steamboat accidents, especially on the Western j waters, rendered it advisable for every man to ' make his will before embarking in what had i become little better than infernal machines. ' The slaughter of one of these steamboat cx i plosions, or collisions, was nearly equal to that jof a battle. Public indignation was greatly 1 excited by each fresh repetition of these atro i cities, and various met hods of safety wore sug