The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-23
ALMOSTAN ACCIDENT.
Narrow Escape OF a Utah Central
Ifg Passenger. =

At the time of the arrival of the Utah
Central and Utah & Northern trains or
Sunday morning, what would have beer
fatal accident was narrowly pre-
vented by the presence OF mind OF q
bystander.
A buxom and comely lady alighted
from the salt Lake train and was Just
starting across the platform to reach
the street car. At this instant the Utah
& Northern train from Battle Crees
steamed into the station and. as the
lady was on the track, came noiselessly
up 10 within two or three feeet of where
she STOOD, when the gentleman caught
her by the shoulder and dragged Ter
out Of her perilous position. The &C
cident by which little boy lost his life
a short time ago, occurred under almost
the same circumstances.
Two trains came into the depot at the
same time; engines, with their bells
ringing, and moving in different parts
OF the station; passengers are hurrying
10 and fro. looking after baggage. dodg-
ing trains and trucks, and, although
may they be very cautious, they are
liable at any time 10 be
caught and crushed to death beneath
the iron wheels Of a moving train.
When such an accident occurs the
coroner is called. who summons a jury
of railroad employees, who prom, uy
holding no one responsible for the
frightful fatality.
Should tine companies who are pri-
maIily responsible for the death trap
that is set and always open for the pub
lie be indicted for murder; should the
local officials who permit people TO walk
into that trap, unwarned, TO meet the
most horrible of deaths, be called to
account for their criminal carelessness,
and should all who are responsible for
the state of this depot be taken to tasK
for their criminality. The pit which Is
called the Union Depot would prob
ably be abolished and suitable buildings
be erected in its place. No jury could
award damages that would compensate
the parents for the loss of their darling
boy, whose crushed and bleeding
form, mangled almost beyond rec
ogntion, was laid before them
only few weeks ago; but
the parties who are responsible
for that boys death. True, that pun
ishment would not ease the pangs OF
grief of the stricken parents; but il
would cause the guilty parties 10 pur-
sue different course in the future.
We are not in favor of indicting and
Furnishing employees who perform their
duties to the best of their ability under
existing circumstances. Strike at the
root OF the evil; make the officers of
these Incorporated monopolies suffer
the penalty of the accidents resulting
from their grinding greed-their broken
pledges-and good will result. IF were
prosecuting attorney" said a promin-
ent lawyer OF this city, who saw the
life crushed out of the boy few weeks
since, 81 would certainly see the parties
who are responsible for that scene pun
ished."
We believe this to be the sentiment Of
many who are cogniZant Of the circum-
stances of that case, and we believe
that a healthy public sentiment de-
mands the same thing. II our district
attorney has examined the evidence
in that case, he must have summoned
the wrong kind OF witnesses and have
got nothing Sut er pdrte evidence.
Public safety demands that vigorous
and intelligent action be taken il these
matters, as the incident OF last Sunday
proves. Let the question be thoroughly,
fearlessly and impartially investigated
and the guilty persons punished.