Numerous accidents had occurred among the boat children. Forty-five children had fallen into the canal more or less frequently; 11 had been kicked by mules; 1 had been burned; 1 cut with an axe; another, dragged by a mule over a lock gate. One mother said that her four children had had many accidents. The oldest had had his nose broken by a kick from a mule. Fortunately the boat was near a town in which he secured hospital treatment. With the exception of the baby all had fallen into the canal many times, and once when the lock master, by closing the gates too soon, dragged the awning off the deck and the children with it, they were caught between the gate and the boat. In telling about these accidents, the mother seemed to consider them an inevitable part of boating.