On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
A great many persons fall into, or jump into the river at our fories, and not a few among the number of such get drowned. It is quite a common thing when a ferry boat is pushing out from its dock, to see persons rush forward to get on board before it departs, and some of them generally imperil their lives by leaping on the boat after it has started off. Among those who have resided in Brooklyn or Wil- liamsburgh tor a number of years, and whose business has led them to be regular passengers in the ferry-boats, there is scarcely one who has not at some time fallen into the water, or come very near doing so by jumping after a departed boat. 'The coolest of men in a hurry, when they see a boat just pushing off, as they arrive, are apt to play the impatient by springing after it. We have heard manyplans suggested for preventing people from jumping on board of our ferry-boats, but it requires no ingenuity to devise an effectual one. All that has to be done is to board up all communication between the rooms where the passengers wait for the boat, except a small sliding gate under the control of the collector, and whenever he tolls the last bell, he should close it and not allow a soul to pass through until the next boat arrives. The boat should not leave for one minute after the bell is tolled, so that every one inside will be enabled to get on board, but not ose outside. This ptan would involve no extra expense ; it is a simple and certain remedy for people getting into the river by jumping after a departed boat.
