The enquiry into the destruction of the steamer Bombay by fire at Woosung failed to elicit one important fact, to wit, the origin of the fire, but brought out into conspicuous prominence, namely that to some mental constitutions no amount of experience will teach its salutary letsou. In the first place, the fact that the Bombay was about to proceed on her intended voyage while in a condition absolutely unseaworthy was clearly shown. The good intentions of the recent amendments in the law affect ing the mercan marine were thus, in completely nullified, ug encountered as to necessitate the mandeuvre of *Ixying-to," been impossible, upon Captain Goggi admission. But in addition to these fearful risk of the peril of fire, which actually calamitously came to pass," was incurred. In the case of steamers the danger of ignition of any inflammable esrgo carried on deck must always be present, it where, as in the that cargo is cotto 0 1 of the cap of th with dry weather and a low thermometer, it becomes less a matter of risk than absolute invitation of disaster.
The enquiry having made known thes facts, the possibility of the fire occurring out of reach of the timely aid which fortunately was at Land when the Bombay met her fate, la horrifying to entertain. It la truly a redeeming element that only one man is mi ing of those on board the ill-fated vessel, but lad the disaster occurred at sea it may be fairly conjectured that considerable loas of life must inevitably have been the consequence, more especially og it was proved that the two quarter boats could not have been lowered, in consequence of the obstruction offered by feck cargo. It seems therefore amply apparent that the Bombay was on the point of putting to sea with the almost sure chance of meeting destruction either from fico or foundering, How thone responsible for this appalling fact can reconcile it with the dictates of common humanity, is best left for them to determine, Yo the world at large it an only be an atrocious indifference to life, 40 long again, under such circumstances unholy, was in view.
To make matters worse, even when the cotton, which had no business there, was actually on board, proper prudential measures for the safety of the vessel were neglected, Tu demonstration of this it is only sufficient to refer to the facts, brought out in evidence, that no officer was on watch, that was permitted every watchman, a Chinese, was in all probability asleep, that the cotton was arowed within the range of sparks from the stove, that it was inadequately covered, and that the moans at hand were insufficient to put out This category ts a formidable array of condemnatory facts, in coutemplation of which the catastrophe which actually i hetted upon ful risk thi and the neglect only to heap gi upon those concerned.
in ships and favouring pra bility leat to and adaraantine consciences. ins to struggle for livelihood it linzardout 3 of the that men will be fouud randy to risk
by, therefore, do the Marine Insurance potency. Offices not ener, expreasol in the finding Inquiry that risks on cotton stowed as in the of the Bombay should not be accepted. The refusal tu cover such: cargo with insurance would work a wholesome check upon the practice of overloading the decks of steamers, ut it may be presumed that, even in that case, the urgings of a would, be sufficiently powerful to induce sumo shippers to cake the risk of such pos the Tu the pre underwriters will not only decline to insure deck cargo, as in the case of the cotton per the Bombay, but protect themselves by a clnaes as regards cargo stowed below lar case of undue deck loading, view, the report of the Murine Surveyors should be relied upon, where opinion, if accordant with that of Mr. J. Roberts of Shanghai, would soon question as to whether gro and shippers or the underwri the But, it may well be at Shanghai to vessel to from the port so loaded? It wp ead made two trips previously Jaden in similar manner. Surely the harbour authorities at Shanghai are sufficiently empowered to refuse a el nce to a ship which may be, from any cause, ut worthy. Where the lives of human orestures are concerned, it is imperatively the duty of the authorities to see that no needless risk is run.—Daily Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.