned to death, but the .malorltS
Of those who were killed We're troddenS
under foot and suffocated. In yes
rerday's# disaster there was an &unconS-
frolIable panic as soon as it became
apparent that the yesselSwas on ire
MANY persons were crushed to death
.z,r forced overheard by the stamRede5
of passengers to that partl4 OF gst siss
ssreamer.to which the flames hadnot,
extended. :S5s#
49, ~ crf,ss
zsfrophe revealed the fact that the
theatre was not equipped with tall
the appliances which the law pre-
SGIbes for the protection of persons
who attend places Of, public anause-
n,ent The result was that the Chi
cago authorities ordered stringent
enforcement Of the law, and a mum Der.
of theatres in that. city We're CLOSED
s1nm they had complied with the reg
uIaIions IN other cities similar &C
4Ion was taken for the protection Of
theatre goers. III
a searching tigation into the
circumstances surrounding the dis
asIRr near New York yestfrdayswill
probably be the outcome OF the#fear-
fui loss Of Iife.s It remainsf to be seen
whether the people of the metropolis
are afforded the proper fsdegree Of
protection from fire and fother5 perils
ON excursion steamers.Ik Ii view Of
the fact that few accidents occur the.
1 presumption is hatathis protection is
nat lacking. Every effort Should be
made by steamship companies to in
sura as far as: possible the safety Of
passengers and 95excursionists. The
steamer which was burned yester-
day had a carrying capacity of $500.
passengers estimated that
there were not mo az than i 900 per
sons aboard when sheSca trophe oc-
Cured. Evidently thieves was not
oVercrowded. does not appear,
however, that#tf life preserves
we're accessible 7at least, in the case
OF the children. In the excursion
boats in New York harbor, it is
stated the life lpreservers are dashed
TO the ceilings over the decks. Only
an adult, lit Would seem, can get
at hem.8#' That the vessel which burn
ed yesterday Twas in as good condi-
ton aS#fhe law requires is inferred
from the sta ement of officials Of the
United STATES Steamboat Inspection
sS3ssisssa .zsgssssV boat was Inspected on
May 5 and was certified to be in prop
er shape. Her captain was an expe-
&rienced MAN with ia record OF long
s IL may be that every reasonable
nrecauti had been taken against
Ere and every other danger and that
cal tastrophe was unavoidable
EsIhateYer the facts may be, however
s5Hfae New York authorities should
probe 1.-The matter to the bottom, in
.sstser that the responsibility may be
placed where it belongs, as We'll as
sfsrs fhe protection of the public
zsgaiJnst such disasters in the future.
I 10 some satisfaction, at least, de-
The frightful loss of life, to
.Skxa3SW that heroic efforts were made
aSf save the lives of helpless children
id women. Such heroism was to
expected from Americans.-Bal-
gtHnure Sun.
II From zone Woman's Chat.''
II DIGESTION Daily Advertised (.
The other day had occasion to