The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-23
THE "HUMAN ELEMENT.

3krom all that can he gathered as to the cause
lthe fatal accident to the big gun at Fortress
1bnroe. the premature explosion resulted from
q haste Of one Of the men operating it, in his
sbrt to make record for speedy discharge
81 The gun rises, three turns are supposed to be
s1fn upon the breech mechanism before it Is
locked by a safety device. In the
Bh to make quick shot, the gunner charged
..lh this duty left off one Of these twists in his
(tte, and the explosion costing number Of
[fs followed.
IL will be seen, therefore, that from present
bts the calamity resulted purely and solely
I'm the presence of the inevitable human ele-
Fnt'' There is, III reality, no such thing as
btolnatie" machinery The mechanical auto
HON must be responsive to human brain. 1t
Ist be put in motion by human hands 1t must
hinder the watchfulJhuman eye. And just as a
tce of so-called automatic machinery some
kes misses lis stroke, sometimes fails to per
ID its intended functions, SO the eye and BRAIN
hand of the man who is its component work
part sometimes fail to look, to think, to act !!
tomatie action is dream that is still, and no
ISL will remain, in the visions of those who
eonstantly striving toward perfection. In
meantime, the human being will now and
III blander, the machinery will slip a cog, the
Twill break, the minor point of incautlon Will
ng the major disaster that has It's mansprlngs
The smallest detail
This particular accident emphasizes, also, an
EEr trait of much account III the world the
6inet of sport. The target practice, grim as
Sntendlpent is. becomes to the men who engage
III sgft Of Titanic sport,--a sport which plays
9TH the fhunders which is ringed with smoke,
3ch Is based on death dealing qualities, but
TIL. for all that In order that there be eff
ency in the handling of these great weapons
! IA necessary that this element be introduced
|4 the principle of competition be established.
fm ii pitted against crew; speed in firing, ac-
hcy IN aim, are applauded and rewarded, The
III guns. whose manipulation would be other
Is heart-breakinx task, become giant play
atcs In the hands of the men who handle them.
III they are dangerous only adds to the sauce Of
Y game. for il is exactly in proportion to the
5Ircr involved that sports become fascinating
II sportsmen keen PLAYERS In the mind Of the
3ner whose fatal omission cost his own life
VI that Of his comrades the need was to play
~ danger, 10 firt with death, to bring to the
hest efficiency the delicate weapon of immense
ber through the agency of the most daredevil
3ptance of risk Hundreds of times, no doubt,
had .furned the trick. The moment came
III the habit that had become almost automatic
Hot for an instant its cunning IN the pressing
hands for more speed, and the sport took the
fnecessary for its development TO the point OF
hest efficiency
1he problem is, Of course To guard against
human element, while preserving It's ambl-
and encouraging its enterprise. 1t IS hard
bem, one that never will be, and never cap
fsolved The path Of fate is full of round
les and hidden holes But it is the men who
lng these dangers and guarding against them
fhe same time throw them out of their mind;
nse rush toward an ideal which they keep above
n heads, that do things that make progress
out of danger itself construct peace and es
fsh safety. In the wonderful constitution OF
kan nature it is one of the strongest provision,
n the instinct in the child TO play finds in the
Il its counterpart in sport-a sort OF deadty-in
ut play that WHITES business, stimulates in
lion creates its disasters, piles up its dead
bxer and always, under the strange Providence
ffe, works ahead to new marks, new discos
new aspirations, and great deeds. Foi
md sport are alike competition. And con.
hon is life