New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-19
THE uoRRISAYIA CALAMITY.

Such calamitles as the one by whicn CHIls-
tan Zabriskie lost his life, may well induce
the great railroads to revise their depot ar
Engagements. To managers and train hau"s
familiar with the working of the road, and
acquainted with its Timetables and rules,
arrangements may easily seem simple, and
precautions sufficient, which to passengers and
the general public are bewildenng. Indeed,
to one who seldom visits large station, It's
arrangements are, under the best OF direc-
ton, confusing. The rapidly increasing COM
plcxity of railway traffic creates growing rea-
son for c0re that passengers should be better
warned of dangers, and more thoughtfully
guided as to their course.
The old remark that il takes moro of a
imam to keep out of the way OF the omni-
8" buses in New-York than to be justice OF
al the peace in the rural districts" might be
revised and ressued in adaptation to those
who are called to the railroad station OF the
period. with much truth and effect. The com
pIex signs and signals, the regulations of
ticket-ofice, baggage checking, and gate
keepers, the variety of trains coming and
gong the completely of tracks branching IN
various directions, the hurrying crowds OF
trayellers-all these are well fitted to bewllder
any one to whom they are not famillar and
if to unfamilianty any infirmity of sight or
hearing. ameness, age or illness be added,
the danger becomes serious. Yet railroad
COMPANIES are bound, so the law-bOOks say,
to take the highest practicable care for the
safety OF their passengers. DO they do this,
usually? Are timetables printed and distrib-
uted with the highest care to tell travellers
how trains come and got Do brakemen call
out the names OF stations with the highest
care, so as to make them distinct to all ordi-
nary hearing7 Are the dangerous spots and
crossings usually guarded with the highest
care to protect the unwary visltOrf
According to the reports Mr.. Zabrislde was
visiting the station for the purpose OF buying
a ticket and taking passage. He was thus
entitled to the supreme care exacted by the
law in behalf of passengers. 1t is not the
rule of the courts that n passengers rights
are unrecOgnized uutll ne las paid his faro
One coming to take passage is entitled,
equally with one who has paid for it, to have
every precaution taken that his access to the
cars shall be safe. 1t is said that a small
shed stood at the crossing in such a position
as to hide the unfortunate gentleman from
down-train. Doubtless a railroad company
may build a shed near crossing. But its
doing so, if the view of visitor Is Obscured,
must necessarily prevent him, in part, from
noticing the approach of a train, and cast
upon the management the duty of keeping a
gate or hagman or other precauti0n at the
spot thus rendered extra-hazardOus. 1t is
stated that Mr.. Zabriskie mistOOk the through
train which rushed upon him for the one
which he was to take, and which would have
slackened speed and stopped IN season to al
low his crossing. 1t will be IN order to know
what means the company provided to enable
passengers to distinguish the one train from
the other, and how near together in time
they were appointed to pass. In one case
where a through train was appointed to dash
through q depot within one minute after an
accommodation train was to stop and leave
passengers, and an aged man leaving the ac-
commodatiOn. and whose way lay across the
express track, was run over by the express
and killed, the courts held that this allOtting
of trains so near each other in time was in
itself negligence, and rendered the company
liable in damages. 1t is said also that
Zabriskie was partially deaf. Doubtless this.
if the fact, cast upon him duty of supply
ing the deficiency of hearing by other care or
attention. A railroad company is bound to
give signals adequate to the ordinary facul-
ties, but not to supplement individual infrmi-
ties. But what signals were given in tins in
stance which would have warned a person
possessing full hearing
The case suggests many points of inquiry
toward an improved management of railway
stations. The standard of care must be stead
ily raised to correspond with the increasing
necessities and dangers.
4 SATURDAYS SERMON