The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-16
Railroad Accidents.
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
BALTIMORE, April 7, 1854.

BAInxoRx, April 7, 1854.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
sR-Your journal Of March 27 contains catalogue Of
railroad and steamboat accidents for the preceding If
teen months which is made the foundation Of editorial
comment, including the following paragraph
Travellers will thank Us for d.tipgushins the roads
track The baltimore and Ohio road stands list
with catalogue eleven accidents in twelve months
ing fourteen deaths and forty six casualties
Acknowledging in its full extent the accountability OF
companies to the tribunal Of public opinion not less than
to the organized judicial authority cannot dissent from
your general deduction vz the necessity Of enforcing
by public sentiment the duties of regularity and caution
the part both of companies and of the travelling
munity But regarding your editorial calculated by
its pervadng tone to divert the mind of the reader from
recognition Of the joint character Of this admitted
sponsbity and in the above paragraph to convey spe
cial Inference invdious to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company in particular l respectfully claim the
right to present before the public tribunal the defensive
statement in this case offering some corrections and
comments upon that portion Of your statement which
ates to the company to whose service have the honor
to belong.
The alleged facts from which your inference is drawn
partly destitute Of foundation partly susceptible
Of explanation which should in my judgment exonerate
the company from the unfavorabe distinguishing
mark implied by the imputation of negligence reck
essness. The reader will observe
accidents reported occurred in the tonnage department
by which the safety of passengers in degree eop
ariised In those which happened to passenger
passengers the sufferers only in two instances.
proceed TO examine your SERIES
March 9th, 1858, killed s; wounded 24"-At the
period mentioned the community Of our city and State
and may add of the Union startled with surprise
by the intelligence that after many of successful
traffic and unusual exemption from similar calamity
the first accident fatal to the life of passenger had oc
CURED the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad This mean
choly disaster which am neither DESTROYS to extenuate
nor interested to obscure occurred to passenger train
in descending eastwardy grade to Cheat River 76 miles
west OF Cumberland. II attributable to method OF
running the engines on the heavier grades which has
since that date been entirely abandoned No defect in
the construction of the road of the machinery in
no failure IN seduous attention on the part of officials
employed either the train the track ever
imputed in this by the parties Immediately
interes ed and best informed 1t recognized really
I'm reference both to the past and to the probable uture
an isolated occurrence, arising exclusively from
ceptiona cause never in subsequent operation must
Of remain source deep regret and an ad
ditiona stimulus vigilance caution on the part of
the company but ii has not far least the local
public are concerned diminished in the mnutes degree
the well established confidence reposed in this corpora
tion.
'June rs, wounded, 4."-Three persons only, all
employed upon express train, injured on this
OCCASION two of them slightly that interruption
their daily business ensued The third confined for
few days by bruises The accident was caused by run
ming over COW, near Thornton, Va.
august Is, wounded, 4."-Your date, in this in
stance erroneous the accident to which reference is
probably intended having occurred at Cameron twenty
seven miles from Wheeling the 18th of August when
four passengers sustained slight injuries in
OF train running partially off the track 1t appeared
from Judicial investigation that switch had been un-
Locked BY unauthorized persons and from malicious
tives Resolutions relieving the company from any i'm
putations were passed by the passengers
October Z, wounded 12For this report of an acct
dent there existed basis of fact, rumor
to that effect circulated in this city noticed by our
local journals But fabricated statement the product
OF mendacous imagination imposed upon the
ed by its editor the representation an officer of
this company The record should therefore have been
accompanied by the refutation.
November is, killed, 2.n-The only foundation for
this statement consists in the fact that individual
an insane man, was run and killed the 18th of
November
g November 90 wounded, 1v-The engineer of a ton
mage train somewhat hurt at Martnsburg.
1854, January 90 killed, 1.-THE engineer OF pas
senger train killed Cumberland, by collision
in the night with maiciously taken from switch
and placed on the track.
"Iebruary I, killed, IL
tFebruary 8, killed, ~
About this time tonnage conductor was killed. and n
tonnage engineer injured five miles west of Cameron
March 6, killed, 1.-THE brakeman of a tonnage
train was killed in consequence of imprudence his
| part, in sleeping at his post.
March I, wounded 1.-THE fireman of a coal train
sustained bruises in jumping from his stand
| on the engine.
! Tie analysis Of the above exhibits the following -
Accidents 10 passenger trains, do to tonnage trains
| o. do. TO man on the track, Total, 10.
Killed, passengers, officers and hands stranger
| Total, IL.
| Wounded, rs passengers, officers and hands-To.
| tai a.
Trusting that your sense of justice will induce you to
give this due publicity,
remain, sir, respectfully yours
AN OFFICER OF THE B. L. 0. r. r. co.