The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-05-14
KILLED ON
THE ROADS
Accidents on the Railroads IN Three
Months.
FROM REPORT OF COMMISSION
Of Interstate Commerce-OVer Two
Thousand Collisions and Derail-
ments of Trains-Some Interesting
Statistics About Railroads in
America.

Accident bulletin No. 1, issued by
the interstate commerce commission
for the months of July, August and
September of last year shows the
number of railroad accidents and
fatalities for that period in the
United States. The report is
interesting, as it shows how small a
percentage of the thousands of peo-
pie carried on the cars are even
injured.
The report gives the number of
persons killed in the three months in
collisions, derallments and miscel-
laneous train accidents at 240 and in
jured at 1922. Accidents of other
kinds including those sustained by
employees while at work and by pas
sengers while getting on or off cars
increase the total casualties to 1922.
of whom 725 were killed and 1O,4S7
injured.
Continuing, the report says:
The number of passengers killed
in collisions and derailments during
this quarter-57-is very large, and
is equal to more than half the total
shown for twelve months in the COM
MISSIONS annual report for 1900. The
present record is swelled by single
collision in August in which % pas
sengers and three employees of the
road were killed. This collision, due
to a runaway of freight cars on a
long steep grade, cannot be satisfac-
torily classified as to cause, as the
officers of the road report that the
cars which ran away had been left
on side track, suitably secured by
hand brakes; and they have not dis
covered how the brakes were re-
| leased.
This was the Nyack wreck last
summer, in which the general super
| intendent of the Great Northern was
killed.
The next most serious accident in
August, causing the death of pas
sengers and 1 train man, was also
due to some cause not discovered
A passenger train while running al
moderate speed was derailed witt
disastrous results, but no defect was
found in cars, engine or track. 1t is
supposed, therefore, that some OBJ
struction may have been maliciousl!
placed on the track.
"The number of passengers killed
in collisions and derailments in Jul!
was T. and in September 8 were
killed from these causes. In one col
lision, occurring in July, 4 passen
gers and 5 trainmen were killed ant
81 persons were injured. This col
llsion, damaging the railroad com
panys property to the extent of owe
$4,000, was due to forgetfulness OF
the part of the conductor and engine
man of a freight train. These tw'
men were killed in the collision. TIL
conductor had served in that capacit
ten months and the engineman eigh
days. Both had several years expert
ence in subordinate positions.
"Of the passengers killed in Sci
TENDER, 9 are accounted for N sir
gle collision, due to the careles
movement of freight locomotive o.
a track parallel to one on which
fast passenger train was passing. l
misplaced switch was overlooked an
the engine ran against the side of tn
passing passenger cars, overturnin
them.
The total number of collisions an
derailments was 2,249 0,247 COLI:
ions and 1902 derailments) of whic
PIT collisions and 80 derailments a
fected passenger trains. The dan
age to cars, engines and roadway b
these accidents amounted to $1,S42
224, namely: July, $600,047; Angus
$648,249; September, $593,92S."
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