, 1873-09-20


present generation and warning for tho
future.
RAILROAD SLAuGHTERS.
The reoklossneHs and oa1olossneBs Of railroad
employees aro very o1enrly exemplihed in tno ao-
c.dents which took place q few daye ago on tho
Great Western and tho Saratoga 4 Albany Ronds.
In eaoh instance, misplaced switch VAS tho oc-
caaion Of disaster. On the Canada road, tho
woatern-bound train switched In at Stony Crock,
to allow tho Detroit express train, which has tho
right Of "ay, to pass. Thore ia no regular
switch-tendor at that point, the duty Of manipu-
lating the switch doyolying upon tho brakeman
Of tho woetorn-bound tram, who loft 1t wide
opon, thus cutting OF tho main track. The
Detroit express camo laundering along,
and Of courso ran into tho ditch. Both
the engineer aud tho fireman noticed
the misplaced switch, and checked tho speed Of
tho train as much as possible. Instead OF Jump
Ing from the engine, al they might have dono
and thereby hayo saved their lives, they ntood at
their post and both were killed. Fortunately,
although most Of tho train was wrecked and tho
cars took fire, mono Of tho passengers wore
killed. The accident in New York, on the sara-
toga + Albany Railroad, waB Of aBimilar nature.
Tho trnin WAS nearing Albany when the
accident happened, md its speed had been
Homewhat alackoned, which may account
not greater. The train had reached point
whero the double tracks converge into one,
aud at this point Was switch. The place Was
always considered dangerous one, and extra
precautions wore usually taken by the omp1oyca
Of the train. Tho position and duty Of tho
switchman, therefore, woro very responsible,
and required careful, temperate, and trust
worthy man. Tho engineer was, aa usual,
watchful when ho approached tho place. Tho
index indicated that all was right, and ho saw
tho switchman with his lantern in his hand.
NovertholesB, ho had m instlnotiYo focling that
something waa wrong, and whiBt1ed down
brakes. Ho had hardly dono so before no saw
by tho glaro Of tho headlight that tho
rails terminated abruptly, and that the switch
was misplaced. It was too late. Tho engine,
tender, and baggage cur wont over tho
embankment, but, as il by = miracle, tho pas
sengcr cars remained on tho track. The fireman
was killed and three Of the passengers wore
badly injured. The engineer won't over NTH tho
ongine, but escaped with hts lifo. After tho
accident, It Was shown that tho switchman wna
highly intoxicated at the time, and didn't know
what ho WAS doing.
Horo are two diaaatcrs,- tho ono caused by tho
grosBoat carc1essnoss and neglect Of duty, tho
other by into1icaHon. Both occurred at ycry
important and dangerous locations, whore en-
tirely trustworthy mon should have boon placed.
Tho rcsults have shown, however, that untrust-
worthy men we're employed In each case.
Tho Canada brakeman and the Now
York Bwitclman aro under arrest, which
very materially increases tho number
Of railroad murdcrcrs now awaiting trial. An
engineer and conductor in Illinois, An ongineor
and conductor In Ohio, an onglneer in Michigan,
Two brakemon In Canada, and o switchman In
Now York, complete the list, II all reports arc
true, there are some partias connected with tGo
Ironsidos, which sunk tho other day OF Grand
Haven, who should DO added to the list. There
Is an excellont opportunity, therefore, to decide
sho question now whether thore ia any penalty
for railroad murder, and whether railroad cor
poraionn are Responsible for tho criminal eacri-
dco Of human life. There ia no doubt about
responsibility for tho loss OF freight. A rail-
road corporation which loses a passengers
trunk through its own carelosaneas has
to make the loss good to tho owner. It
ought not to be too great an assumption
to claim that passengers life Is as valuable as
his trunk, and that, II they arc expected aud
compelled to uso evory procaution to tako caro-
OF tho trunk, thoy must also DO expected and
compelled to uso every precaution to take care
Of liio. It these men who are now under arrest
aro released without punishment, thoro Is no
safety for the travelling public. Eyory engineer,
conductor, brakeman, aud switchman will inter-
pret such = roloaHo as guarantee that they eau
continue tholr 1eokloRsneas and oareloasnoss
with perfect impnnity, and disasters will con-
tinuo to happon. Il, on tho other hand, these
! mon arc punished, railroad employees viii exor-
else caution aud vigilance, aud will so perform
thoIr duties that, II diaaster happens,
It will 10 from oauaes beyond their
control. The omp1oyes OF tue roads are
not tho only responsible parties. Tho corpora
sions themselves are responsible to q largo
extent for the character Of thoir employees. In
tho Case Of tho New York disaster, the Albany L
| Saratoga corporation must bear aharo OF the
responsibility for tho Nreoking Of the train and
tho death Of tue fireman, from tue taot that they