Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-11-30
SHOULD BE CLOSE
INSPECTION.

The recent burning at night OF the
passenger steamer Tivoli while on
her way down the Chesapeake Bay
from Baltimore and the loss of seve-
RAJ lives has again spurred the au-
thorities to make more thorough IN
spection of steamboats,. Comparative.
" few marine disasters have oc-
Cured on the bay during the many
years steam has been used, but there
as no telling how soon some terrible
calamity may take place. STEAMBOATS,
have at times been found to be purn-
ing while far out on the Chesapeake,
but the fres have generally been en-
lisEuished by steam and other means
Wi6aoat awakening the passengers.
ITsS ra96s, however, may not always
sgccGid. and every means should be
fseso,s4d in order TO minimize the
risks taken by people who patroa'ze
sis.f and bay craft.
IN 1871 the steamboat Westfiefd en-
ploded her boiler in New York while
taking on an excursion party. Sieve
raj hundred persons we're killed. The
United States officials began imme-
diately to make more drastic regu-
laxishs. and since that time ali OF
ficefs have been compelled to wear
uniforms. In 1873 the burning of the
steamer Wawasett on the Potomac
with the loss of nearly one hundred
persons spurred the authorities to
adopt still more ironclad regulations
and the loss of the steamer Express
in Chesapeake Bay in 1878 forced
the inspection to be still more exact
in everything calculated to insure
safety.
The burning of the Tivoli has again
called attention to the dangers incl
dent to the operation of passenger
steamers The bay is dotted with pas
.,zs 68l,s hit, some going
-. s,,saie yton and other
-r5s.s ,a.. aTtr@ ng from those
g5-% R.. g6agsc b"gr which they
run. is far from land, and should
fire break oat, especially during a
high wind, many would undoubtedly
perish.
The Baltimore Sun in speaking Of
the latest disaster says:
That less than dozen persons lost
their lives on the steamer Tlvoh may
be set down to good fortune rather
than to good judgment. Accidents arc
Of course, liable to occur even when
the most careful precautions are
taken, but two accidents OF the same
character to local boats III less than
a wear contain Very solemn and
eYnphatisc lesson. Help came in ths
nick of time both to the Maryland
and the Tivoli. but we cannot hope
always to duplicate their good luck.
If we do not take warning from these
experiences. the future may hold foi'
us q horror such as that which &C
Cured in Chicago last summer, Oh
which is still remembered by thou
sands, VINO were directly or Indirect
" concerned in the General Slocun?
disaster in New York waters.
We do not mean to be understood
ais criticizing the unhappy captain OF
the Tivoli. to whom the sympathy oil
the whole State will go out In ms
hour of double anguish-the anguish
of one whom ill fortune has dealt a
crushing blow both as a father and
as the chief executive officer OF the
vessel. The criticism goes deeper and
further than that-it goes to oul
whole American system OF reckless
ness, of official carelessness and lrres-
possibility. We made a great hullaba-
loo after the terrible Chicago calamity
and started a rigid search for those
whose neglect had rendered such q
disaster possible. But we forgot ali
about it in a few weeks. and few
people know now whether anything
has been done that will prevent fu;
ture marine accidents of that or OF
any kind. We do not say that the tire
ON the Tivoli was due to a cause thai
could have been prevented. But every
body will Feel interested IN Knowing
how far oar general system OF IN:
spection really insSecSs. and WITT
what degree Of seriousness safe
guards are provided and enforced.
---- --o--=----~
HENRY FoRDS
nSCAR III