New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-21
4 SERIES or DISASTERS.

If all the lives that have been destroyed in
railroad disasters within the last few weeks
had been sacrificed in a single wreck, the horror
and alarm would have been widespread and
intense. That greater vigilance in the opera
ton of the railroads, and consequently more
security for travellers, would have resulted
cannot be - positively affirmed but it Is rca-
sonablc to suppose that such an effect might
have been produced. And yet in reality this
long series of disasters on various lines at
widely separated points is far more serious
matter than single disaster combining all
their dreadful consequences would have been.
Such n monumental catastrophe might be
caused by the carecsSneSs of an individual
while the prevailing standard Of care and eff
cheney in railroad ranks was high. a success
sion of disasters at short intervals inevitably
suggests "A general relaxation of discipline, and
in truth the melancholy events of the last
month are rendered peculiarly disquictng by
the causes which have produced them. 1hcy
have involved more conspicuous persons than
employcs on days wages. and they suggest con-
sidorations more important than the mechanism
of a switch
In one case a dangerous theory and system
of arrangement has been cXpoSed IN anoHer
\ construction department has been di'credIt'd'
Not ono of all these so-called accidents can be
properly defined by that word. In every IN
stance the negligence of one or more human
agents has caused the ruin and the misery.
In every instance the fault has been ilagrant.
In the disaster near Chicago on Monday night
the most obvious and imperative requirements
of security were ignored The first section OF
q fast train was stopped without previous
understanding. and either no warning was sent
back TO the second section closely following IL
or the warning was ignored. There IS rumor
that the engineer of the second section was
,sleop and therefore did not perceive the dan
ger which on a straight track hc ought to have
d;sccrnod even without signal. Though this
would lie no excuse for carclessncss which left
him uninformcd of a radical change of condi-
tons the report needs TO be investigated. Pos
siblv il will he shown that he had been on duty
too long ard does not deserve to bear the
whole responsibility for his failure But 1t IS
scarcely possible 10 conceive Of an explanation
which will in the least degree relieve the cor
durtor OF the first section from condemnation
if he neglected to send back flag.
If the managers of tho Illinois Central SyS-
tom. which has handled an enormous traffic
successfully since the beginning Of the Fair
arc in any way responsible for this break in
crcditablc record tho fact has not thus far APP
reared But with reference 10 other disasters
in thi, summers series il i necessary - say
that managers must share the blanc with their
subordinatcs. The employees Of a railroad can
not fail 10 be dcmoralizod by the knowledge
that the company is deliberately maintaining
defects Of construction or equipment. faulty
tunnel or a doubtful bridge is dangerous, not
alone in itself but in lis effect upon the mind
and conscience of every employee who knows
il, condition. The evidence which recent dis
astor. have furnished that some railroad Off
Gals Of the higher grades are unfit for their
posts and tho consequent suggestion OF I'M
paired efficiency and discipline, demand serious
consideration. And they should impress the
lawfully constituted authorities with deeper
sense Of their obi gation to fix the blame and
impose the penalty without fear or favor. Com
pcfition Is not sufficient guarantee of Sc
curity