New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-20
4 ILISIIP AND 4 WARNING.

The collision on the Brooklyn Bridge yesier-
day morning was an accident Nobody planned
il Nobody was to blame for it. Everybody
connected with the concern from trustee TO
brakeman can bring indubtable proofs that the
responsibility rests not with him. There was
heavy fog. An engine broke down at an mop
nortune moment. The trainmen with all their
vigilance could not see the signals Of those sent
ont TO warn them. The trains were running
close together There is no other way to run
them. All the employees were alert to do their
duty. Nobody slept Nobody was careless The
elements stepped in and played havoc with the
well-lald plans of men. The trustees cannot stop
trains because OF n fog. II they did, the people
OF two cities would rise up with indignation.
They must carry passengers, ana carry them
quickly For years great numbers nave Deen
carried in safety, and the little mlshaps that
have occurred have been comparatively harm
less. That thousands daily should be handled
in safety is cause for satisfaction. Accidents
will happen on the best-regulated roads ana no
man can control fire, water or the wind. NOW
and then things 20 wrong in ways that cannot
be foreseen even by the most faithful workmen
And then there was fog
That. we are sure. will be the feeling Of every
body connected with the management or TINS
remarkable structure. The trustees will prob
ably be unable 10 discover that any one Dun-
dered Yet the fact remains that two men died
from INJURIES the lives Of many were endan-
pered and nothing but the chance Of cOmpara-
lively empty train avcrted a disaster which
might easily have been one Of the historic hor
rors of railway traffic The poorest railroad
managemcnt guards against obvious dangers
and in general lands passengers safely at their
destination. The test Of good management j.
10 guard against possibilities that are not al
WAYS in sight and to devise systems ana mech
anism which will secure safety when the I'M
foreseen mlschance occurs. The Bridge admin
istration does not measure up even TO the low
est standard. Though running trains with al
most unprecedented frequency, 1t has made no
adequate provision against one or the most COM
mon Of railway dangers rear-end collisions. The
olscuraiion of signals is no excuse. Dense fogs
are not uncommon here. The combination OF
circumstances which brought about yesterday
m,hap IL in no way remarkable. The SAME
thing Is likely to happen any day. switch may
easily get ont Of order. With trains coming into
n station once every ninety seconds the chahc's
are all in favor Of failure now and then TO TN
load on time When the guard on the on-com
Ing train sees the delay all is well. II there Is
= fog and no delay. he may run his chances and
come ont all right. When the two things come
together there l. the chance for a crash. lester-
day the crash occurred.
The BROOKLYN Bridge is our most crowded thor
oughfare 1t is the duty OF the trustees TO pro
fcrt the thousands who are compelled to Use It,
even II II requires fOghorns and searchlights all
the way across the Bridge TO do II. Their DuSl-
ness is to have n signal system that works when
II IS needed In falling to have it they have been
trihing with human lives intrusted to their care
They complain that the public does not DO them
iustice. They do not do the public justice
Fortune has favored the Bridge and It's trus-
tees The wonder is that disasters have been
80 few. Time after time accidents have oc-
Cured plainly pointing ont defects In the struct
ure and vet they are not corrected. Yesterdays
was not the first rcar-end collision at the Brook
Ivn station People have already been crowded
off the platform or thrown down To be trampled
ON. giving warning OF the folly Of turning
streams against streams 10 crowd their way to
their respective exits Yet calmly superior 10
the slaughter they prepare for. the trustees say
their work is Judged too hastily. and go on with
the establishment Of their deathtrap. They
doubtless mean well. They meant well yester
dav. but that will not give back lives to the men
who lost them. What Newlork and Brooklyn
want Is n Bridge management that Is equal TO
the problem presented to il. II is about time
that the trustees learned the lesson which little
accidents have been trying to teach them. When
q biz accident comes from their failure 10 foresee
If. they will receive little consideration for their
good intentions