The Portland daily press., 1870-12-16
= Railway Accidents.


of travel, during the past month contributed
three fatal casualties to the list which has al
ready become too large for American railways
tosustain successfully for their reputations-
These casualties may be outlined as follows:-
Two trains came 10 collision near Brighton
station, G. W.. early on the morning OF the 81
inst. bv which four men were killed and sever
al wounded, beside the loss of property involv-
ed in the destruction of two locomotives, and
eighteen freight cars with their contents, esti-
mated at a quarter of million of dollars. In
consequence of the removal of the former sta
tion agent young man named Ward had been
performing the duties of operator and station-
master temporarily. He had been on duty for
ten days and nights continually, and though
he often applied to the Toronto tation for re-
lief, representing the impossibilty of perform
ing the duties of the station single-handec, no
relief was granted. Becoming wearied with
continued watching snd loss of rest he dozed
the morning referred to and failed to hear the
telegraphic message from Colburne announcing
| that two trains from opposite directions were
| to cross at his (Brightou) station. The result
has been stated.
purchased second-class ticket over the Grand
Trunk, but for some unknown reason took q
seat in first-class car. The conductor (King)
informed her of her mistake, and by his direc.
tion she passed out on to the platform to go to
her proper carriage 1.-THE train running at the
| ordinary speed at the time) but by some mis-
hap fell between the cars to the rail and was
| crushed to death. This accident occurred near
Richmond. The third accident was the break
| ing of a train of nineteen freight cars through
a bridge at BrOmpton Falls on the 9th inst, by
which two men lost their lives. The cause OF
this disaster we have not seen stated.
The question how best to prevent the fire.
quent railroad accidents that are occurring in
this country and the responsibility of passen-
gers and railway companies is the subject Of
| much newspaper discussion. Familiarity with
railway travelling has naturally bred q care
lessness of certain well-known and humane
regulations Of railway companies, and when
these are infringed and accidents follow, the
company has Justly been exonerated from
blame; but when injury has resulted from the
carelessness of the company or its agents,
the former has been held to strict respon-
sibility. If the injury is the result of the
carelessness of servants the company has no
remedy except in the discharge of the offender,
and this was enforced in the case of King, who
was at once removed. But who is responsible
for the Brighton murder? Not Ward, GER
tliniy, for he was expected to perform physi-
cal impossibility. The officer in charge of the
business Of that district was then the Offend
ing party, and should be dealt with. Has the
company taken any measures for his punish
| ment?
The method which prevails in England of
| making person who violates railroad regu-
lation, by getting off or on train when in mo-
tion, for example, aHswerable to the civil law,
and punishable by fine or imprisonment,
would doubtless operate we'll in this country
amd prevent many accidents. We favor trial
| of it. The offending passenger should alone
suffer for his own carelessness; but when in
jury follows the carelessness Of the company s
servants, the law in the United States holds
the corporation accountable. But the Cana
dian newspapers, which are discussing this
question, ask some punishment of criminal
kind, inflicted by public authority, as indem-
nifty to the company for negligence by their ser
wants. The readiness with which discharged
men find employment ON other roads robs dis
mlssal of half its effect. Indictments for man.
slaughter have almost invariably ended in the
acquittal of the accused. 1t would be difficult
under the practice of our criminal code to meet
the question; but discussion may provide a
means of relief. A more favorable popular
| sentiment towards corporations is the first
thing to be attained. We have gradually
| grown to the pernicious doctrine that corpora.
tions must bear all the responsibility for indi-
vidual grievances, and have no legal means of
| enforcing their Just and wholesome regula-
| tions.
| A ROMANTIC HIsToRY.-In 1866 the Earl of
Aberdeen, the possessor of one of the Oldest
| Scotch titles, a young man twenty-five years
| of age, forsook his honors and wealth and came
to America, where he entered upon the life of
| common sailor. For two years after his de-
| parture from home he maintained a regular
correspondence with his friends, but carefully
concealed from them his calling. His expert
ences were like men of plebian origin who
adopt such profession as he did. He ran
backward and forward ON the Atlantic coast
| on trading voyages, rose to be mate and finally
Of George Henry Osborne. In 1868 he took
command of sch. Walter of Richmond, Me. !;
but in January 1870 the record discovers him
as mate Of three -masted schooner, the He
bra, bound from Boston to Australia and Chi
ma. On the sixth day out he was washed over
board and drowned The facts in relation to
his career in American waters have been dis
| covered after the closest research by commits
sioner sent out from Scotland to find and bring
him home.
Two year ago the next youngest brother of
the absent Earl died, and heir presumptive
died, and soon after the following advertise
ment appeared in the columns OF nearly every
| daily paper in the United States:
'.Dod-I am well, but we are in afiictiop,
and long for you, that We may comfort one
another. There is letter to 'DOd', at the Post
Office, New York. MA"
This excited universal comment and curiosi-
", but in the light of the present revelations
its significance is apparent, "Dod" being the
pct name of the missing boy. Six months af-
ter this advertisement was succeeded by the fol-
lowing, the meaning Of which is equally plain ,
better, but very weak. Come if you possibly
can Immediately, for you are more needed than
you can think.
(Signed) MA"
The identity of George Henry Osborne as
the missing Earl appears to be well-establish-
ed, and the Hebra, from which vessel he was
lost has been chartered to proceed to England
that positive evidence of his death can be OBJ
tanned and the question of the succession set
tied.
The object of this young man in thus forsak-
ing friends, home and fortune, to become a
common sailor, is a mystery. It is a singular
phase of mans mind that will induce him to
ignore all the adventitious advantages of rank,
honors, wealth and position and enter upon
laboridds and dangerous profession ID a foreign
land. Only a mird well-balanced and persis-
tent in the pursuit of definite object can i'm
pei a man to such sacrifices. The earl appeared,
so far as the evidence is obtained to have resolv
cd upon earning place for himself, that with
practical experiences he should be better pre-
pared to fulfil his high station at home. tits
said that he was frugal in his habits, faithfully
depositing his earnings in the savings banks;
and often said to his shipmates that he intend
ed one day to own a ship OF his own; un-
doubtedly meaning TO return home at the end
of his wanderings, with tangible evidence Of
ha util;fv nf his mt ond tho diractnncc