[1] Copies of all rules referred to will be found in the Appendix.
INJURIES TO PATRONS AND DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTY
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?
ACCIDENTS TO TRAVELERS ON THE HIGHWAY