Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-04-19
DEATH BY RAIL.

cidents. The killed numbered o9',
of whom l3l were employees ana
lGS we're passengers. Such is the
summary. 1t hardly appears that
it can possibly be correct, when we
find in the official reports OF our
railroads and our state railroad
commissions that for the nine
months ending June 3Oth, 1888,
there we're 81 persons killed by
railroad accidents within thus state.
In nine months, one-seventh OF the
total number OF the persons killed
by rail In the whole United States,
for the whole year of 1888, were
killed in Virginia ! 1t is astound'
ing, especially as the killed in the
two great accidents on the Virgin
ia Midland and the Norfolk and
Western (Which occurred after
June 3Oth, 1885, } are not included
in the number OF killed in Virgin
Ia.
Nor was 1888 an exceptional year
for Virginia in this matter. In
1887 the official reports show 6l5
casualties by rail in this state, 81
persons being killed. How is this 7
When We consider the compare.
lively small proportion our rail-
roads, population and passengers
bear to the total railroads, pOpu'
lation and passengers of the cOun-
try, the excess of the killed within
our borders is enormous. We can
CONCEIVE of only one explanation
which does not attach the grossest
neglect and criminality to our rail-
road management in this matter,
and that is that the general status
tss of railroad casualties do not ln'
clude accidents to persons who be-
ing neither passengers nor en-
ployees, are killed or injured by
their own fault in stealing rides las
tramps), or IN walking carelessly on
the tracks, &C., while our Virginia
reports cover all such cases. Yet,
deductiag all the deaths OF these
"others," we md that for the nine
months ending June 30th, 1SSS,our
Virginia railroads killed 55 en-
ployees and passengers, as against
GOT killed during the whole year
1888 by all the railroads of the
country-which is about One.ninth
flor the period) of the total rail
death-rate chargeable to this state,
still a frightful excess in view of
our small railroad mileage, mum.
Der of trains, passenger transporta'
ton and population, as compared
with those of the entire nation.
Virginia hasn't 30th Of the pop.
ulation, nor a 10th of the railroad
mileage, nor a Tooth Of the trans
portation OF freight and passengers
of the whole country and yet, al
ter every possible reduction and
allowance, her annual fatal railroad
injuries amount to One-ninth OF
those of the entire United States.
Surely something can be done and
must be done, to abate this slaugh-
ter. We call the attention of oar
railroad managers and of our rail
road commissioner to the sauguln-
airy record, aud urgently invoke
them to stay the shedding OF blood
of which they cannot be held to be
guiltless.
1t is to be remarked, however,
that the deaths we have been con-
sidering are those Of employees and
passengers, caused be defects in
roads or their management. But
besides the So employees and pas
sengers killed in Virginia during the
nine months ending with June last,
there we're forty-twO other persons
killed. OF these forty.twO, one was
killed on the Richmond 4 Peters
burg road at crossing; two on the
Seaboard g. Roanoke while walking
or standing on the track; two on
the Norfolk Southern while walk
ing or standing on the track one
on the Shenandoah Valley while
crawling under a moving train
two on the Richmond & Allegheny
one walking on the track, and
the other falling into canal to avoid
train sixteen on the Norfolk q
Western-two by falling from cars,
three by cars thrown from the track
one by stealing a ride under a car,
and ten run over while on the track
eight on the Chesapeake & Ohio
one by falling from the cars, and
seven run over; two on Virginia
Midland by being run over I'VE Oh
Richmond & Danville-twO falling
from the cars, and three being run
over; one on Alexandria & Fred
ericksburg, while standing on the
track two on Alexandria IL Wash
ington-run over; one on Noriolb
& Ocean View-run over. 1t has
been estimated that Of over ten
thousand persons killed and injured
annually on the railroads OF the
United States by far the greater
number are victims of their owl
care!essness IN walking or standing
on the tracks, attempting to cross
the tracks between trains, or before
a moving train, crossing railroad
bridges or trestles, getting on OF
off cars when they are in motion
standing on the platforms; or go