The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-07
RAIL FATALITIES
SHOW An INCREASE
Indiana Commission Unable to
Give Any General Reas-
on for It.
BULLETIN FOR QUARTER
DURING LAST THREE MONTHS OF
THE PAST YEAR 70 WERE
KILLED BY STEAM ROADS
TRACTION RECORDS.

indianapolis, Feb. THE accident
bulletin of the railroad commission for
the quarter ending December 81, 1903
just issued, records sharp increase
in the number Of persons killed and
injured on both the steam and cleo
trio roads of the state during the quar-
ter, a condition which the commission
is at loss to explain. During the
quarter there were Seventy-nlne
deaths on the steam roads, as against
seventy-one for the corresponding
quarter of the preceding year. Fifteen
were killed on the interurbans as
against eleven for the corresponding
quarter of 1908. The increase in the
number OF employees injured on the
steam roads, the commission says, is
even more striking. On the steam
roads, during the quarter, 525 en-
ployes were injured, as against 300
for the corresponding quarter of 1908.
On the interurban roads forty-eight
employees were injured, as against
eighteen during the corresponding
quarters of the preceding year. The
total injured for 1909 was 573, an in
crease over 1908 of 1863.
Killed by Interurbans.
Three passengers were killed by
the interurbans during the quarter as
against none killed during the cores
ponding quarter Of 1908. No passen-
gers were killed on steam roads dur
ing the quarter.
OF the seventy-three passengers in
tured during the quarter on the steam
roads, twenty-five were injured in
collision OH the G.. & f. Railroad, at
Tocsin, October %; twelve were in
jured in a rear-end collision on the c.,
]. & S. railroad at Gibson, December
q. and twelve were injured on the
Wabash railroad at Lagro. October 81.
OF the passengers killed on the in
terurban roads, one met death by get
ting off motor car and being struck
by trailer, second was killed by
leaving a moving car, while the third
was killed while being elected from
the car by the conductor, the passen-
ger being reported in an intoxicated
condition.
Many Different Causes.
Many different causes We're discover
ed by the commission for deaths of en-
ployes on steam roads. Twenty two
cases were assigned as follows: One
conductor killed by unknown cause, his
body being found on the track: one
conductor killed by falling from car;
one brakeman killed in rear end COLI
sion on siding: one brakeman killed by
falling from car while making a run
ming switch: one brakeman killed by
collision in yard: one brakeman
killed by'a train running on an oppo-
site track on double track system;
two brakemen killed in a head-on col
lisiOn on a main line: two engineers
killed in head-on collision; two fire.
men killed by falling from engines;
two firemen killed by head-on COLI
sions: one laborer killed by falling
from train two laborers killed by be-
ing struck by train: one lineman kill
ed by being struck while riding on a
Velocipede: one trackwalker killed
while walking the track: one crossing
Waterman killed by being struck by a
train; one laborer killed while attempt
ing to board moving train: one oper-
ator killed by being struck at a cross.
ing
Cause Of Deaths.
Deaths to interurban employees were
recorded with the following causes
One laborer killed by falling from a
car running at a high rate of speed. the
car not being properly equipped with
brakes: one mOtorman killed by an
electric shock. while working with a
headlight: one conductor killed by be-
ing crushed between cars, his car in
backing, taking a wrong course on a
Tong switch; one motorman killed by
an electric shock while using the tel
ephone on his car; one substation OPP
orator killed by an electric shock while
working about his station.
An increase in the casualties at high.
way crossings and to trespassers is al
so noted in the report.
I'VE are not able says the commits
sion, Ito give here any general cause
or reason for the increase in fatalities
We can only call the atten-
ton of the public and the railroad
companies employees to the fatalities
in the hope that much more care and
consideration and thought may be
given toward decreasing them in this
and future quarters"