W. P. Willard, engineman, injured July 22, 4 miles west of Janesville; injector on engine No. 4618 broke, and Willard was scalded about face and head.
Henry Jennings, conductor, injured October 1, at 5:55 p.m., north of Rathburn; was walking by engine, engineman started the injector and threw hot water on Jennings.
Edward Sterns, night engine inspector, injured at Granby roundhouse, January 12, at 8:45 p.m.; he told engine dispatcher to open valve to see if sand was running properly; dispatcher opened the blow-off cock instead of sand valve, and steam and hot water scalded Sterns' right hand and leg.
Every year a number of accidents occur to employees caused by defects in engines and appliances furnished enginemen, nearly all of which could and should be avoided if there was a more thorough inspection, greater care taken in repairs and, what is just as necessary, more care taken by enginemen in reporting defects; and when you report defects, and repairs are not made, call the attention of your master mechanic or division roundhouse foreman to the matter and I doubt not that not only will the defects be repaired but greater pains will be taken in the future to see that your engine is kept in good condition.
William Curbin, stripper, injured at Elmwood shops on the 10th of March, was taking boiler front off engine No. 3461; removed all bolts except one, and while waiting for crane to be attached to the door to lift it away, the door fell on Curbin's leg, who was standing on the pilot beam of engine. Investigation showed that the bolt which had not been removed, and which had been left to hold door, was a "dummy."
G. M. Cramer, fireman, injured, September 9, at Huntingdon, was climbing up on cab of engine No. 784, to get coal chute down, when brake released, and on account of leaky throttle, engine started back, and caught his leg between cab of engine and chute.
J. B. Olsen, fireman, overcome by heat on engine No. 941; caused by absence of lagging on side of engine.
M. H. Woodrow, engineman, and Douglas Evans, fireman, injured half mile east of Peverly, June 19, caused by whistle valve on engine No. 2605 becoming stuck, they being unable to fix it, and they were almost deafened by the continuous whistling. Whistle had been reported on the trip before by the engineman, but was not repaired.
Henry Winterson, a boiler washer, injured on May 15, at Kendrick, was using a 4-ft. nozzle to wash out boiler of an engine, when the collar of nozzle came off, and he was thrown against cab of engine, injuring his back.
The thought has often occurred to me that if the master mechanic or some one other than the foreman, whose duty it is to inspect and repair, would check up the work slips Form No. 141 and inspection records to see that the repairs called for on them were made, we would not have so many engine failures or accidents of this kind.