We started about two and a half feet out of the water when leaving St.Louis, and, long before we met with our accident, we had taken in cargo till we were scarce five inches above the river.

Not only do they cram the lower or freight deck, but the gallery outside the saloons and cabins is filled till all the use and comfort thereof is destroyed, and scarce a passage along them to be obtained.

Seeing the accidents such reckless freighting must necessarily give rise to, what more simple than obliging every vessel to have a float or loading line painted from stem to stern at a certain elevation, making the captain and owners liable to a heavy penalty if the said line be brought below the water by the freight.

There is one other point which I may as well notice here, and that is the manner in which these boats are allowed to carry deck-passengers.

There is no clear portion of deck for them, and they are driven by necessity among the bales and boxes of freight, with no avenue of escape in case of accident.