Year: 1871

TIE EASTERN RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.


The Coroners jury which has been investi-
eating the causes which led to the col
lsion on the Eastern Railroad, near Re-
we're, Mass, was evidently at loss
how to divide the responsibility for the
disaster. 1t was clear that it could not be
attributed to "a visitation of Providence )"
nor were tho passengers to blame, as men
are who jump on or Oft cars in motion; so the
Jury distributed the responsibility for the loss
of life and limb pretty evenly between the
employees of the Company and the officers
The conductor of the Beverly train, which was
ahead, is blamed for not informing the Pull
man train behind him that he had
been delayed. The conductor of the
Pullman train ! is blamed because he
ran straight into the Beverly train, though
he had time to see its rear lights when it was
at Revere. The station agent at Boston, who
started both trains, comes in for his share of
responsibility, in that he neglected to
warn properly the conductor of the
Pullman train to look out for the
belatcd Beverly train. 1t may be said
that the President and Directors of the road
are blamcworthy for retaining In their en-
ployment such incompetent or negligent en-
plOyGs as these three men are thus shown
to be. But the responsibility of the officials
is shown to be in their generally careless and
niggardly management of the road. How far
the Company is thus responsible is probably
better exhibited in the requests which certain
influential patrons OF the road, convened at
Swanpscott, Mass, have lately preferred to
the President. Those requests are as follows {:


l. To place a sufficient number Of men in the Boston
station to be known by uniform official badge,
to answer inquiries and direct passengers to the proper
cars.


To have placards placed on each car Of traln ndi.
eating the stations at which 1t Il to stop


To supply additional sufficient to seat all passen
gers, and obviate delay In making up trains.


A. To adopt modern brakes to stop train promptly
possible and within the shortest space and such other
approved appliances to safety in upon
frst-class roads


s. To Immediately station guards upon the be.
tween Boston and Revere, and, soon as practicable
establish thorough system Of teegraphic signals, at
least far as Beverly and upon tie saugus branch


c. To Immediately put iu siding at the Saugus Branch
Junction.


T. To extra excursion trains until the rolling
stock is adequately increased aud the best provisions for
safety have been adopted.


8. To use camphene kerosene. or other nfammaDle
liquid in the lighting Of cars.


.. ToprOvide more ample ccommodaOns at the Boston
station and, by railing and gates protect passengers
from danger and unnecessary delay.


That there should be any necessity for
making these points upon the management of
the Eastern Railroad is sufficient evidence that
it was wel-nigh impossible for the dreadful
disaster at Revere to have happened solely in
consequence of the negligence of the en-
plOyGs of the road this only supple
mented the mean indifference of the mana
gers. Tho Company have made use of
almost none of the modern appliances and
methods which contribute to the public safety.
Though carrying enormous numbers of pas
sengers, and earning much money, there was
small accommodation for these and almost no
attempt to police" the Boston station 30 as
to insure the speedy, unconfused, and safe
dispatch Of trains, nor had any of the profits
of this enormous traffic been used to build
telegraphs along the line of the road.


The case against the Company, then, can be
briefly summed up Is follows: /. The road
WAS crowded with trains; Q. No adequate, pro-
vision was made for warning any of these
trains of tho movements of tho others; 3. The
trains WHICH came INTO collision had been de-