And lastly I will refer to a few cases of injuries which cannot well be classified, so we will say from other causes. They are a miscellaneous lot, none of which ought to have happened, or indeed would have happened if the first rule of nature, self-preservation, had been observed. But I will give you several examples:
A F. Ford, brakeman, injured at Lenopa, Sept. 3; hanging on side of stock car instead of ladder, cow kicked him and broke his wrist.
B. L. Pomeroy, brakeman, fatally injured at Schuyler, Oct 29; in attempting to oil a hot box while train was running, he fell under the wheels.
John Leveridge, fireman, injured at Worthington, May 8; passing through town, waved hand at trainmen standing on side track, struck mail crane, and injured his arm.
Richard Manville, switchman, injured at Poulsville, June 17; stood on top of car giving signals and when slack ran out fell off of car; left leg broken.
K. T. Morrison, brakeman, Homerton, April 26; went back along the track, to flag his train, went to sleep on track, was struck and killed by another train.
Prevention
SUGGESTIONS
And so I might go on detailing the various accidents that have occurred from the carelessness of employees, but I believe I have enumerated enough of them to illustrate the point I wish to make; that is, the employee is too careless, thoughtless and negligent; and I hope also to demonstrate that the larger part of them could be avoided and that a united effort should be made by all to prevent them in the future. It does not require any argument to prove that the many accidents occurring every day, and the resulting injuries and destruction of property, ought to be reduced, and that, if the rules were complied with and proper care and supervision exercised in transacting the business of the companies, their number and consequent money loss would be materially reduced; and it is up to the employees to do their share to bring about this necessary result. Railroads that advertise that they have the best of everything—including men—that have spent not thousands but millions for safety devices and appliances, as many of the lines have, ought to be able to make a better record; and I believe when the employees really understand the matter such roads will be where they belong—at the head of the procession, not only so far as freedom from accident is concerned, but in everything else.
Blackstone, in his Commentaries on the Common Law of England, said that the great beauty of the common law was that under it "there was no wrong without a remedy," and so I say that there must be some remedy which, if properly applied, would prevent the happening of a large proportion of these casualties; and I suppose that the man who says there is a wrong or criticises results ought to be able to suggest some remedy which will sound plausible, even if it is not practicable.