Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-10-17
WHICH is THE SAFEST CART
Well. That Depends on Things Which No
body Can Foresee.

Douy Shn toresee.
(which is the safest car ON a railroad
trains" repeated an old Detroit railroad
man as he stroked his chin and seemed to
reflect ON the query. "Well, the best an
swer can make is that 1t is the car which
doesn't run off the rails when all others
do, and which is left on tho bank when
the train goes through bridge"
You've travelled thousands of miles by
railp"
Yes, tens of thousands"
And been In half n dozen accidentsp'
"l've been in exactly II railroad acci-
dents, but some of them were hardly worth
mentioning"
"And do you locate yourself In any par
ticular part of the trainf"
No. When | first began travelling,
wouldn't ride In any coach but the rear
one. l had about two dozen reasons why
that was the safest Car, and for six or
eight weeks l went rolling over the coun-
try feeling as safe as IL In my own brick
house. One night we lost too much time at
station, and special overhauled us and
smashed into the rear coach. You'll think
1t funny, but out of the IS people in that
car was the only one badly hurt. had
leg and two ribs broken and was cover
ed with bruises. When was able to be
about again, went dead back ON the rear
car"
And took the next one to the smoker,
ehP"
"That's what did. A dozen railroad
men had dozen reasons apiece why that
was the safest place, and for three or four
months l rode in that car and laughed at
the chaps who carried insurance policies.
Then my fond dream of safety was rude
ly shattered. The engine, baggage and
smoking cars passed safely over IA certain
switch while running at the rate of 40
miles an hour, but the forward trucks of
my car caught somewhere, and the car
was twisted right out of the train. Yes,
sir, it was torn loose at both ends and
rolled down an embankment, and not an
other car left the rails. We had two killed
and dozen hurt, but got off with bad
shaking up. My confidence in the first
car was gone, however, never to be re
stored. !"
And then you took the middle of the
trainf"
II did, my son. Yes, sat down and
reasoned 1t out to my perfect satisfaction
that tho middle Car of the train was as
safe as sitting on the postoffice steps in
Detroit. 1t was about year before any
thing happened to undeceive me. One
afternoon when we were dusting along to
make up lost time we crossed the tracks
Of another road just few seconds too
soon or too late, just as you will have it.
An express train on the other road came
booming along and waded right through
us. 1t struck my car, of course, and what
was left of it after the grand smash couldn't
have been worked over into wheelbar
row. Five killed was The record, ana got
broken arm, scalp wound and a gen
eral bad shaking up"
And after that?"
after that and up to the present date
have no choice. l drop into seat wher-
ever l can find one and don't worry about
accidents. I've known whole train ex
cept the last coach to go through bridge,
and I've known every car but the last to
pass safely over. In head on collision
the forward coach may be smashed to
splinters, or it may rear up ON end and
escape injury. l was on a train once
when a locomotive struck the rear car,
rolled it aside without serious injury to
anybody and then killed or wounded ev
cry passenger in the next coach. The man
who goes hunting for the safest car on a
train is throwing away his time He may
take any car and travel for ten years and
never even be delayed by hotbox, or he
may settle down in the car of his choice
and be killed in ride Of ten miles. l
once saw 20 people smashed in coach,
and yet two fellows who were stealing a
ride ON the trucks underneath got off scot
free. just buy first class ticket, get
aboard before the train goes and leave the
rest to Providence. detroit Free Press.