The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1890-02-08
LIVES VERSUS Ds IA Rs.
[Hatty Tying Griswo1a in n raad Train
1aa1ail, c, NJ \ -

| = j
men Journal
s'Brakeman killed last .5sht down
lon the track. tsfndaedt lev did itI
haHpen? "0h. he vas coupling cars,
and got caught and vas run over,
badly smashed up" ssG91aite 4 COM
mon aceident?" Yes, happens every
few days somewhere on the roads, nos
body minds much shout it--scarcely
ever gets into the papers" !" This was
the conversation one morning at the
boarding house breakfast table, where
several railroad employees We're mixed
with other guests,
The conversation fingered in my
IInind, somehow / could not get rid Of
Especially the part, nobody
minds much about it, and wonder
il this was true. [ thought Of the
mother Of this young man, who was
|only brakeman, to be sure--but a
big hearted, brave, generous, ahd
manly fellow, who was the only sV 4
port Of his widowed mother and ses f.
| III alyoung sisters. Thought it probable
that they "minded it, I fanciea
that last night when that mangled
body was borne into their dwelling
without warning, and they beheld
the awful wreck Of his proud young
life-that they mournea for it with q
sorrow just as deep and heartfelt as
would the family Of the superinten-
dent or president himself, should those
high officials be thus suddenly cut off.
And nay mind went back to a few
years to a case / knew OF at the time,
where another active, resolute young
fellow was run over and both limbs
(severed FROM his body. I Thought Of
his young wife aud little children,
land I happened to know how much
they minded" it. There was 50
much love for them in his heart, and
ESQ much clear grit besides, that he
said he would live and take care Of
them Yet-and he did it. But has
there been no hardship, no sorrow, no
tears inethat household? All, he was
but a humble felIoW-hut how they
minded it!
And / saw d poor little woman not
g three months ago, who minded these
i things. I was On a train that stopped
suddenly and an unaceountable delay.
Passengers went out, came in and re-
ported train Off the track-a brake
man killed and everyone started up
ii horror. There was d iittlea woman
with 4 baby II the seat opposite mine,
and she turned deadly white at the
words, and almost let the baby fall to
1.-The floor. spoke to her, and she
j looked and sried i'd smile, saying, Ch,
. 1I thought of .Iohnhe's on. the road.
4 OF course its not his trsain, but We are.
always expecting ID hear such news,
J and il upset me q minute. And oh,
31fEhoY the poor littIe thing cried when
j Eone after another came ia and gave
! particulars Of his death. There were
many Indifferent souls ii the crowd
! ! even III the awful presence Of the tra-
gedy but her heart felt every pang
that was coming to the friends at
home. Later il the day We passed
I ohm train, and lie had time tte rim
Id 4 minute and see wife and baby,
!. and oh, with what different words,
!, and tones, and infections, they talked
! of the poor lads death, from what
! any DC the rest#of the crowd Of passeil-
i gers had done.
7 Ali it really looked as If they
minded. talked with another fel-
low passenger that day about these
u things. He told me d great many
9 stories, similar to the ones I have sllgs-
! gested above. He was q retired IS
gage MASTER who had been many
4 Yeafs of his life lpon the roIsd. 4 N lll5
I 10 these accidents happen oftener u
freight trains than oh passengel
trains" i asked. Because 1lleJ
couple the cars differently he sid
There il not half The danger III conf
I ling passenger cars don
they couple che freight cars the sAIat
uaY they doepassen ger cars then, Il ]
would save lives tp Do itt.22 2' osk 81
y more But tbe railroads rich
can they afford 70 protect the lE1e
Il Aof their oFlklnens flo, i
would reduce The divfia aelldss. q E aEslll
IIhe difference III cost he great G 4
aobut nobody but the hands haNl
any interest Id the fheI
-za don't dare open their nloslt !. Ar
the roads Ill alike 'retty
one 81 two off i'll best IN
Is IL for The boys tlIe III
IS IEels LETT flae, all
is till of Tie poor aoFiE
peices iii lie track ttieI IA
money ilIsh had been u aVaa ~
81 coupling al lllose Il, md tie ~
sp fhe " oE IeEti9n assEEI
8 riissin il II q
S.
lords ai rsS
efends siIa
]. men and El|3E
III com Isssl
-
u re III
e