The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-10
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
SEATTLE. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.
THE MURDER on THE SANTA FE.

II win perhaps be impossible ever 70
provide against all accidents on railroads.
but 4, is beyond question that precautions
can be taken to prevent such murder as
occurred on The Sarte Re on "Wednesday.
the fact that two express trains travelling
IN opposite directions on single line
should be permitted 20 take the chance 70
collide full head on az a speed OF forty
miles an hour shows reekiessness which
against punishment.
II win be time enough 20 direct conden-
nation against those apparently charge
abie with neglect when they have had an
opportunity OF being heard. bat there are
some general principles which apply TO
such cases apart from the question OF pei
sonAl caipabiiity. There Is always rea-
son given for emitting 20 prevent an aecs-
dent caused by failure 10 observe running
directions. An otticiai reason could be
given IN the explanation that an order was
sent TO q wayside station for the Caiifor-
MIA express 70 take the siding there, but
that order was not delivered and the
westbonEd train passed on TO It's certain
destruction. the train men expecting TO
pass the fast mail At Emporia In accord
ance with the usual custom, Another rea-
son In given In the explanation by the en-
gineer of fregh, train which followed
one OF the wrecked trains. lie says that
the danger signal hung cut by the opera
tor at the wayside station to warn the
passenger train to stop was burning SO
dsmly and the glass wa. smoked so badly
that he could no, see II Til he left his
cal, sna rad gone close up TO Il.
But IL does not matter. so FAR as the
blame IL concerned. which of these two
faults caused the shocking accident ANY
one of hzls a dozen trifilng defects might
have prevented the delivery OF the con-
srary order TO the engineer. The order
was given. and notwithstanding the fear
fui possibilities Of danger nobody seems
to have bothered any more about Il. The
eastbound mall train should not have been
permitted to go beyond Emporis until as
suranee had been received that the order
directing the California express TO take
the siding AZ I.ang had been delivered and
its receipt acknowledged ~ the conductor
In charss Il fAat train.
This Is not q layman's conclusion sug-
seSted By the accident after the cause
had become known. II ia rule well
recognized In scientific rallroading II Is
the Idea upon which the intsrlocklns sys-
tsrs Is based. The object Of the order was
10 enable = DELAYED train TO catch up lost
tire without holding hack train which
must otherwise also lose time, bat such
delays are not infreaaeut. and suen
chnngea of orders NOT unusual sy the
take ~ a stretch % rail until al aoso-
lutte assurance had been received that
TIE traln coming from an opposite d.
rection Acknowledged IS receipt OF the
change 10 tae schedule. Even &, the or
Ger had been correctly sent 20 the dis
patching telegraph operator. the most
tHsing suclden, 20 tAe telegraph wire
night prevent it's delivery 20 the recels.
snS clerk, ans a collision would become
iaevisa1le = the traln bad already start-
cd on the section between two telegraph
stAtloas
A broken wheel or On accident to a
part u tho machinery e. locomotive.
OF ; broken rail forins such an acctaen,
as cannot always be guarded against.
even v3sh she best - eAye. bat the tail
vrc 70 esquire compliance with So sgr7ple
g rule as that involved under che inter
i,cking SYSTEM = absolutely criminal Ia
TIE sheeaco o. an acknowledgment ~
the engineer or conductor q ire train
whaSs schedule wAs altered. tho only al
teraattve. * course weuld be 70 saasnl,
60 the Delay eaasea hy ho,alng TIE srala
a. rsapogla. eu, thar fuocsveusence was
Enere Sr4as compared e the possle.lstiss
Of hess 81 Hfe So reck,eeslv riskea BY ae-
pending ~ era silxat chance.
There : 70 governing body IN the
United States whose suty Il IS 20 make
ress,stseas applying 30 the whole rNa.
READ system. AID IA thgs respect va coula
VEL &fzess - take a lesson frurn Enx.
isra. Thcye the railroads are suhsecsca
- The eegsrsl % ,ae ncard ~ Trade. =
s1src0 - tse government wAose fane-
tieas are somewhat reserahiea ~ tAoss
.: ire American Interstate ccu,msves
eo~aE,issiea. II ha$ 10 executive al.
theg.ty. bat SIS ss1rers fnvesgskzts every
Axos<en; and rvno-t - ths ecard Coz
sts~ sas taken ssse II tAs rfKSt efree-
ucn ey sivTax tGe commission authority
20 eStsz-a rrx1s,stices requiring she MSS
9. ssFsty brakes ara hana srons or
r,sistt trains. us regulation q -
c>mFssSsses's authority cesli very prep
e-.y - extended 70 Ire no less Important
rassgsr - making regulations a. least
sss the eevsrsl e railroads ranaias
thfs ata nsera sAAn cae state
\ Esesst .Ss&e .. tas Eax.a ssslas New.