The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-11
CONTINUED from Page one.) }

continued from Page One.)
Z "The result OF such checking would
be that the body would tend TO leap
forward and upward and separate from
the tracks Something of this sort APP
pears 10 have occurred, for though the
/ body must be raised seven inches before
I II can separate from the running gear,
3 the swivel pins were neither bent nor
broken
"One cannot blame the motorman from
his action in applying the air brakes II Is
exactly what one would naturally do when
confronted by danger with no time for
: reflection: but II probably was the most
. dangerous thing which could be done
under the circumstances.
! 1T is possible that, with the speed
at which the car was running and with
the weight OF the passengers distributed
brakes had not been applied: but
would have been derailed even IL the air
brakes brakes had not been applied: but
this. added to other factors, would seem
10 make the derailn:ent certain"
Then the coroner asks WAS the mo-
torman negligent? While he testified
that the car was under control and that
he had not violated any of the rules
and regulations OF the company, there
appears TO me to be some degree of neg
ligence on his paJt-not great, perhaps,
and not arising to the degree OF crimi-
nal negligence certainly. yet sufficient to
prevent him from being absolved from all
blame"
Next. the most important question of
all Is asked by the coroner-"Was the
Rhode Island Company neglgent?" and
Coroner Babcock says:
THE company had done something to
make this corner safe for its cars The
outer rail had been raised above the
level Of the inner rail at a maximum of
two and half inches at about the cen
fra M Nflr aQi inQ IN In In
each direction. This was as high as IL
was feasible to raise II without a
change Of grade, in Warren avenue.
; There was an arc fight at the corner
20 light up the vicinity and TO show the
corner and the curve. and 53S feet south
tof the curve was signal pole TO slow
'"The rules and regulations, which
every motorman was supplied with and
instructed to obey. provided that cars
should not be run around curves faster
than six miles an hour, and that In rum
ming through fog and darkness the cars
enable them TO be stopped within the line
But the signal pole was useless to the
men who operated those special cars.
significance. was not lighted and could
not have been seen that night
Although this Is the only kind Of Sig
near, no mention OF IT is made in the
book OF instructions to motormen. Its
value as warning was nil.
, "In the day time, when the corner was
plainly visible and the signal unneces-
sary. II could be seen. At night. when
the corner was shrouded in darkness and
the signal was needed IL was invisible
THE Rhode Island Company had had
notice OF the danger OF this curve, for
there had been FIVE previous derailments
at this point since 1900. two OF which were
! in April OF this year. 1t is in evidence
sthat these derailments were caused by
tthe negligence of the motormen; but this
! Is not sufficient excuse.
Mechanical appliances need to be con-
ietructed with reference 20 those who on
I crate them. IL a curve Is shown by pre-
ivious derailments 20 be unsafe for the
men who operate the cars OF the COM
pany, the plain duty OF the company Is
20 make IL safe for such men az II en-
ploys.
I. Had the Rhode Island Company placed
n colored iight-not an electric. but some
light which could be relied upon TO burn
,through the night-upon this signal pole,
fand had placed the words OF warning
iupon the Hight. or. better, had printed
ithem in fits book OF instructions 10 mo-
isormen 80 that any motorman would
know the significance OF the signal, this
accident would never have occurred"
Thea the conclusion as 10 the company
given at the beginning OF this report is
arrived at by Coroner Babcock: lie then
concludes his report as follows:
Il therefore report and certify as
Testified TO by George r. Allison. NJ. ID.
medical examiner for District .. and
as shown by the copies OF record OF
views and record OF autopsies here
with filed, that at Moores Corners In
the town of East Providence on the
third day OF June. A. ID. 1905. at about
12:25 a. m. Bertha NJ. Kelley came TO
her death by having her skull crush
ed: Ethel NJ Whitley b having her
chest crushed and suffering internal
injuries; Angelo Geremie by having