Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-11

In contemplating the loss of the
steamer San Juan, sent to the bottom
with 10 of her passengers and crew
when rammed of the California coast
by a Standard Oil tanker, the press
recalls disclosures following the Vestrls
tragedy and deplores conditions which
make such disasters possible.
1.-The tragedy leaves us appalled," eX-
claims the San Francisco Chronicle.
I'm this age of progress in transport
and communication it seems incredible
that so many should fail Of rescue from
a disaster almost at our very gates.
1t goes without saying that there
must be a searching investigation OF
the circumstances surrounding the dis
aster. to the end that the causes may
be made fully known and measures
added, if possible, for the safety OF
those at sea-"
1T has been many years" according
to the Pasadena Star-News. since such
horror occurred off the shores of
California. This tragedy should be the
object lesson and the incentive to bring
about a period of greater rigidity OF
rules of navigation at sea, so that the
equation of mans carelessnesS and IN
competence may be eliminated" The
Saginaw Daily News hopes that the
investigation twill be so conducted as
to restore public confidence" remark
ing that this was considerably shaken
by the Vestris investigation at New
York, which wholly failed to clear. up
many points that were later made plain
by the London investigation"
THE general public will be inter-
ested," declares the Kansas City Jour-
nal-Post, "in how an old vessel, found
no longer fit for the general channels
of trade, could have been 'relegated'
to one of the most important OF an
services-that of an excursion steamer.
The Santa Barbara Daily News agrees
that "a person assumes an added haz-
ard when he undertakes even coast
wise voyage on any but a large ana
modern vessel" That paper feels sure
that "a larger and more modernly con-
structed vessel would have survived the
blow which the San Juan received
much longer than she did; certainly
long enough to have permitted the
launching of boats"
ct is to be noted" suggests the st.
Louis Post Dispatch. that the San
Juan was one of the oldest sea-going
passenger boats under the American
flag. It had witnessed AZ years OF
service. A rotten old hulk and I'M
speakable seamanship are thus the IN
gradients of this latest tragedy OF the
S6d, WIllCU GOOh a OOlL VA ~ AANSo' AAOSS
who are responsible for it should be
made to pay dearly"
"If the Standard Oil tanker which
sank the San Juan with the loss OF
these lives was running rapidly ana
without the proper signals. and proof
of this can be adduced," contends the
Columbus, Ohio Evening Dispatch. the
courts are almost certain to hold her
owners responsible in heavy damages.
When recognized means of avoiding &C.
cidents in fog are neglected, few courts
will listen favorably to the plea that
the accident was unavoidable"
"The common law of the sea, which
demands the use of extreme caution
while proceeding through fogs or thick
weather, was violated" declares the
Memphis Commercial Appeal. Thai
paper assumes that the character of the
Damage done Indicates that speed
was being maintained far in excess of
what should have been used in thick
weather" and advises: THE day when
sea tragedies of this sort can be CLOSED