The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-05-14
ARE KILLED BY
TRESPASSING
ACCIDENT BULLETIN SHOWS
THAT MANY DEATHS FROM
BEING STRUCK BY TRAINS
ARE DUE TO THE
FAULT OF THE
VICTIMS.

Attention is directed in the current
accident bulletin of the Indiana Rail
road Commission, prepared by w. ].
Wood, commissioner, to the great
number of accidents for which rail
ways and railway employees are in no
way responsible, and for which they
are not to be blamed. Although near
ly all other classes of accidents de-
creased during the last quarter, which
includes January. February and
March, there was IN actual increase
in the number of deaths of trespass-
ers on steam railways. During the
first uqarter for which the accident
bulletin was issued there were thirty
six such deaths, in the second quarter
thirty-eight and ir the last quarter
thirty-nine. 1t is apparent, the bull
letin says, that trespassers during the
last nine months have been to blame
for nearly so per cent. OF the fatalities
on steam railways.
And surely" says the bulletin,
.'the direct consequence is the general
duty TO take steps 70 stop these ia
talities. Our observations, reports OF
inspectors and the carriers, all show
that the death roll OF trespassers Will
continue TO increase until the power
OF the law backed by strong public
pressure md sentiment, is directed
against this fatal nuisance.
The commission also includes in
the bulletin a report made by David
z. Matthews. one OF its inspectors.
relating to persons killed at highway
crossings After reviewing two or
three cases into which he had inquir-
ed. Mr.. Matthews said: "You can see
from this that people do not approach
these crossings with enough care.
Travellers of late years have in
closed themselves in vehicles With
glass storm curtains and side cur
tains which cut them off from the
sound OF approaching trains. also
from the sound of the whistle MIR.
Matthews says that most OF the fatal
accidents OF the quarter occurred dur
ing cold and stormy weather.
Figures on the death, of railway
passengers killed during the last
quarter indicate that the rigid insoec-
tions by the commission and the pub
Iicity given 10 accidents has undoubt-
edly caused a decrease IL the numbe,
of fatalities for which the railroads.
are to be held responsible. During
the last quarter only two passengers
were killed, one on steam railway
and the other on an interurban line.
During the previous quarter FIVE pas
sengers were killed, and during the
first quarter for which the accident
bulletin was issued eight passengers
were killed. There was also a de-
crease in the number OF employees
killed on steam railways, the number
during the quarter being twenty-three
which was six less than the number
during either of the previous quarters
for which records were kept. Fall
ing from cars" seemed to be one or
the prolific causes OF accidents. Thir-
ty-nine employees were injured in fall
ing from cars. Twenty-Five were
killed or injured in getting on and
off trains. Inspector Matthews called
the attention of the commission to
the number of trainmen who were
hurt when grabirons or handholds
were pulled off cars.
OF the steam railway accidents, in
which travellers on highways suffered,
four were caused by teams becoming
frightened Most of the others oc.
CURED when the travellers were on
the crossings. OF these accidents,
eleven were fatal Twenty-three en-
ployes of steam railways were killed
most of the accidents occurring when
the employees were getting on or off
trains. Ten employees were hurt when
coupling and uncoupling cars. Most
of the trainmen who were killed or in
lured were brakemen in roads and
wards. The damage wrought to en-,
gines and cars by steam railway acci-
dents amounted TO $65.97306.
Nine persons were killed during
the quarter in interurban accidents.
One of the nine was passenger,
five were travellers on highways and
three were employees The total num-
Der injured in interurban accidents
was seventy-one.
The total number of persons killed
on both steam and interunban roads
during the quarter was eighty-three,
seventy-four on steam roads and nine
on interurbans. The total number
killed during the previous quarter was
ninety-nine. The total number injured
during the last quarter on both steam
and interurban roads was 369, 29S on
steam roads, and seventy-one on in
terurban roads The total numbe,
injured during the previous quarter
was ATS.