The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-16


sponsible For the Trouble.
The death of Mrs. E. A. Everett,
wife of a wealthy Waseca miller, in a
railroad wreck in Mexico, has called
from Mr. Everett an appeal to Wash
ington Nh Everett would make safer
travel by rail in Mexico, even if the
United States government must be
drawn into controversy with the Of
fcals of the road on which Mrs.
Everett was killed Mr.. Everett's story
of the accident is direct charge of
negligence on the part of railway Off
cials.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett were on their
way to Mexico City on passenger
train of the Vera Cruz road, when
the train was attacked by roughs who
threw stones through the windows.
The train was brought to stop while
the railroad police, who were abroad,
gave chase.
While the train was still and the
employees were waving their hats and
laughing at the fleeing men, a pay
masters train crashed into the pas
senger coaches from behind.
Mrs. Everett Instantly Killed
Mrs. Everett was instantly killed, az
were two other passengers, but even
then, Mr., Everett says, the train crew
oa va M oSSiStanca ia him or tho OF bor,
but looked on in unconcern. A party
of Americans on board helped and the
crew looked on and smoked. While the
American passengers cared for the dead,
third train nearly ran into the wreck,
stopping only a hundred feet away.
When the first of the trouble was
over and the body was removed to the
city, Mr.. Everett says he demanded his
wife's baggage. and it was refused him
because the ianitor of the station had
action against the conductor he says
he was threatened with arrest for de-
laying the mails.
Mr. Everett seeks no damages, but
hopes the state department at Wash
mgton will have such an understanding
with Mexico that train crews will know
they are responsible for deaths caused
by their criminal negligence He hopes
also to force an apology from the rail
road officials, one of whom he SAYS
was on the train at the time of the
accident.
Facts Sent to Senators and Repre-
sentatives.
The facts have been placed in the
hands of United States Senators Knute
Nelson and Moses E. Clapp and Con-
gresham James c. Tawney MIR. Ev-
erett's letter, in part, to Mr.. Tawney
follows:
Dear Mr.. Tawney: The charters and
concessions of nearly, if not quite, all
Mexican railways are so drawn that
the companies are not quite RESPONSE
bic for deaths and accidents occurring
on their lines; therefore, the officers
are exceedingly careless and Indifferent.
l have been told, but do not know
the truth of the statement that the
street railways of Mexico CITY alone
kill from four hundred to five hundred
people annually. 1t seems to me that.
In the interests of all the hundreds of
Americans who travel over the roads
III Mexico, it would be only right and
proper that our government take up
through our ambassador at Mexico and
no low
ton the matter of bringing to punish
ment all the offenders in this particular
outrage, because in this case there was
nothing i'll the nature of an accident,
and it could have been prevented were
1t not for the incompetence, drunken
ness and criminal negligence, in which
the dispatcher at least, if not the super
intendent,, is partially responsible; and
only by pressure from some power
which will reach the general officers
ana cause them to understand that
they cannot recklessly and carelesslv
risk the lives of Americans without
suffering for it, can they be induced
10 use the necessary caution in their
OF proper safeguards and methods.
The Mexican government holds stock
In nearly all of the railways in that
country, but it so happens that they
are not interested in the "Vera Cruz
Route and, therefore, will be more
willing to deal out justice if properly
pressed.
The Mexican federal officials prompt
ly arrested members of the train crews.
out the railway officials were at work
The next morning trying for their re-
lease, SO | think prompt action will
be necessary to prevent their release.
and | do hope, Mr.. Tawney, that you
VIII assist me in this matter.
NOTICE