The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-19
THE LESSON OF
 THE WESTPORT WRECK

an incident--an express train on the ". F., N. H. 6 H. R. R. ran off the tracks at Westport, nangling, incin- erating, and mainafng a score of more 1uckless patrons
 The thousands who pass the scene of recent horror look out the win- press a trivial curiosity as to the exact location of the unfortunate af- fair. This curosity satisfied, they newspapers.
 That George E. Everett, formerly track foreman of that particular bit of road, pointed out, before the Coroner's jury the facts that the rail- road ties were rotten. spikes loose. and the road-bed generally demor- affixed is, to them, matter of no consequence.
 Citizens Too Deeply Engrossed Tn
 Trivialities.
 There are too many really impor- tant things to renember in this life-- such as the baseball championship possibilities for next year. the Ya1e- Harvard football game, and other great questions of international mo- nnent--for the average man to bother his head about such trivial things as getting killed, or Shall I. or shall I not. arrive in pieees7'
 In boots them nothing that th4y are hurt1ing along over rotten ties. sliding rails. loose spikes. and defec- tive roadbed; and that at any mo- ment they are liable to take just such another plunge as did the ill., choly memory.
 Their forgettories are in perfect functioning order-in fact. working overtime. Perhaps they have parta- l ken Hberally of the same spicy l draught which impe1led the New Haven officials to testify unnder oath | that s'tne roadbed of the N. r., N. H. l & H. R.tR. system is even . bit bet l ter than other roads"
 And if this last grnesome assertion i, is true. what condition must the oth- | CT reads be in!
 Pulled Spikes from Rotten Ties With | Fingers.
 It fsnst in the slightest degree re-s assuring to man or woman of plain. ordinary intelligence to know that, in of the truth of his statements upon the witness stand Mr. Everett pulled from the rotten ties with his bare hands. the spikes which are supposed to hold the rails in place
 We were told in the press despatch es that with the greatest of ease he pulled out these spikes while railroad officials, the Coroner. newspaper men. and others witnessed the pre- cedure in silence that was more sig than worlds
 Then, to further demonstrate the decayed condition of the ties. he toro with his hands. Coroner Phelan ! turned these things over to Deputy Sheriff John M. DonneIfy. who ac- cornpanied him at the inquest. and ordered the sherin to keep them in tact as exhibits.''
 It is recorded that e.as Everett com tinued with his demonstrations of the practical side of raIlroading. Cor oner Phelan evfnced such a lively i'm terest that he himself grasped pick and attacked one of the ties which !; the witness had indicated as practi- cally rotten. The tie gave way be- meath the blows. and the decayed is fragments were also turned over to the keeping of the Deputy sheriff." Nr. Mellen and subordinates Should
 Be Proud of Work.
 MT. Mel1en and his subordinates may we'll be proud of their work. It was well done-very completely done, so far as the victims of the Westport wreck are concerned. It is safe to- say that these would unqualifiedly endorse the condition of the road-bed the decayed ties, the useless spikes. and the efficient management of this system.
 But what are we who ride upon some branch of this palsied system every little while. what are we to do about this matter? In one word; just what we always have done: NOTHING.
 First. because we are too coward ly. We exhibit. in the aggre- ] gate, the devfl-rnay-care courage of pack of 5ack-ra bbits. Secondly. we are too fndo1ent. .swhats everybody's business is nobody's business Few care to take the trouble to make ev- en public protest against this brand of service.
 Thirdly, our memories are too ephe- { neral We are deficient in concen- trative power. Eight days is about as long as the average man usually rem bers anything of this nature.
 Fourtfly, we are too careless and indifferent Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot and the chan .es are that when it does, I'll be safe