Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-18
The Modern Jugqernaut.

suited in such an appalling HSt Vi az
cidents, many of them fatal, that the
people i'm some of the states. especially
in New York where the offenders are
the most numerous. are advocating
punishment more severe than a hne 1or
those who wantonly override the law
and disregard private rights.
Since January no less than i93
automobile accidents have occurred In
and around New York, nearly all of
which could have been avoided by the
exercise of ordinary care. These ac-
cidents we're responsible for the fol-
lowing results:
Victims killed NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 81
Crippled for life ...............oO TO ~
Penalties other than fines ............O
Autos in the state ..............2 3.j24
Increase last year IL, 900
II is not surprising, in view Of this
record. that the newspapers of New
York. voicing an imperative public
sentiment, have united in demanding
more adequate punishment for the
their own pleasure arrogantly disre
gard the rights of the general public
They point out the fact that, mas
much as this is as yet in a great meas
ure the pastime Of the wealthy, the
fines which have been imposed by the
courts, and which havc-in many in
stances-been RENTED, constitute
practically no punishment at all, and
demand that those who take human
life in this way, as result of criminal
carelcssness, shall be made to stand
trial for mdnslaughter.
1t is pointed out that the automo-
biles of one well-known millionaire
who is known as 1.-The most reckless
ed in no less than thirteen accidents.
in which two people were killed and
nine seriously injured. Although this
man has been arrested five times since
January /, none of the cases against
him have yet come to trial.
Several days ago man was run
down in Brooklyn by an automobile in
which in addition to two men were two
women. One of the women shrieked
out: Get On, Harry. you have killed
him." and the automobile fled, leaving
the victim dead on the ground. The
occupants of the car escaped. "A few
days before that a party in IA touring
car and apparently under the iniiu-
cnce of liquer pursued an cqucStrienne
up Central Park West. footing their
horn. The horse ran away and threw
it's rider violently, dislocatinS her
shoulder and breaking her ankle bone.
the ;utci.,ts went laughing and shout
ing on their way and have not been
apIrehended.
About the same time an autOcar
speeding down IcnnoX avenue in the
vicinity of One Hundred and Twenty
nun Stlttl dtt'IllDtSu w pstoc ~ otiSNt
car To the left hand. Two women and
a chile were waiting for the car to
pass when the automobile suddenly
appeared. Its driver sounded the
horn, and one jumped in front ef the
ear and WAS knocked down. The 9TH
CT seized the child and attempted to
escape to the sidewalk. The auto
mobile driver swcrvcd from his course
and without Stacking speed ran down
the woman and child. Both women
sustained broken limbs and the child
such injuries that its leg had to be
amputated.
These are only samples of MANY
similar instances that have occurred in
New York during the past few
months. and it is not surprising that
public sentiment in that state is vigor-
ously demanding the enactment of
legislation that shall put stop to such
cold biooded outragcs.
In our own State the owners of auto
mobiles have, thus far. shown Il COM
mendable disposition to be considerable
Of TIE rights Of others. They are dis
posed to wilt for frightened horses to
pass them on the highways. and to OBJ
serve the speed limit required by law.
The necessity of continuing such care
cannot be too strongly urged upon
them. AS automobiles become more
common upon our highways horses
will. gradually, lose their fear of them.
This has been true of bicycles. which
in their early days were responsible
for many runaways. Let every man
who runs an automobile do so with a
scrupulous regard for the public rights
and the public safety. and accidents
from this source will be few and far
between. Those who refuse or neglect
to exercise such care should be sum-
marily dealt with.
The Slump in Poetry.