The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-01-30
CAUSES OF OCEAN DISASTERS

Now that the cries of distress arc sled off Cane Beale
and only the sulon wash OF the surf heard tosses the
bodies OF the Vaeneias victims up sands is good
time for most searching Investigations only the
equipments of steamboats, upon this coast but into the per
sonnel OF he that them.
IL is notorious fact among well informed persons that
many OF The ocean going boats plying and from Puget
Sound ports manned by officers and little
Of surf work and who in cases of shiprcek are s more
oompeent 20 handle the life boats than passengers
themselves
That this was the case ON the Valencia and also ON the
Queen and the Topeka which stood by hepessy making
efforts 10 send boats TO assist. be doubted
Knowing that these conditions exist why do the proper
federal authorities not compel boat efficient
beat drills instead OF the few faeea maneuvers shhboard
which arc by courtesy called "drillsp"
Not steamer that PHYS in and of Seattle has proper
boat drills
Instead of putting the boats letting them
down into the and making them pull away the captains
or two few feetand then stop the whole proeeedugi
And this is called boat drill
Is any wonder that when accident really occurs and
the boats have be launched chat bung ling
fool break made whereby loaded boat is upset while low
ering x, slipping passengers and into Even
The boat IS successfully lowered in awkward the
chances three that IL win be against
sides OF the ship before il clear simply because
ineSperienee and inability OF the members of the
charge.
And if it does ge, away. thep the plugs won't n in the
bottoms OF the boats be found the long
break or the pins give Time and again this has hap
pened
II there untramellsd justice in the land good many
steamboat would be wearing stripes serving
fences for numbering their passengers.
But the powerful steamship corporations like the Pacific
Coast Company hypnotic influence upon federal Of
tcials II takes time 10 have proper boat drills ocean
and who would dare stop liner a eoasting
boat for proper drills when would valuable time be-
tween ports and consequently some money!
The steamship he OF the OF Perkins Of Cali.
tornia. would TO that such Troublesome officials
hold office very long.
And while talking plain English about these matters Il
Just well that something should be said about DRINKING
CAPTAINS.
While nobody Inflated Valencia was los, through
the lno&icaon OF officers unhappily many
the disasters which overtake going vessels this
directly due to drunken captains drunken
Coming night down 20 IL is knowledge that
certain captains OF the Alaska boats coming Skagvay
often far under the influence OF liquor they can
scarcely stand the bridges give orders These
generally leave Seattle sober but that because
at the horne and they fear that somebody might report
them.
The conditions exist upon than Alaska boats
waterfront knows Drunken officers
by many
Why do steamship companies tolerate drinking upon the
part OF their captains and chief oeers7 Why do
for self protection II for higher motive upon
rigid ahstenance the part their captains officers
the railroads do with their engineers conductors upon
trans2
Nowadays any engineer who drinks or any conductor
for tina, matter. finds impossible hold his job with
big railroads
The is apparent intoxicated engineers and con.
dueors have caused many wrecks They
panes much money.
The time is coming when public opinion will
compel steamboat employ only temperate
happened the Valencia though due TO other causes
than drink will hasten the day by directing public
tention the existing dangers OF the
service due to indifference drunkenness and earelessesx