Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-19

better OF the ccasclcss din on railroad
matters, with which, Of late years, the CON
mittec rooms and Legislative halls Of our state
house have echoed day after day for half of
the session, has any of it been caused by
warm debates on provisions for securing the
lives and limbs of passengers, Of laborcrs and
engineers from destruction Have any
lawyers been hired to advocate that cause
any delegations been sent to influence the
members of this or that county,-to work
upon wings or democrats to help it on Has
there been II single log-roll got up-a single
horse-shcd talk been had-a single compro-
mise been made for it's benefit.
Whatever accusations have been made Of
sins of omission or of commission on other
matters connected with railroads, we Judge
that all branches of the general assembly, and
the third house, 50 called, also, can be set
down as quite innocent of making much dis
turbancc on that subject.
Two years ago, after u collision OH the east
side of the mountain, one or two sharp provis-
ions were enacted by our Legislature but as
as a whole the subject has received very little
attention.
Almost all the outcry in the community
within the last few months, so fruitful in dlsas-
trous accidents, has been for severe c%nactments.
Make it for the interest of the companies to be
careful, by imposing very heavy fines if a life
is lost give high damages for every perso nal
injury and the evil will be rcmcdied very soon
send engineers and conductors to state pris-
on when passengers are injured from their
recklessncss or inattention, and there will be
nothing to fear. Such has been the prevail
ing sentiment.
But does any one suppose that it would be
for the interest of Railroad companies to have
accidents occur, if they had no damages to
passengers to pay for? Does any conductor
or engineer expose his own life as well as that
of his passengers, because he thinks he shall
make money or gain reputation by so doing?
1t is for the inter ST Of every man to be sober RI.
to be industrious-to speak the truth-to be
strictly honcst-to practice every virtue, and
to abstain from every vice; but thousands
come short on every hand, for all that. An
appeal TO the pccIniary interests of men to
insure their good conduct, is a very proper
one to a certain extent, and under proper con-
dilions. But the world will never be made.
generally, what it should be, by a reliance on
that appeal and railroad and 'eanboat acct
dents will be liable to occur Just as they have
occurred, till some other element of influence
is brought TO bear in their construction and
management, besides the enactment of severe
penalties, to be inflicted when injuries occur.
Incidents of the Providence and Worcester
Railroad Massacre.
Eye witnesses describe the scene as horrid
beyond description. Some Of the wounded
were moving among the crowd, one with his
arms cut off, another with his arm torn out at
the shoulder-others with horrld cuts on the
head, and various parts of the body, and utter
ing cries and meanings pitcous to hear. The
head of the Rev. Mr.. Penny was instantly torn
from his body.
The a~wfully manglcd state of the dead was
such that they had to be wrapped up from
public view. Of some recognition was lmpos-
sible, and their names were only asccrtained
by memorable found upon their persons. One
account from a passenger says:
was seated, with my wli", in about the middle
OF the second car. was hrSt alarmed for an instant
by a terrible whistle then came crash upon crash,
with IL violent conclusion all before me III the car
seemed t" he thrown IN a confused mass together !;
broken seats lying, and the forward part OF our car
crushing III IKE an egg shell. had tune merely
to say to my wife, Keep quiet, don't rise, a. the
bottom ct the ear behind us shot directly over my
head, taking oil my hat.
Then followed the most hcart-rending cries, ac-
conlanlcd by IA tcrrihIe struggle for life by the mass
OF men anu women buried beneath the shattered
tilnherS "f the car h"tt'In' My wite and myself
were for II few moments confined between the floor
uninjurcd. During those few moments II terrible
sense of sutfocation oppressed me. by the tearing
away ct 'ne seat peiore US | was 'n"'lcd To eN'r''
c~lutching my hair, crying Mr.. Bates. save me, oh,
save me- soon as Mrs. Bates was liberated and
bmt She called to me that She WA" safe and rroucstrd
ma -, FINN M ntt,uti,n T., Ma, r,,t,,ln ,r,nnl ma