P. F. Newton, conductor, injured Oct. 3, at Durham; got off head end of train, and tried to get on way-car as it came along, and was thrown to the ground and badly injured. Train was moving about 15 miles an hour.
Then comes the class of injuries caused by crossing between or going between moving cars or in front of moving cars or engines, and those caused frequently in broad daylight by obstructions with the location of which employees are perfectly familiar, but fail to take any care to avoid, such as the following:
H. M. Tupper, switchman, injured at Murferton, March 21, ran ahead of moving car to throw switch; after throwing the switch he attempted to cross the track again ahead of the car, was struck and badly injured.
David Spurton, switchman, Olivia, Dec. 12; while hanging on side of car, was caught between car and viaduct, and severely injured.
L. Q. Lafflin, switchman, Rutherville, Oct. 4; was sitting on top of car riding backward his head struck viaduct, and he was knocked off and injured.
Among other classes, altogether too frequent, as well as unnecessary, are those caused by leaving cars too near a switch to clear a man on a car on the next track; by going under cars to repair them, or under engines to clean the fires, without putting out a flag; by cutting steam hose without first knowing the steam is turned off.
Now why a man switching cars will not take the trouble to put them far enough in on the track to clear himself riding the next cut in on the adjacent track, or why a man will go under an engine or car to repair it or for any other purpose, without protecting himself from injury by putting out a flag as required by Rule I, passes my understanding. Whenever you find the rule disregarded, report it, so that it will not happen with the same man in the future; why a man should undertake to cut the steam hose before he knows the steam has been turned off, the devil himself could not tell, and yet the following cases would seem to show that a man with a big stick is needed on the railroads as well as elsewhere.
William Jacobson, switchman, injured at Delavia, May 19; he left caboose on side track too near the lead, and then rode some cars down the lead, and was struck by the caboose.
H. J. Calpine, car repairer, killed at Mestigo, June 3; was under car making repairs; did not put out flag or tell anyone that he was going under the car; the car was moved and he was killed.
J. P. Alton, switchman, injured at Wolton, July 13; cut hose between sleeper and coach and failed to turn steam shut-off cocks; was badly burned by steam.