Shooting at Dynamite: Not a Good Idea!
The steamboat "Columbian" had been built in 1898, in Victoria, B.C.
She (I find it interesting that ships are always feminine, don't you? Could this
be because most pilots and captains are men?) began her commission with the
Canadian Development Company, and in 1901 she was sent to the Yukon to run the
Yukon River between Whitehorse and Dawson City. She was a popular boat, and she
always sailed with a full complement of cargo and passengers.
Until September 25th, 1906, that is.
September 25, 1906 was the day the Columbian would lose her usefulness. She was
heading downriver towards Dawson that day, with her usual complement of cargo
and passengers. Among the cargo was a load of explosives to be used in the
mines. Up until that time, no one had ever given a second thought to carrying
explosives on steamships that also carried passengers; but that, too, would
change.
One of the passengers aboard the Columbian that day accidentally fired a shotgun
blast into a barrel of dynamite. The story goes that he was shooting at wild
ducks on the river and his shot went wild. Whatever the reason, putting a
shotgun blast into a barrel of dynamite is never a good idea, and it caused a
colossal explosion that resulted in the deaths of five passengers and the total
destruction of the Columbian.
The Colombian had been a ship with a promising future, but her future was
completely ruined by the single shot of a gun! The same is true with the words
we use. We often accidentally fire an explosive word that hits something other
than the target we're aiming for.
The consequences are always devastating; however unlike the destruction that was
so evident on the Columbian, the destruction of our explosive words is not
always noticeable. Rather, the damage is often to the self-worth of the
recipient, and this can serve to forever alter their destiny.
No wonder James warned us to put a watch over our mouths against explosive
words: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the
righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the
evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can
save you." (James 1:19-21 NIV)
What kind of a "shotgun" do you use? I have decided to bury mine.
Rob Chaffart
P. S: In the wake of the destruction of the Columbian, it was no longer legal
for passengers to travel aboard steamships carrying explosives. This posed a
problem however, because explosives were carried aboard every steamship making
the run from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Steamship companies were quite ingenious
in their solution to the problem posed by this rule: Every passenger boarding a
steamship was immediately signed up as a member of the crew! The rule didn't
state explosives couldn't travel with crew members! Problem resolved! But that's
another story!