The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-24
Descended from Richard Lee.-chicago
Chronicle.
TRAINMEN'S RISK.
Figures Show That They are Overesti-
matcd-Old Hands Oftcncst Victims.

mhtcu-Olu Hands Oltcnest ' lciihhS'
j. has been ogtlmated, and in fact rail-
road men frequently make the remark
that the average life OF man active
~ engaged I'm train service is about
seven years. I'm other words, that they
are either crippled MP so ms TO render
them unfit for service again in Ike
capacity or are killed on an average In
that time 10 has been found by looking
over the records OF one OF the leading
railroads entering Louisville that this
Is untrue. During three years on one OF
the busiest roads entering the CITY, there
were only two killed md l5S injured an
of whom were bralSemen except two, ana
they were freight conductors VINO hau
assumed the duty of brakemen. one by
making O coupling and the other ny as
sisting in unloading freight.
It would seem that inexperienced men
would be most apt TO get injured, but
the figures show differently, as Indicated
by the following:
Eleven or $50 per cent. OF the total
number of trainmen were Injured during
their first year OF service; eighteen OF
1916 per cent. were injured who had
been IN the service two years; httesh OF
ILL per cent. had been in the service
three years twenty-five or 1886 per
cent. four years: twenty-siX, or 20 per
cent. i've years: twenty-seven, or H.''
per cent. six years; thirteen, or BOB per
cent. seven years: i've. or $50 per CENT
eight years: three. or 247 per cent nine
years. five. or 4l6 per cent, ten years.
and twelve. or S. 50 per cent, over ten
wears. some of whom had been in the SER
vice fifteen, eighteen and t"en'y-t"o
years. - -
acc az Injuries occurred after the em-
pIOvce had been IN service SIX years
AVID the figures given would indicate that
employees as general rule are care
ful up 20 that time when they nave peen
I'm the service three or four years, ana
then become more careless nntll ABOUT
their eighth year OF service, when the
irdica+ions show that they become care
ful. as those who had worked over ten
wears have r. very small comparative
rer cent OF injuries compared %ith those
woh had worked six years. Nitn the
completion OF the equipment or all box
cars with the Janncy Or automatic coup
lers air brakes, &c, She Napllty OF
trainman being injured viii nave been
reduced 10 a minimum. as the record
GOES 10 show mat at least two-thirds or
fbe injuries were caused by attempting
10 couple automatic draTD1rs, with
link and pin, TO the Old-fdshioned soma
or skeleton drawbar. which IS very oau-
ecrouq even 10 the most eNperlenceu
railroad man. Other causes were on ac-
count OF uneven draWD3rs, some belHs
as much as three inches hisner imam
others. All this viii be rcctihed with
tbe now law. which requires an drawbars
IN he of a. STANDARD height. A great
many trainmon were injured by stepping
ifnon stones or links in jumping on 70
throw switches. &c, quite numDer Dy
boing thrown off on account OK me icy
condition OF the tops OF ihe cars.
There was one case Wnere d DIaNei,ldu
was standing near the end OF car "leu
another. cut Of cars struck lJ anu ne "a9
thrown from the top Of the car 70 the
Ground. aUghtng squarcly upon his Feet
and SLOWING him up severely as WiH
~ readily understood. a few were COM
,o'lod to iump from the top OF cars IN
eases OF derlilmont. Others hoo tnelr
feet mashed 10y attempting 10 SuoNS an
automatic drawbar over Il lew lhCheS u
enable 10 to come more squareiy IN coz
t9ct with the automatic coupler Inns
d, ono of the serious objections 10 the
automatic drawb1r-that 1t VIII not cou-
-f, readily on n curve and it - neces-
Earn. for the trainmen either 10 pun one
I'D tho drawhar5 over or 59oEe Il oFeI
ono of the most general causes OF
,f,ohel fingers was on account or 'ie
Bin f,fiiua 20 drop all me way down into
he hole when coupling w',h q Ink ana
81, ,rhe brakeman invariably reacn
nyar 10 rive tho pin n start Sc u wiz
Jron into the hole. when the cars ire
c,enflv roll one way o. the olher JUS
fsy, inches and catch the pin just reiote
~ cots an the way down, causing u 20
I'M hack and catch the unge.9 Se'W-cH
MIN and end sill OF the car. ~,
few were injured ~ hold-hs .,e
.,r1b-iron on the end OF cal-recehuy
[dJed to all freight cars by an act OF
,.ovcroes-and attempting 10 make the
.ounlinr v.lpn long lumber or DrGse
from would be extending over the enG OF
80 ar 10 be coupled 70. and ca'cn ther
,,,,ds between the timber ard end OF the
- tTou,ever. this dangerous method or
[-,,-riner cars together that have laulnB
..,1isctirc over the ends of them VIII
go q,c n thing OF the past o3 IL ~
,,o.onfna n general rule -or all ooulpd-
-,ioe NOT TO permit the loaalng OF C1i9
a., tbfs manner. Whenever thci0 - lous
timber TO load, the companies require
tho use Of two cars Instead Oh one' as
with Win the taking effect OF the new Jaw
lo,,11uino railroads 10 have all cars
oouipDed with automatic draWoats 80
$40 tbe drawbars of equal height nom
roiie the positlon or railroad DraKemeh
all NOT Zoe such a hazardous pA1'-
i o,,ievine Courier-JOurnal.