The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-26
KILLED ON THE RAIL
LAST YEAR THERE WE'RE $40 DEATHS
az RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

Broken and Spread Rails Prolific Cause
ous-Defects In the American System OF
, Collecting Information.
Of the 1857 accidents reported dur
Ing 1896, 792 were derailments, 5l4
collisions. and 81 were Of miscallane-
pus nature. OF the derailments, 78 re-
suited from defects of road, 1873 from
defective equipment, sc from negli-
gence in operation, lac from unforeseen
distractions and 3l4 from unexplained
causes. Those resulting from defects
Of road were caused in 20 instances by
broken rails, in 16 cases by loose or
spread rails, and in 10 others by broken
bridges or trestles. Broken axles caused
"a accidents ascribed TO defective equip
ment. Derailments due to negligence in
operation resulted from misplaced
switches in 80 cases. Unforeseen OBJ
structions were accidental in 26 in
stances, malicious in 2S, caused by ami
mails in "a, by washouts in %, and by
snow or ice in 8. OF the collisions, 22S
were from the rear. Other accidents
were due to the following causes: Ex-
plosions, 15; broken parallel or con-
Meeting rod @; cars burned while in
motion, A; various breakages of rolling
stock, 12; other causes, IA.
The notable disasters Of the year oc-
curred at Atlantic City and Logan, la
Seven passengers lost their lives in the
accident ON small road in Arcata,
Cal. last September. In October were
killed in collision at Windsor Springs,
Mo. Altogether 1873 passengers were re-
ported killed during 1896, which is 30
more than those killed the year previ-
GUS The whole number killed, includ-
ing passengers, employees and others, is
$40. Total number killed during 1895
was 4I5. Total number injured last
year was 1897 the year previous,
1885. BY far the greater proportion OF
all accidents reported during the last "a
years have been derailments.
These have been fewer, however, dur
ing the last year than in 1895, when
$40 were reported. Two years before
that Tin 1899 1919 occurred, which
was the largest number reported during
a single year. Broken and loose or
spread rails have been the chief causes
of accidents occurring the last "a years
attributed to defects in road.
The American system Of collecting
statistical information respecting rail
way accidents is so incomplete as 10
render untrustworthy much available
information. Many minor casualties oc-
curing in remote territories, it is prob
able, are never reported at all, and the
conclusions arrived at by coroners'
juries are regarded with suspicion by
those desiring impartial testimony con-
cerping a subject of general interest and
farreaching Importance Although rail
road commissions Of various states sup
ply additional data, such bodies are
generally composed Of politicians, most
of whom are not qualified to deal with
the technical aspects Of the subjects
considered, even if they were without
bias in the matter. For these reasons it
is impossible to trace the origin in
many important though frequently
recurring accidents with scientific ex-
actness, but the advantages Of having
good railway material obtainable at
reasonable rates will be obvious to any
one familiar with the condition Of nu-
merous small roads.
In England the board of trade at reg
ular intervals issues tabulated state
ments, giving full information as to the
nature of accidents occurring on the
various roads in the United Kingdom.
These are thoroughly accurate and are
accompanied by reports from inspecting
engineers of the railway department
concerning the cause and extent Of
every accident. Such Investigations,
therefore, are conducted by thoroughly
experienced men, who are appointed for
life and are prompted by no other mo-
tive than q desire to get at the facts in
each case. Railroad Gazette.