The daily Alaskan., 1913-12-10
SAFETY Is DEMANDED.

Dawson News: Yukoners have no sympathy with an apOlogist for neg
 igence or other coutributory causes of the numerous shipwrecks on the North Pacific coast. The Dawson News joined with other papers in protesting against the numerous wrecks which have occurred of late in those waters, particularly among vessels carrying passengers and gen. eral traffic for Alaskan and Yukon points. Seattle has a publication known as the Railway and Marine News, which takes exception to the Dewsou News, and says in part:
 The roast for the ships was also all wrong. It is true that ships have been wrecked, but the opsrat- ing companies are not to blame. The same accident might happen to any company and, in fact, every one of the larger companies has met with disaster, the latest being the Prin- cess MaQuinua and the Curacoa."
 The one specific accident referred to in the foregoing quoted para graph is that to the Spokane several weeks ago. The telegraphic adTiceS sent out in the beginning stated the ship was wrecked, and losses heavy. The Railway and Marine News says that the Spokane had an accident, and that she did not strike any obstruction but that wa ter filled her hold. through an open cock"
 It would be interesting to see the Seattle scribe explain why there should rot be as much blame at tached 10 the seaman or navigating officer responsible for an open cock which fills ship as there is to a sailor or skipper who directs a boat on the rocks, resulting in equal risk, and perhaps loss of life and property. One act may be as seriou as the other. Scarcely can 8 ship which properly equipped, properly nayigated, and properly attended meet with such accidents.
 It is safe to say that but for the human element of ignorance. error or misjudgment or want of ade- Quately and efficiently equipped craft which enters into seafaring an handling of ships, many precious lives anG many splendid cargoes and fine ships lost in Alaskan and Brit ish Columbian waters would have escaped the tragic fate. And to those might be added the losses due mol nearly to the unavoidable and inevitable when great storms overcome all the most excellent craft man can build, driving them at times of unforeseen contingency against Instructions or engulfing them in mighty waters. But in most cases of wreck there is neg Iect to be traced either to care less seamanship, lack of strict en- forcement of marine laws by govern ments or shipowners, lack of equip meut for lighting of vessels in dan gerous waters, want of adequate ma rine surveys or some other provis- ions.
 Trace up the long list of wrecks on the orth coast. with the grim total of deaths, and in most cases the ultimate findings will show where there might have been pre- cautions and better provision which would have averted the disasters.
 The Dawson News has no apolo- gies to make for waging a fight for safer and better ships for the North coast waters, nor for protesting viz orously against those certain casse in which there have been positive In stances of negligence, or incompe- tency or ignorance or lack of sobri- ety. The shipping world knowB and winks at too many such instances. The travelling world knows much of the inside facts and the govern ments and others have often been too slow in bringing on retorms Neither is the Dawson News fawn- ing to the Seattle waterfront pink tea society to espouse the cause of any one steamer line nor mincing matters for any steamship line nor boosting nor defending any line ply ing on the coast. While good ships are in use in many instances, too many old style steamers have been sloughed into northern waters, and ancient craft made to do service for the Northland-a region which has poured a stream of gold into coast cities, reyitalizing them, and render ing opulent the steamer companies and many deDendent upon them. The