Rule 12a says: When you get a train order the conductors must read it aloud and then sign it and show it to the engineman, the rear brakeman or flagman, and the engineman must show it to the fireman and in case of freight train to the head brakeman, who are required to read it, the object being that every employee on the train will know what the order is and if the engineman or conductor forget it the brakeman or fireman may remember and by remembering prevent an accident.
DERAILMENTS
Next come injuries caused by derailments, which generally result from running into open switches, off derails, too fast running at bad places in the track, defective equipment or track. Nearly all of the cases would be avoided by careful running, proper inspection of track and equipment, and by compliance with the rules.
Oct. 21. 10 a.m. Passenger train 41 derailed near Venice while running around a reverse curve fifty miles an hour. Engineer killed; fireman and twenty passengers injured.
April 27. Way car jumped track at middle lead switch in Pewaukee yard and switchman Jno. Williams killed; Jas. Grant and Robert Riley injured.
Lemuel Izzard and L. Wackles, killed; R. P. Bownes, engineman, Roderick Bloke, stockman, Robert Castel, fireman, C. Plympton, brakeman, injured, four miles west of Beadleston, July 24. Train No. 36 had broken air hose or axle, derailing and throwing third car from engine onto westbound track just as train No. 98 was coming. Train No. 98 ran into derailed car and 14 cars of time freight burned up. Izzard and Wackles were stealing a ride on train No. 36.
ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT
I shall next call your attention to accidents caused by defects in the equipment, especially in that of freight cars and engines. They are of such frequent occurrence as to no longer attract attention, but when the time comes that the man who inspects reports not to the foreman, whose duty it is to keep the equipment in repair, but to a superior, whose duty it is to find defects, there will be a material reduction in such cases. Train and enginemen should report defects discovered by them on Form 995 and attach card to truss rod of car or locomotive tank. And first we will take up those caused by defective cars:
J. I. Smindorf, brakeman, killed at Snook's Junction, by falling from car, September 8, at 7:40 p.m. The running board was rotten and full of holes; the brake at the north end of the car would not hold on account of having a loose ratchet wheel.
P. L. Merritt, conductor, injured at Pencost, November 12, was climbing down side of car; screw pulled out of top handhold, allowing Merritt to fall to the ground, striking on a rail.