Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-08-26
PERlLS OF THE RAIL
Last Years Accidents on New
Jersey Railroads.
4 SAFE STATE TO TRAVEL IN.

Only One In 1000, 600 Passengers Killed
and ono in 1000 Injured stage
Coaches Were More Dangerous Than
Railroads Are-Perils Of Car Coupling.
Cows Are Formidable Enemies.
NEW BRUNSWICK. N. r., Aug. 3D.
Some interesting figures have been col
lected by the bureau of vital statistics
as to the number Of railroad casualties
in the state. The record shows that
about in 100000 passengers carried
was unfortunate enough to be killed,
and that only | in every 100000 met
with any sort Of accident.
II is indeed q literal truth that there
were more persons killed and injured
sixty years ago through accidents to
stage coaches than are now killed in
railroad accidents.
Last Years 90. 600. 900 Passengers.
OF the 60, ,000. 900 passengers carried on
the New Jersey railroads last year only
| I'll met with accidents, while in but
81 cases did the injuries prove fatal.
| In 107 of the other cases they
were slight. These passengers came to
grief either on the cars or while getting
Off or on the trains, and in the list OF
casualties are included not only those
which were owing to causes over which
the victims had no control, but the far
larger number which resulted from the
fault or negligence Of the sufferers.
Accidents Very Rare in New Jersey.
Whatever may be said of the rest Of
the country, train accidents involving
injury to passengers are exceedingly
rare in New Jersey. During 1888 the
only noticeable one was at Bergen juno
ton, on the Newark and Hudson rail-
road, on May II. There were 20
passengers injured. 3 Of them se-
verely. In the early days Of railroad
ing such an accident would hardly have
been thought worthy of an official re-
port. The cow in those days did con-
siderably more damage than Stevonson's
prophecy would lead people to expect.
1t will be remembered that when the
father of the. locomotive was asked by
legions Of sneering and doubling
Thomases, What will happen If COW
should get in the way of one of these
things:v he answered. why. then, it
win be all the worse for-the ke-ow."
Cow Casualties.
In 1853 it is stated that "22 employees
were injured by a tow suddenly rum
ming against train on the Belvidere
road. In 1866 near Burlington 81 per-
sons were killel and IS wounded by
rCa ;on of a train running against horse
and wagon. In 1883 there were II pas
senger casualties ON the Camden and
Amboy road, and but was due to train
accidents. Only passenger was fatally
injured
This is, however, less than half the
story. The casualties to those who can
in any way he classed az passengers con-
stitute only fraction of the total num-
ber, which in 1858 on the New Jersey
roads amounted TO 1 1,407, the largest
vet reported OF these 328 person re-
ceived fatal and 41S severe injuries, and
many of the COS remaining received
both painful and inconvenient injuries.
I.mployeS the Greatest Sufferers.
Employees are the greatest sufferers;
| last year S1y. over One-half the acci-
dents, happened to them. OF these, 103
proved fatal and 314 severe. Trespass-
ers on the cars and tracks and those over
taken by trains and crossings make up
another heavy total, AT accidents to
such being reported. OF these, 202
proNed6atil
There are in New Jersey about 81, 900
railroad employees. Deducting the num-
Der of general officers, clerks and shop
men, who constitute 20 per cent, it is
found that in 2l0 was killed and | in
20 injured. This proportion is appall-
ing, and seems all the more marvellous
| when it is considered that so very few
passengers are killed or injured.
Where The Accidents Occurred.
OF the ,407 casualties which hap
pened last year, the Pennsylvania sys-
| tenn is responsible for 662, 139 being
fatal. On the main line OF the Central
| 43 were killed and 216 injured, q total
| of 259. The Morris and Essex was next
with 108, of whom 81 were killed. This
| large proportion was only exceeded by
| the Paterson and Ramapo lines, which
1 together killed 43 out OF q total OF 30.
| The West Jersey had Al casualties, of
| whick IL proved fatal, while on the Bel
| yidere were killed out of "A. and on the
/ West Shore there were 8 fatal and 80
other accidents The Long Branch and
New York is responsible for IA cases of
| injury. Of them fatal All this shows
| that neither the length Of the line nor
| the amount OF travel il any measure Of
| the relative amount Of damage IN life
and limb effected thereon.
Accidents in Coupling.
OF the AT accidents Of all descriptions
| on the New York and Amboy division
that IS the lines Of the Pennsylvania
/ extending from Jersey City 10 PhiIadel-
j phia and from Camden 70 Amboy III
resulted from coupling and handling
/ cars.
] The number of casualties has been
rapidly increasing for ten years, andit
| is now four times what Il was in 1875.
/ Another Died Tor Ms Crime.
Nrx4fo Mn Auo Qa-ffarrv Tfra11