The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-26
BRITISH RAILWAY Accidents.

CreditsbIe Record OF the United Kingdom in
the Matter of Casualties On the Rail.
During the whole OF last year there wero but
twenty-one passengers and nno employees,
thirty persons IN all. killed in railway acct
dents In Great Britain and Ireand-in col
lisions, derailments and accidents OF similar
nature beyond the control OF the victims
Nearly nine hundred millions OF passengers
were carried during that period. Three acct
dents we're responsible for seventeen OF the
deaths OF passengers. those at Thirsk. Bish-
opsgate. and Esholt. SO that aside from these
exceptional casos. only four passengers out OF
all the enormous numbers carried by the rail-
ways were killed through causes entirely be-
yond their own control The record for the
previous year. 1891. is still better. for only five
passengers Of all the millions carried and fif-
teen employees were killed in such railway
accidents In the United Kingdom. Indeed, In
two years only since 1884 has the num-
Der OF fatalities to passengers been greater
than last year and In each case the largo in
crease was due to one or two great disasters
The Armagh accident, for instance. ran tho
death roll OF 1889 up from eight to eighty
eight. three accidents in all being responsible
for the death record OF that year. The Tay
Bridge disaster made the nu mber of passenger
deaths in 1879 seventy five instead OF two. In
only three or four accidents a year. perhaps.
have passengers been killed on railways in
the United Kingdom through causes for which
they were In no way responsible. Ranking
first among the countries OF the world in
tho number OF passengers carried. though
third In tho amount OF mileage. these figures
seem TO sustain the claim made for the rail-
way system OF the United Kingdom. that 1t is
the safest service In the world The further
claim. equally important II comparisons in
yolvtnO fha Mt anlcianry tn ha
Instituted. that 1t is also tho best service in
the world may be successfully disputed By
PERHAPS only one country our own.
In Great Britain during last year there were
COL passengers and ninety-two employees in
jured in accidents Of the nature described
There were twenty-eight collisions between
passenger trains. or parts OF passenger
trains. by which eleven passengers and
two employees were killed and 22o passen-
gers and nineteen EN- ployees Were injured:
forty-three collisions between passenger and
freight trains. by which nine passengers and
one employee were killed. and lO3 passengers
and twenty-four employees injured, aud
thirteen collisions between freight trains The
other casualties were occasloned by trains
leaving the track. summing in the wrong direc-
ton through misplaced switches, running into
stations at too great speed. and accidents to
machinery. couplings, aXles. and rolling stock.
by other and general accidents connected
with railways. through causes TO which tho
victims contributed in some degree. there
ware los passengers killed and $50 Injured In
the United Kingdom during the year. Thirty
one were killed and eighty-seven injured by
falling between the cars and the station plat
forms while boarding or alightng from trains
Twenty eight were killed and ten Injured while
crossing the tracks at stations. Other aeei-
dents arose from all sorts of minor causes. OF
persons other than passengers or employees
there were 4d7 killed on the railways during
1872. seyenty-seyen persons were Killed aud
!sS ss psrsou. We're Killed and i:5siIi n.
iured while trespassing on the raj way,
Taiways Five hundred ana twenty i've rail-
way employees were killed and 4.S23 injured
during the year through other causes than
head first referred to- There are over $4,000 |
Is something like one IA 200, Altogether there |
were 40 Isrsons killed and 4,iS1 lnlared !
On railways In tho United states during the |
ten months Of the present year NV persons |
trains, collisions. dsrallmsnts' AMI the Ike |
In 1891 $50 persons were thus Killed and 3.liSo |
Was sGG Killed aud 2sI2 Injured. Altogether
there We're 1885 persons killed and $Lu2I in |
!pred on railways ~ the h is sfases dIHEini
and 2dJO9 injured during ieSt And 2, ~ |
killed and %. S2SS Injured IN the year 1879 1
The percentage OF deaths among railway en- /
ss In Great Britaia and ireland During 1870 !
one rerson was killed for every 3od emploYed /
on railways IN this country aud one Injured ,
for every 80 employed. 10 say this Is worse /
than warfare Is title, hut II Is true Ia may be 4
that these respective statistics OF the two I
countries are interesting only tor inspection.
and not for comI arisen, great mhsH OF jill ]
fs-iug circumstances would nave 10 10 cunsli-
cred Ia making any comparisons But the ~
tera.ting fact fsluains that the railways Of the
United King Ion. With a service Arst class and
comprehensive ~ every respect carry mere
thoSs 81 Any 0thsf eonnGT'