Next come the accidents in which patrons are injured and their
property damaged. It is generally understood, and has been the custom
on all railroads, and Rule 50 requires, that before going onto a track
on which cars are placed to be loaded or unloaded by patrons or
employees it is the duty of the person in charge of the crew to go
along the track to ascertain if there is anyone in the cars, loading
or unloading them, or wagons close enough to the cars to be injured or
damaged by their movement, and, if so, to give ample warning in order
that such persons, wagons, and gang planks may be moved to a safe
place. In the mining district especial care should be exercised in
handling cars being loaded or unloaded by the mining companies'
employees, many of whom do not understand our language or the danger
of the business, in order that ample opportunity be given them to get
off the car before it is moved. How often that rule and custom is
violated is shown by the following cases:
Ludwig Hoffmeister, injured at Montmorency, July 12; some cars
were switched down against the car from which he was unloading
apples, without notice to him, and he was thrown down and injured.
H. Schurmann, laborer, injured April 2 at Hennessy. He was in car
piling tile when the car was struck by a car of coal dropped in on
that track, knocking the tile down on Schurmann.
Foster & Roberts Co., for value of building at Lewiston, May 3.
Engineman and fireman left engine and went into factory to get a
drink; the engine with car ran away and knocked building down.
Car loaded with salt; was being kicked down main line at Hawkins,
October 12, brakes broke, car ran in on side track and struck
another car, knocking it against side of building belonging to
Blumenthal & Co., breaking in the walls and damaging machinery.
June 8, switching crew at Kempshall backed a box car against the
ammonia pipe which carries ammonia from the brewery to the
bottling works of the Kempshall Brewing Company, knocking down the
pipe, which was only twelve feet high, allowing the ammonia to
escape.
No one will pretend that these accidents and consequent injuries and
losses could not have been avoided by the exercise of a little
forethought and care. Why not do it and stop them in the future, avoid
the injuries and save the money they cost?