The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-01
.RAILROAD.DA

ShouId q Railroad Train, Going NJ
the Rate OF Fifty Miles an Hour.
ssop % Allow An Ok Cart 60 Pass
that Moves ~ the Rate Of Two Miles
an Hour:
The Augusta Chronicle on this subject takes
the position that the OK cart has the right OF
way, and would hold the Railroad responsible
for o collision. Here Is the article Ia FULL:
The Railway Age makes q rather unique sug
gestion that railroads, inslrad OF paying dam
ages for running over things 81 g!aae c,os%
ines should themselves enter suit Tor oaui-
ages against the people who are careless
enopgh 70 get In the way oI the train ana oe
run o yer. The article Ia the Age Ii oaseu oc
the following news Item: ,..s. z,mmsr.
man, OF near Attica. bad narrow escape yes.
terday at the Baltimore and ONO crossing ~
Slam. He was crossing the tracks WIN DIE
notios the coming OF the fast train. which was
runnipg af 50 miles an hour. until the engine
vss souarely ou the track. Zimmerman bare
iy rot on his engine when IL was stfuSk oy Ine
and smok es,ack Was torn on the & D. en-
dina The engineer stayed with MS enEine,
mi tbe firemsn Jumped, having his shoulder
broken. he was Injured internally and DIED
Tbs RAILWAY Age hasrt any sympathy for
Zimmeru,nn In the destruction cf his engine
and nay baier, or In the saving OF bis own lie
I'D the dam maged locomotive. ltEays:
aShouid not the stoiid iool VINO psnh 40
obstruction on q railway track, w'eckIns
train, kiiiipg y man ana enanhEeI.nx m Ill, Lhs
and pecuniariIT liable? Ought not the rail.
wsy oompany, whose duties m common
carrier are thus iuterfered with, 10 sue tnis
criminslIy careless farmer Tor cauaipg tne
Io.s of NE and property. and should not the
S..S ,.,.. 4 verdict that would serve some.
what an q general warniux:'
This In rather unique proposition. " VIII
be noted that the train whico wrecked Lne
iy a mile q minute. Nothing II said about tne
6iovinR OF the whistle or ringing OF the Dell
and we. th erefore, do not know whether tns
farmer had either OF thee warplnss 70 Az, aiS
know II the track Approaching the erossins M
vas straifht or crooked, but five seconds oe-
iore the collision the train was nearly Two
hundred yards away. 10 thai me-. tne .,ins ,s,,h bis
heavy farm machinery was suf1steni ior tne
dyine locomotive to cover . considerable ais-
tance travelling at the rate OF nearly mie
minuta II the train approacoea wi w,.noot oot
have bean negligent in not noticing the COM
We recognize the fact that the dema nds Of
business and rapid transit require tne y, rsn. s,.
oing of fsst trains and that II is istmpractlcaole
for q fssi iying engine and cars u slow down
M syery crossing, bat II 10 rather too much Of
q rood Thing TO allow railroad 10 croSs
street or high usy, At grade, running nue. u
minute. and then talk about suing LOT ohm-
ages anybody 20 inconsiderate as 70 get roo
Az fsr ss possible the grade crossing should
be elimin atcd, and people and vehicles should
crose under or above the tracks; DOT Wne,e
this IN impracticable there should DO the Iuil'
s.at possi6ie warning OF the approach oi 0
train. There may be negiigence, at times. on
both eidcs hut it 10 not likely thst the can.
non bail train that knocks farmers seam
into q cooked bat will be able 70 got mucn
damsres from tho farmer for getting II tne
train Q way. when Il was also the public right
OF way.
Yssrs ego the Press and Banner. in its hum
BILE way, held the same views N expressed oy
the Railway Age.
II IL tho business Of the driver OF vehicles 70
look on; for the engine whom the whistle
blows." A careful driver will stop and listen
for passing train. Ifa citizen allows bis OK
to Ret ON the railroad track. or II he drives his
team On Il, and damages the passing train. he
sbould be held responsible for damages. In
there justice In requiring train TO stop and
wait Tor an OK team. or . reckless driver. 70
pass?