The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-06
THEY ASK FOR DAMAGES.
STREET CAR ACCIDENTS FOR WHICH
THOSE INJURED ARE TO BLAME.

You will have to step up here on the plat
form said tho driver. Passengers are not
allowed to ride on the steps OF the cars"
Tho man to whom this was addressed was
short and stocky. with clean shaven face and
an mir of obstinacy. He was Hastily dressed
and looked as though he might be gambler.
"Al right. sonny" he replied indiIerently.
hut no did not move nevertheless.
Tho car was crowded with persons going to
tho theatre. At Loneacre square tho car
turned rather abruptly from Seventh avenue
into broadway. Tho driver sung out. Hold
fast" but the man on tho step was engrossed
with his thoughts. probably dreaming OF some
lucky turn Of tho cards. and failed to heed tho
warning. He lost his balance. clutched inef.
iec.ualy at tho rail. and fell heavily to tho
pavement. The driver pulled up as quickly AS
POSSIBLE and. with some OF tho passengers.
buried back. The force Of tho fall had partly
stunned tho man. but he was able to limp
when picked up, and had not lost his power Of
speech. He swore at tho driver. and throat
ened to get even with him.
That's al right" replied the driver holly.
I'm not to blanc II you won't take warning.
II you want my number you can have it."
What is itf' demanded the man savacsly.
No. ;36l." replied tho driver
Tho driver and other pus-enGers returned 10
I'll" ear, while tho man lmrcd away. still! ours
ing. Before the driver resumed his trip ho &c
cured the names Of several who had witnessed
the affair.
shortly after President John D. Crmmins
arrived at his office the next morning the We
tim Of the previous nights acciden, called TO
SEQ him. Thcrc were several strips Of plaster
across his face and behind his right ear. ard
his arm was done M III n sling. l!a lmped
Painfully. aud looked a. though he had been
badly hurt 4 report OF tho occurrence was
already in Mr. Crmmirs's hands having been
turned in hy tho driver. together with tho
naEcs u lis witnesses. Immediately upon
his return to tho stables from the
trip which he had been making. Mr..
tgimmins had read it over. ani there
fore understood tho complaint which the
visitor was about to make. There Has i .'rii
Ing dissimlarity between III" ro,,"l, - the
diver and tho version OF tbs accident fur
nshcd by its victim. The latter forgot to
Inrnti.n tho warning no had received from the
driver, and imputed his fall entirely to the
cnrelcssness and reckless conduct OF tho
driver. Not being acquainted with tho Gus
toms Of II railroad company the complainant
was not prepared to find the President in pos
session OF So many facts. lie therefore began
his story with the air OF ono who mad been
seriously mnltreated
What kind OF thugs have you got on your
-
senger insnt safo for a minute with drivers
like that one last night. He drove his horses
as though he WAS going q hurdle race. ana It's
awonder that more people weren't hurt boz
President Crmmins politely asked tho man
tn state his COMPLAINT in methodical form. The
mnn started OIL with:
II was riding down from Central Park on
the front platform OF one OF your cars,
don't you Z" interrupted Mr.. Crimmins gently.
The man looked UP considerably surprised:
m M sSfY sfs
S Sss Lily %hSn no had finished President Grim
story tGa' Of tie driysr. and thqss Of the sew:
were entirely to blame yourself tor this un-
fortunate affair. We caa only warn passen-
@
Do you mean to say said the man. that
you aint g9nf to snare this thing n Tith me-
clothes that wore last night are ruined
>" am AFRAID We won't be able to do anything
You won't eh. p said tho man insultingly.
well; perhaps you'll change your mind alter
guess you needn't think because you happen
to sontro big corporation that you can treat
ass tSo privilege Of bring
ing your complaint into court said Mr.. Grim
minis. We have no fear of the result"
Broadway and allied surface railroads he has
learned good deal about the ways in which
railroad corporations are asked to make good
damages to victims or alleged victims Of ac-
cidents.
Mr.. Crimmins. that more than half tho de- |
mandS for damages arc either uniustiiled or
intentional frapts, 1t would seen as though
In attempting to mulct railroad corporations, |
and have even known persons otherwise re-
road companies. which they would not demand
from private individuals. OF course accidents
YORK and probaby WITH T more reaueney sR
the average rider imagines. but the number OF |
cases In which the company or its agents are |
tie Whoe is s'r rule eI' ali Rf0 the roads
that whenever an accident thappens, what
conductor, must report as soon, there
after as they reach the depot. Immedl-
ton is made by. tho officers OF the coa.pnny.
We have several men who devote special at
tention to this. II a complaint is made by an
from the driver or. conductor. our investiga-
ton 10 lust as careful. 1t sometimes happens
. car without the ivor or coniuetor know
Ing anything about, about it II the result
Is % settle the matter with tho, Injured
Harfy The is always liberal IN such
sr1air to being involved in litigation over it.
In fact am frank to confess that the COM
promised claims where It was confident
Nat they were not really Just. rather
than to become involved in 'long-drawn-
gu. put and extensive litigation; A, the same
time We are not SO weak that We will |
not sometimes fight where we are sure that
We are being imposed upon. In such ca SEES We
never stop short because OF expense. but fight |
on to the court Of last resort. We spend yearly |
thousands OF dollars in settling claims Tor |
damages and almost as much moro in con-
testing the same
18th the exception perhaps OF tho Broad
way line. most Of the accidents on the surface
lines OF the city occur In the narrower streets. |
and a large proportion Of the victims are
children. Wherever there is any building go
Ing On near the tracks Of a railroad. and OK
atoms have been made. or sand has been
piled UP. 1t L. pretty safe to say that accidents
VIII result. The children play along the tracKs
are are hidden from the driver Hntilit Is too late
the streets OF New York rarely pay any atten-
ton to horse car and. II 1t were not for the
care exercised By the driver. the number Of
serious accidents occurring daily would be APP
pelling. Any person who travels through the
tenement-house districts can see for himself
: thst II is very rarely that children will save
The driver did not haul up his horses. nine
times out Of ten the child would be run over
Where such accidents occur it is the policy of