Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-07-25
AGE OF

The world was again shocked yes
terday when the news was flashed
over the wires that another terrible
accident. involving tle loss OF hun,
dreds OF lives. had been enacted ear.
ly in the morning in the Chicago riV-
er. within sight of thousands OF PEG
pie, who were helpless to avert the
frightful loss of life. 1t seems hardly
credible that the big steel steamer.
Eastland, one of the largest vessels
on the Great Lakes, could turn turtle
1t her dock and send nearly a thous-
and men, women and children to Wa
terry graves in full view of thousands
near at hand on bridges and shore.
1t seems still more Incredible that
With all the resources OF modern sci
ence, We are mot able 10 avert NOR
Of the ,frightful accidents wlichy in
recent years have seemed itot crowd
one another for the attention OF the
public. Barring the Lusitania. which
while it meant the destruction of
many Ives,fwas due to the hazard Of
var. there is a long list Of fearful
disasters Which occur readily to the
mind including the Iroquois fire, the
Slocum disaster. the Republic COLI.
sion. the burning of the Volturno, the
ramming OF the Empress OF Ireland
by the Storstad. and the sinking OF
the Titanic. Any one of these disas-
tiers staggers the imagination, when
it tries to compass the awful loss
which any one represents, and yet,
within a few years this long list OF
disasters has occurred.
There is evidence OF criminal neg
igence of the most reprehensibl char,
actr in all these accidents. There
is evidence of too common a DISPOSE
ton to assume u~nwarranted risk. to
take a fiimsy chance if thereby more
money may be made: or, if the mo-
tive is not so sordid. there is little in
ciination to really and conscientiously
adopt the safety FIRST" rule, but raI-
er in practice to shun it for the east
er, lazier rule Of laissez iaire. The
Indifference to human life, the indis-
position to adopt proper and suH-
ciens safeguards and the inordinate
desire for gain are the triple sins re-
spoasihle for mos. Of these accidents,
ii not for all. There is a crying need
for Inspectors and other public OH
Gals who will make safety first al
actual, constant and all-inclusive rule
OF practice, not simply a motto for
academic discussions or a byword for
iIlconsidered jokes.
There has been manifest in too
many quarters and for too long a
time a careless attitude OF indiher-
enee toward many conditions which
are responsible for a heavy loss OF
life.
In this country accidents are far
too numerous. II IS true that when
some terrible catastrophe. hke the
Iroqlois fire. calls attention 10 faulty
construction, a few new building OF
dinances are passed and complied
with, more or less for the time being,
o. perhaps in some cases permanent
II, but at the same time. there is
40 comprehensive attempt to foresee
and make provision against all pos
sible kinds OF disaster. In each case
the practice has been to adopt the
rule of the notorious farmer, and
wait until the horse is stolen be
fore the stable is locked This rule
becomes very costly and cry peril
Gus when human life is at stake
All possible sources OF disaster
should be looked over with the idea
Of guarding against all kinds OF pre-
ventabIe accidents. More foresight
and more vigilance must be exercised
4 the conduct Of All transportation