The Portland daily press., 1865-04-01
Whv wa have Railroad Accidents.


railroad are SO common and so fearful that
cautious people are beginning to look upon
this mode of travel with fear, and thew un-
willingly trust themselves or their friends to
be transported by rail when other means of
locomotion can be made available. A terrible
accident recently occurred on the Camden
and Amboy road, killing about ten persons,
and at the Coroner's inquest one switchman
swore that the trains we're all behind time,
but that the usual signals wers displayed
Other witnesses testified that they saw no
signals.
/ Here is plain contradiction: one set of wit
nesses swearing positively that the signals
were all right, and another set testifying that
they saw no signals, when it was their special
duty to see them if they had been displayed.
A Trenton paper, referring to this or some
other accident in that State, ascribes much of
the blame to the telegraph operators and
switch tenders, and the engineers disregard
of the company's orders. 1t says the tele-
graph operators failed to warn the trains of
each others proximity, and continues:
"The switch tender at Shamony station was
told to warn the Washington line to run slow
ly and look out for the express and freight
trains at Bristol. He did nothing of the kind,
but went off to bed and paid no attention TO
his orders. Again: the through Washington
line came rushing through Bristol at the
rate OF nearly thirty miles an hour. The law
limits the speed through the borough to four.
Had that been its progress it could have stop
ped in time and no trouble would have en-
sued"
The above shows the utter confusion of
testimony often met with in the investiga-
tions of aifearful railroad accident; and when
all the facts and surroundings in the manage
ment and practical workings of many of our
roads are we'll understood, people will cease
to wonder that accidents occur, and only won
der that ten do not happen where we now
have but one. A short time since we had a
conversation with gentleman who has had
many years experience in railroading, occu-
plying various situations from brakeman to
superintendent on roads of the first class in
New England. We feel confident that with
his observation and the knowledge he has de.
rived from unquestioned sources, he would
justify every statement made below.
In selecting men to work on railroad, no
matter what their position, if they have to do
with the working of the road, special pains
should be taken to secure intelligent, active,
and steady men, SO that every brakeman and
every switchman and every fireman shall feel,
If he faithfully performs his duty, that pro-
motion is not only possible but probable.
This is not always done. Ignorant men are
employed who often cannot read the requla-
tons or euen the timetables. Dispatches are
forwarded by telegraph from one station to
another, concerning the movement of trains,
Which are neuer deliuered. The person
whose duty it is TO deliver the dispatch to the
conductor of an expected train, hands it to
boy or leaves it where he thinks it will be
seen, perhaps according to "rule" posts it up
in given place, trusting that the boy will
keep awake, or that the conductor will find
1t. This is practise that should never be
tolerated where such momentous interests are
at stake. The man receiving information all
important for the safety of train, should be
required, in all cases, to see personally to the
delivery OF the message.
But there is worse evil, if possible, than
those mentioned, which obtain on some roads.
The employees are over worked, and kept
from their necessary sleep SO long, often, that
it is utterly impossible for them to keep
awake. We are told of case on a certain
long road, on which the policy was for awhile
adopted of working the engineers. brakemen,
&c, severely for enc day, making it perhaps
eighteen or twenty hours long, and then allow
ing them to rest day; or perhaps they would
work severely and almost continuously for
half the week, and then take the balance of
the week for rest and refreshment On the
freight train, say $50 miles, and then turn
their engine and run back, making from 300
to 400 miles per day of continuous attention.
We are told that while waiting for the engine
to be turned the engineer would sometimes
find himself utterly unable to keep apake,
and almost invariably would fall asleep, and
need to be reused up when needed to go on
board. II is safe to say that on the route re-
ferred to stations have often been passed with
every person who should be watchful actually
fast asleep, not knowing whether signals were
right or wrong, or whether there were any
such things as signals. 1t was no fault of the
men, bat of the policy which imposed upon
them duties beyond human ability to per-
form. s.
1t is Furthermore true that sometimes on
important routes, men of mere theory are put
in positions of authority, and undertake to
make out time tables and regulations which,
II strictly complied with, would be sure to re-
suit in collision almost daily. Subordinate Of
ficials do not feel authorized to point out the
errors of their superiors, and so for months
they will in practice avoid collisions By disre.
garding regulations, but this discretion can
safely be trusted with very few men. Who
wonders, with mere theorist at the head Of
an important railroad, as is sometimes the
case; with engineers and conductors who are
obliged in practice to study and allow for the
errors 10 their charts as the seaman does for
Wlnds ana currents; with delinquent opera
tors or messengers, or unfaithful receivers of
their dispatches; with ignorant employees
who cannot read their regulations; with over
worked men who are taxed beyond endurance
and cannot possibly keep awake when vigil
lance is the price of safety; with perhaps fire.
quent disturbance of the whole order of things
bV a drunken official with all these tbinOs
who can wonder that accidents will occur?
And how many lives might be saved by avoid
Ing these glazing errors, and by placing before
every employee the strong motive for fidelity
which hope of promotion would afford. The
great freedom of our Maine roads from acct
dents is owing largely to the observance of
the rules and hints here suggested.
A Valuable Capture by Sheridan's Men.
During the recent raid Of Sheridan, when
passing Old Church, fifteen Yankees came
H.