Railroad Accidents, Their Cause and PreventionRichards, R. C. (Ralph Coffin)
History
Railroad Accidents, Their Cause and Prevention
Richards, R. C. (Ralph Coffin)
Railroad accidents
Charles Williston, while in an intoxicated condition, attempted to
get on train No. 16 while same was in motion, at Alger, March
16th. Baggageman and express messenger was standing inside door of
car and saw this man getting on; went to the front door, had the
cross bar in his hands, and ordered the man off. In getting off,
Williston fell and his leg was run over.
Edw. Hock, injured at Smithville, March 25th, by being ejected
from extra freight train, while same was running six or seven
miles an hour. Hock had got on train, having been told by someone
that he could ride on it--having mileage--and conductor made him
get off while train was in motion, and in getting off he was
injured.
Louis Nelson, colored boy, had been stealing a ride on train No.
extra 112; was ordered off by conductor at Avon, May 19th; after
he got off conductor shot him in the arm.
James Mills, injured at Pewaukee, October 21st, got on milk train
for the purpose of stealing a ride. Was ordered off by brakeman
while train was in motion. In getting off he fell and was run over.
When passengers are injured _by stones or anything else thrown
through or at the windows of cars_ render them such assistance as
you can; have the company's surgeon called to treat them, and if the
stone or object which broke the glass or which caused the injury comes
in the car pick it up and mark it so that you can identify it in the
future and send it in with your report, as per Rules 35 and 40. It is
as unfortunate that so many such cases occur as it is that there is no
way by which railroads can prevent them, and until the State and
municipal authorities take a hand in the matter they will continue to
happen and passengers will continue to lose their vision.
INJURIES TO PATRONS AND DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTY
Next come the accidents in which patrons are injured and their
property damaged. It is generally understood, and has been the custom
on all railroads, and Rule 50 requires, that before going onto a track
on which cars are placed to be loaded or unloaded by patrons or
employees it is the duty of the person in charge of the crew to go
along the track to ascertain if there is anyone in the cars, loading
or unloading them, or wagons close enough to the cars to be injured or
damaged by their movement, and, if so, to give ample warning in order
that such persons, wagons, and gang planks may be moved to a safe
place. In the mining district especial care should be exercised in
handling cars being loaded or unloaded by the mining companies'
employees, many of whom do not understand our language or the danger
of the business, in order that ample opportunity be given them to get
off the car before it is moved. How often that rule and custom is
violated is shown by the following cases:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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