New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-05
RAILROAD RACING.

TRIALS OF SPEED on WESTERN RAfLROADS-H0w
TWO MEN WERE KILLED AND NOBODY WAS TO
| BLAME.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR Like the majority of Americans, have
objection to quick travelling. Whenever Is possible
always make my Journeys on the fastest srains De-
evIng them DO safer they certainly are easanfer
than any Others but do desire. in behalf of she thou
sands who daily ntrust their lives to the kespng OF
railroad companies make earnest protest against
racing with passenger trains The risk altogether too
great.
In the vicinity OF Of the large Western cities
the tracks of rival railroads extend for miles side by
sde often rot more than 100 apart This the csso
between Alton and East st. Louis, H., where the roads
the Chicago and Alton and the Indianapolis and ST.
Louis companies are parallel snd within full sight OF
each other for considerable distance. On the 18th OF
August last was going from Jacksonville TO st. Louis
branch Of the former Of these roads The equip
ment Of the Chicago and Alton Road on ts main ne Is
good that OF any road In the West all through
trains being furnished with steam brakes, heavy six
wheeled trucks and other modern appliances to secure
safety that Of the train was only ordinary
The brakes worked by hand and tho trucks OF the
cars OF the common four wheeled kind.
After passing Alton came abreast OF . through
train on the Indianapolis and st. Louis Road thoroughly
eauipped with sir-brakes &C., and within q minute
two it was apparent to every ono on board or both
trains from the increased speed that race was to take
place. The track Of the Alton Road not very smooth,
but should judge that running at rate be-
tween 80 and IS miles hour when the other train
passed us. and that speed more than IS miles an
hour few minutes later when we took the lead. No
accident occurred but there the greatest excite
ment among the passengers on each train
A few weeks later, the morning of Sept D. | was a
passenger the train from st. Louis the Ohio and
Mississippi Road. Just as we were entering the city
limits OF Cincinnati We came alongside of an express
train on the Indianapolis Cincinnati and Lafayette
Road a took place which did not end until we
had passed within the city limits. The train was on
running at least IS miles an hour-I thought the
rate was above 40 mes-when the Indianapolis tram,
which had been temporarily distanced attempted to
pass us. Some section who were repairing the
track on the Indianapolis Road watching the st.
Louis train, which running at unusual speed and
did see or hear the other train, which came sud:
denly around sharp curve, struck two or them, and
killed them almost Instantly
Every on the st. Louis train with whom | spoke
including passengers and the conductor of the Pullman
car, believed the trains TO be racing ana greatly
blamed the officers Of both trains The Cincinnati news
papers tne next morning SPOKE Oh ,he accnent as Tue
result OF race But at the coroners inquest both con-
ductOrs and engineers swOre that the Trains were not
running faster than usual that they were not racing,
and that their speed not more than % or 80 miles an
hour and the Jury found to blame That there
a race, and that somebody was TO blame can be
easily proved. The Indianapolis time. the
ST. Louis tram little behind and The regular schedule
Of the latter Is little the faster. The st. Louis train
ought 10 have been going the higher
speed when the accident occurred which was not the
the Indianapolis train that had been behind,
gaining on us at the time.
saw described lately new instrument which. being
attached TO locomotive or car registers ne rate VI
speed which mile and fraction OF mile has been
every passenger train and that any engineer or con-
who his train at higher rate OF speed Than
that prescribed by the company should not only Dc ds
missed, but subjected to criminal prosecution. q.
washington, ID. C., sept 20. 1874