New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-10
THE JERSEY CITY COLLISION.

The railroad accident in a suburb OF Jersey
City on Thursday supplied an illustration OF
the way in which clear intelligence, courageous
purpose and prompt action cooperate III the
presence of sudden emergency to perform
fine deed. 1t supplied at the same moment
painful reminder of the risks which railroad
ayers and employees incur and Of the dan
gers which no system however perfect III
Theory. entirely removes. Thomas Norris the
hagman, did just the right thing at the right
time. when he saw woman fall close to the
track over which he knew an outbound train
was about to pass Judging that she would be
startled and confused and in trying to get up
and away would probably be run down he
hurried to her and held her firmly where she
lay until the approaching tain had rushed by
them. Nothing else was needed TO save her
life. and anything else would probably have
been Intellectual. Thomas Morris had all his
wits about him.
But owing to an unfortunate sequence OF
events this admirable action was followed by
serious disaster. The thick fog prevented a
clear view of what had happened and. under
the sllppostion that some one had been run
over. the train which in fact had done no harm
and was proceeding safely was stopped. This
unforeseen delay destroyed the narrow margin
Of safety provided by the schedule. and
moment later q rear collision more or less
seriously injured fourteen persons one Of
whom has since died The engineer of the
second train is said to have known that the
block before him was not clear but if 50 he
trusted to the normal Roadway Of the time
table and took the chances of running into an
f.ln
the fog he would have had that clear know
edge Of the situation which the customary
signals failed to give him. and probably would
have succeeded in avoiding a disaster. Doubt
less the conditions were trying. dense fog
is a dangerous foe on sea and land. II obSclreS
signals that are meant to be seen and confISeS
those that are meant 10 be heard. No abSo-
lutc security against the Snares which it sets
in the path Of travellers has ever been de-
vSod But experience Of this fact is not al
ways and everywhere made the motive for
extreme vigilance. Indeed it has sometimes
seemed TO induce fatalistic mood in persons
charged with the safety Of ships and trains. Is
if all precautions were worthless because no one
was perfect.
Who then is to blame for the jersey City
collision? Or who is most 10 blame? The
engineer of the second train is supposed to
have known that he was entering a forbidden
block. but in his behalf it is represented that
his SupeliolS expect their engineers T. disrc-
gard the signals under certain circumstances
traffic being heavy and loss Of time a serious
matter. This is moi a trNng accusation. and
il is TO be hoped that the railroad officials will
rcfutc il at once if they can II is hard -
conceive Of a device more exactly adapted 10
cause disaster than block system which is
diSrcgardcd. 1t does more than promise con
ditiOns Of safety which it does not fulfil Ii
actually mutiplicS the pcrlS which it is sup
posed to minimize. If in this particular case
it should be proved that the fog completely
oblitcrated the signals. behind that excuse
would still remain the fact that two trains were
sent ont on the same track with an interval
Of only one minute between them. On A clear
day this may lie a safe margin. but time
table cannot be arbitrarily altered whenever
mfayorablc conditions are developed and man
ayers ought to regard that fact in making up
their schedules Roadway Of one minute is
not uniformly justhabo. Travellers doubt-
less demand swift and frequent trains. and
considerations Of duty n well aS advantage
require that the demand should be- supplied
as far is reasonably possible Eut railroad
officials are under no obligation - gratify the
whmS of their patrons al the cost of safety.
On the contrary, they are bound 10 protcct the
public against itself. if need be, and to refuse
facilic, which would involve peculiar penis.
There is every reason for rigid invcStigl-
ton Of this disaster and a careful cOnsidcra-
iion of all the conditions which contributed 10