Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-25

which caused the loss Of hundreds Of
lives and untold sufferings 10 thou,
sands OF citizens who mourn the loss
of dear relatives or friends, has cast
deep gloom oyer this city. Like the
IroauoIs Theatnr horror The general
slocnm catastrophe will have far
reaching consequences. This latest
horror has awakened q categorical de.
mand for reforfls and FER ihe punish.
ment of those responsible for \, There
Is no doubt that q careful Investigation
of the catastrophe and its causes will
,hi made. Nct only tho Coroner. re-
.-presenting he county authorities,
~irl thorouxhly. SIT the evidsnce n
~ $40 tos ermine who ID directly
ySsponsibis the terrible loss Of
ill., but ths state authorities and fed
~ xxskoFitics As well mako efforts
u get vt the bottom of tho case.
Criminal c~arlessnsss.
IN all the preliminary Evidence
gathered by public officials and the
press IL correct, criminal ~carelcsencss
ID several quarters has been the cause
of the terrible loss Of lives. II was
undoubtedly criminpl c~arelessness 10
use the olI and lamp room Of ! steAm-
shir for storing highly inflammabIc
maAertnl like zea hay. which Is used
Tor p1kking crockery, II IL equally
criminal to enter = room. containing
- many highly inflammable things
/. Nth : lighted pipe. cigar or cigarette.
aeordIng 10 tho testimony Of many
Reers q tn IN fated steamer
~ ~osy1t1spnA many Of them,
uerpja-8 bad { cot dillon. that they
wsys prAdt)eS1ty nsslsss,. AZ they we're
Insecure and crnmbled TO pieces. How
=. xas possible that an excursion
steamer could be equipped With such
rotten belts. without criminal carclcss
.aess on the part Of some one. ii dlf.
ficnlt 70 explain II Is. also stated
that the fire apparatus Of the steamer
was absolutely inadequate and even
what there was could not 81 used. III
the fire hose was 80 brittle or rotten
that u bnrst when water pressure
was turned on. That such a thing
was possible also clearly indicates
sthe most flagraut and criminal care
iesaners on the part III somebody.
Hot az Directors.
The indignatlon Of the public III
directed against the directors and OF.
ficials Of the company 10 which the
steamer Gen. slocum belongs and. the
general feeling, always inclined 10
bc hysterleal In such caiamities, Is
worked ~ 70 q critical point by the
agitation of several newspapers. AZ
though. no doubt, part Of the blame
rests upon the directors 81 the com
pany, the public seems 70 loose sight
Of the fact. that ~ great. o. even
greater blame rests with The public
officials who either through their own
or with full knowledge
the actual facts permitted q steamer
% be used for excursion service, which
nothing bnt a biz fire trap.
After The Dlnero.
The directors u 4 steamer line are
In business for profit. moi merely
Tor their health They consider their
.~n interests before they give 4
thought q tbs comfort 81 safety III
heir patrons, They try 10 keep Mithsf
the Law because they know that
hey must, II they wish 10 carry on
heir business. but Il they can save
money BY substituting Inferior mater
Al, Q 90 less ieloW the legally pre-
standard. Without being fannd
'ut, they will DO 50 For that rea
the Offices of certain officials have
been created by federal, sat- OF nun
Icipal law whore duty Il i.t@ inspsr
steamships. elevators. steam engines,
buildings. etc. and see III II
That The provisions Of the respective
laws nre carried our III every detail
y Is their sworn duty 70 do their
work c%onscientiously ana IL prevent
violations by the exercise et their ~
ncial authority
Have Been pireIIet.
The auaxf4nn ~.