The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-02

i''utSi 11is't tuS NleeA ululelc StruS-
gled for. Mr. Carnegie's plan, mas
much us it shifts the accent from the
Undiscovered heroes OF time that
goes i'll rather emotionally for war,
cannot fail to be of benefit. It does
not constitute a motive for heroism,
but it rewards it's exhibition in the
most expressive manner that a day
can in which the commercial has the
lscendancy.
What might have happened and
what should have happened are trivial
considerations, however, in face of the
forceful reminders of what actually
did happen. Stories of bravery are in
cident to this calamity, in common
with others. To Miss Mary Mccain,
the young Irish girl, who made four
thrilling rescues. and was stopped
then only because the strong arm of a
physician was more than she could
break away from, the thanks of a
country are due. Never before has
there been a greater display of brav-
cry. From the shore she caught sight
of infants struggling in the waters,
and with no concern for herself. plung-
ed into the sea, black with human be-
ings coming back to shore with an in
FAINT in one arm. Three times she re-
peated it, and then was prevented from
doing more by Il physician who recog-
nized her fatigue. 1t calls to mind, too.
the bravery shown by one of our Bos-
ton girls at Savin Hill on Saturday
last.
All these incidents contribute to the
general fund of comment, necessary
too, with reference to the Slocum dis
aster. The mere fact that Long Island
sound was the scene of the catastrophe,
instead of the vicinity Of Boston light,
is probably not much more than an ac-
cidpnt. For Boston. far from being i'm
mune from disaster in this respect, is
just as liable as New York. The
pleasure craft which make Boston
their hailing point are of the type
which the Slocum represents. In our
excursion steamers woodwork FREEDOM
mates, with only one steel vessel do
ing service, while "Boston's Navy"
the j. Putnam Bradlee, is a condemn
ed vessel.
Up to date. such a thing as fire on
one of the vessels THAT is to amount to
anythingl has been unknown. Fire
drills. it is the opinion of Inspector
Savage. are attended to with a regu-
larity that indicates safety for Boston
eXcursiOniStS. Not one of these YES
sells has a passenger capacity of more
than 1000. with the average list ag-
glegating 800. Facilities for fighting
fire are reported as entirely adequate,
and, us indeed after every disaster, the
statement is made that Boston is safe.
But New York, on paper at least,
would have been called safe. The life
preservers and the fire apparatus on
the Slocum We're condemned. 1t would
have been absurd to think that a YES
sci thus tabooed would be tlocked to
by people. Yet the absurd has hap
pened, and in the nature of things,
will happen again, with very little
hope that results will be less terrible.
Goodness on the part of those in such
Il situation might be suggested, but it
is appreciated that it is easier to
preach that doctrine than to practice
it; and that the deck of burning YES
sci is the last place in the world to
look for auditors. Still the Slocum af-
fair is another indication of the I'M
failing preventative a cool head is.
Shining white life preservers are things
pleasing to contemplate, but absolute
ly worthless in the hands of frenzied
people,
The Investigations which are pro-
ceeding at present can hardly show
more than is already known. Enough
evidence exists to Justify the officials
who have arrested some officers of the
Slocum, and while much yet remains
to be told of the calamity, there is
evidence enough to show that the in
cident was what was to he expected,
while the only thing wonderful featur-
ing the affair was the fact that it did
not occur before. For this very rea-
son. the investigation mot that order
ed by Secretary of Commerce and La
Dor Cortelyou, at least) cannot be
worth much. 1t will be strange in
deed if the committee of inspectors
who granted certificate to the Slo-
cum some time ago, and allowed that
vessel to carry hundreds Of pleasure
seeking people OH excursions, can give
any justifiable explanation. And yet
it is these same men whom unkindly
fate has scheduled to conduct the in
vestigation. Cortelyou's commission
will yield different results.
Still Investigations do little good,
anyway. or course, they cannot.
What, for instance, did the elaborate
analysis of the Iroquois theater disas-
ter in Chicago do to allay the suffer-
ings Of the hundreds of unfortunate
wretches who We're buried in the de-
bris? If more rigid enforcement of
the laws be made with view to re-
suits, some good will have been done.
But such test can only be made at