National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-15
White Lights and RED lights.


white Lights and Red Lights.
There have been very few accidents on
the Washingt IN branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. We cannot recall a
collision or wreck of any kind since the
war that caused the death of passenger.
The hundreds of people who make the
trip every day between Washington and
Baltimore feel about the same sense of
security, while being carried along at the
ratio of forty aud fifty miles an hour, as
they do when sitting in their own homes.
Tho rude shock Of Saturday night
wakened many Of them up to realization
Of the fact that railroad travel cannot DO
entirely divested of danger. No matter
how perfect the system Of signals, or how
plain the running rules, every now and
then some conductor, or engineer, OF switch
tender or fagmsn, or train dispatcher, or
telegraph operator will make q mistake,
either through negligence or inadvert-
ence, and suddenly there comes crash
followed by death in its most cruel forms.
1t seems to be impossible to provide
against sporadic outbreaks Of human1fn.
trinity such as brought two trains togethor
on Saturday night at tho metropolitan
junction. No doubt the <poor fagman,
John Sullivan, was trying to do his duty
as best he knew how, I, but for the moment
his Judgment was Confused, aud when he
saw his mistake itwas too late to correct
1t. There 10 no use Of imputing criminal
neglect or oven want Of vigilance to the
unfortunate man. His whole conduct
shows that he was wide awake and was
dSing what he supposed was necessary Co
Keep the track clear for the train that
1 had the right of way, but he was acting
under wrong impression, and thus pro-
duced the disaster he was trying to avert.
1t was matter of life or death whether
the signal-man ut the east end of the
forked switch transmitted red light or q
white light to tho signal at the west
end. If he sent a red light it was notice
to the Martlnsburg train that the Balti.
more train had the right of way and was
going to occupy the track. If he sent a
white light it was notice that the Balti-
more train would be kept back, and an
invitation to the Martiusburg train to
come ahead.
There seems to be no doubt but that o
red light was displayed at the cast end of
the switch. The Baltimore train was ON
time aud had the right of way. and it
was the duty of the signal.man at the
| la 20 dtapIaxy raI hn
slgnal-man at the west end could have
seen this light there would have been no
collision. But, unfortunately, there are
intervening trees aud houses, and the
signal must be transmitted by fagmen
who carry lanterns at night with three
sides that transmit white light. aud one
side that transmits red light. The flag.
man at the bridge caught the red light
and transmitted II to the next flag
man on the line, who in turn
gave it to Sullivan, the flag
man at the watch box on First street,
near street. Sullivan was in doubt as
to whether the man to his right showed
q red or white light, but he settled
down into the belief that he had seen the
white side of the lantern, and he accord
ingly showed the signal-man at the wes
end Of the switch the white side of hi
own lantern. This opened the way for tn,
Martinsburg train. The Baltimore trair
already had moved in, and the mex
instant the two trains came together
with terrific crash.
The testimony taken before the COR
oner yesterday shows pretty conclusivel.
that Sullivan mistook the red light for
white light, and that this mistake wa
the immediate cause Of the accident
But the whole blame should not be pu
on this unfortunate watchman, who's,
compensation Is dollar day for six
teen hours work. There ought to b,
some better device for transmitti n
signals than lantern with colored panes
If the watchman in his haste shoulC
happen to drop his lantern and break tn
red pane, he would have no DANCE
signal. He may also hold his lantern il
way that leaves the man who is read
ing the signal in doubt as to whether b,
means to show the red or white.
AT point like the Metropolitan juno
tion, where trains from two roads run oil
a connecting switch, there ought to b,
some better system of indicating tn
movements of trains than by means o
, colored lanterns in the hands of har
worked flagmen. The money that thi
: accident will cost would have erected
watch tower at each end of the switcl
high above trees and houses and enoug
would have been left to have paid fC
the maintenance of pair of burnin
eyes that could be seen for miles on eitht
track. The failure of the company
pr ovide q proper system Of signals II
J.. leives watchman Sullivan from a goo
8 deal of the blame that attaches to hil
r for showing the wrong side of his Lantern
, 1t is also quite apparent that bot
!. trains were running at an unreasonable
q rate of speed. The engineer of the Bait
0 more train says that he was not runnin
. faster than four or Ave miles an hou
but witnesses who were looking at tn
. moving train think that the speed was 8
? least twenty miles an hour. The Ma
n tinsburg train was also running very fas
Both trains were running in violation
, the law when they camo together.
/, -S------
i THE democrats declare in their pla
r form that the republican party has SUI
d iected American workmen to tho comp
Q tition of convict labor. If called upon
n say when and where, the "putrid rem