The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-04-19

have You ever had your Tenders
brushed OF by a whlzzlng train.
Have You ever had 10 turn YOU
machine suddenly to save yuursel,
from eternity? Have you ever felt
a criminal neglect for the lovee
ones you carried in your car? Many
motorists have and many OF them
nave had Just such an experience
as Engineer Briggs OF the Big Four
railroad, relates tn the foliowing
article he was coasiderate enough
to write for the Hoosier Motorist
and with b thought In mind tina
II might save some from an untime-
~ death. the automobile editor
passes 1t on. Engineer Briggs says.
How would you like to sit al
n throttle OF a high-speed pas
senger locomotive and watch auto
mobile drivers flirting with death
at nearly every road crossing?
Can 0 imagine the horror OF
the thrills and the cold chills that
would play up and down your YER
zebra under such circumstances?
Are you one Of the thousands Of
foolhardy automobile drivers who
daily take chances in trying to
beat the train to the grade cross
inEs IL so. perhaps you are one
of the nit-wits that i am going 10
preach to.
Il am not afraid of hurting your
feelings. They need TO be hurt. 1t
has about reached the point where
/ have no feeling OF sympathy for
the victim of the average rad
crossing accident. / have not yet
Joined the 'five-mInute-egg' club. I
am not quite hard boiled. but oh,
brothers. il you were in my place
Q would realize the awful chances
you take, in risking your own lives,
the lives of your friends or dear
ones. when you try to beat me to the
crossing.
FOR I can not stop, look and
listen at every grade crossing. L
am pulling perhaps ten heavy steel
coaches and Puilrnans and bearing
the United States mails. must
make my schedule and ! must keep
my throttle open.
The most I can do is 10 exercise
the almost caution for objects or
distractions on the track. to watch
my block signals and to follow my
orders faithfully. These orders OF
course include the two long and
two short blasts for all grade
crossings.
And. believe me, friend motorist,
when I sound that warning whistle.
or sometimes a series OF such
blasts. you had better give heed or
or you never more will hear earthly
sounds. Whether you hear heaven-1
" sounds, subsequently, depends on
your mode Of life. j may say here |
and now that such music may not |
be for you IL you join the suicide
club of motorists who try to cross |
ahead OF n train. |
The Hoosier Motor club and the :,
Hoosier State Auto association
comprises one of the greatest asen-
cfes for safe and sane driving that
I know of and because these repre-
sent the organized motorists OF In
and Indiana I am max
ing my appeal through them. The
members must be sensible TO a big
civic duty else they would not be
members OF the motor association.
Taking this for granted IL is fair
to suppos these members are not
members of the grade crossing sui
eide club. for they are putting up
their membership fees through
which their organization is erect
Ing railroad warning signs every
where in the state.
Il certainly hope then, that men,
bers Of these organizations are
practicing the mvtto of the clubs
which IS: Drive sensibly
and safely"
II notice Hoosier Motor Club
sign which reads. Dangerous
Crossing. Many Killed Here" And
It bears a skull and c~ross-bones.
But In the face OF this warming
I have see motorists drive across
track ahead of my train and
making it' by the of
DO you realize the motor club
% paying out It's hard gathered dol
ars to put UP this sign so thai your
life may be saved? Are you help
ing the motor club by your menu
50 that more signs may be
erected everywhere throughout In-