New-York tribune., 1907-12-31

prosecution when the facts seem to warrant IT
Train wreckers have also cut q large figure
during the year. In the early summer their
operations became bold with either robbery
CT revenge for some fanced injury the cause
that concerted action toward running them
Gown was taken by various railroad superinten-
dents The miscreants speedily took the alarm
and in recent months this evil practically has
been obiterated, although not before the list of
Ilelr victims had mounted to large figures.
Nasaouts and fogs were another potent cause
of rail disasters
PEDESTRIANS HELD AT FAULT
Much has been said of late regarding accidents
IN which automobiles cut the principal figure.
A cry has specially been raised concerning the
number Of pedestrians reported run down or
run over. Notwithstanding this the figures in
the New York courts and dispatches from
throughout the country reporting such acci-
dents show rare instances where the officials
sought to place the blame upon the chauffeurs.
and even rarer cases where their accusations
were upheld after careful inquiry. The con-
sensus Of opinion seems to be that many pedes-
trians have not become accustomed to the
march of progress in the way of quick trans
portation, and regard the automobile as almost
in the same class as the antiquated horsecaT.
United effort is being made by automobilists
to reduce the danger OF such accidents to the
lowest possible notch. Club after club has is
sued regulations to its members regarding the
speed limit, especially in large cities. and more
particularly at all street crossings, and also has
mailed copies Of these laws to non-rnernbers
Moreover, there are comparatively few cases
where the automobile owner has not been the
first at the side of his victim. and in the great
majority of instances his machine has been
transformed into an ambulance and the sufferer
has haaD b1l-- ed IN he hOGDital
addition. many Of the wrecks Of automobiles,
frequently accompanied by loss of life among
those board. have been due to suddenly
swerving either TO avoid running down pedes-
trian or to dodge a collision with a wagon or
another automobile, the first thought OF the
chauffeur seemingly being for the person whose
safety his machine is imperilling.
Mother Earth has suffered from frequent con-
vulsions during the year. and her malady seems
to be incurable. Fortunately, there has been
not even an approach to the San Francisco dis
aster in the United States, though there have
been numerous shocks. violent or slight, not ac-
cornpanied with loss of life. The foreign lands,
though, have registered appalling disasters IN
keeping UP the total of the harvest Of death.
Among the principal visitations Of this charac-
ter may be mentioned the tidal wave In the
Dutch East Indies, in January: the earthquake
at Jamaica, only a few days later; the earth
those az Karatagh and vicinity and in Gala
bria, in October.
VICTIMS OF FOURTH OF JULY.
Fourth Of July can always be counted on
for an army Of patriotic victims, but the pres
ent year eclipsed ell records in this line. Five
score were killed and more than thirty-eisht
hundred were injured on last Independence Day.
and Of the latter not small percentage sue
in
result of poisonous explosives which penetrated
heneatb their cuticle. The boy who didn't
know it was loaded Wed equally with the one
nIevfng policeman shooting burglar in swell
ing the list Of victims.
The brainless lad who rocks the boat just
for fun was abroad IN the land with his usual
activity during the year, as is proved by the list
of Irownings. Placing too much trust upon
thin ice sent scores of joyous skaters into the
unknown. The capsiZing of rowboats IN squalls
aided materially in bringing about the years
large total
In ,he various sports football takes first rank
in the list Of accidents, although the totals are
materially reduced in both killed and injured
During the season ended practically on IhahhS-
giving Day less than a score of players received
fatal injuries while those hurt less seriously
barely exceeded one hundred in number JOCK
evs came next in the list, although with COM
paratfvely few fatalities Bicycle races ana
basehalls wildly thrown substantially completed
the totals.
Accompanying is q table Of the killed or IN
iured during the year, including saturday De
cernber 2S. arranged by months and also ciassl-
eo6 bv the character of accidents. In succeed |
;r articles the detailed lists of the accidents IN
the principal classifcations will be printed Dy
The Tribune.
OF ACCIDENTS.