McKee v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co.

13 L.R.A. 817, 83 Iowa 616

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: October 23, 1891
• Status: Published

Opinions

Robinson, J.

In September 1888, Joseph M. Brown,was in the employ of the defendant as brakeman on a freight train. The division on which he worked extended from Trenton, in Missouri, to Eldon, in this state. On the twentieth day of the month named, he left Trenton with his train. When it reached the-vicinity of Numa he was in the caboose, and, observing-stones which appeared to be thrown from the track under the second car from the caboose, he went forward to ascertain the cause. He first went down on the-north side of the car, and then climbed back, and went down on the south side by means of the side ladder. While hanging low on the ladder, with his back towards-‘the locomotive, looking under the car, his head came in contact with a wing fence at the end of a cattle-guard, and he was instantly killed. This action is brought by the administrator of his estate to recover the resulting damages.

It is claimed by the plaintiff that the defendant was-negligent in allowing the fence to be placed so near the-track as it was, and that the decedent was killed in consequence, and without fault on his part. The-defendant denies the alleged negligence on its part, and the alleged absence of negligence- on the part of the-decedent, and alleges that he had been employed by the defendant on the part of its road where the accident occurred for several years; that during that time the-fence and cattle-guard of which complaint is made were not changed, and were like the other cattle-guards and appurtenances along that part of its road, — all of which was well known to the decedent long prior to-his death.

i. railboads: roadways: dutyl?empioyes. I. The court charged the jury as follows: “It is-the duty of a railroad company, as regards its employes, 1186 ak ordinary care and supervision to-keep its roadway, for the operation of itsfoy its trains employes, in a good and safe condition, so that the employes may not be exposed to-unnecessary hazards in the operation of its trains.” “The deceased * * * hada right to assume that the defendant would use all reasonable care in the keeping of its road in a good and safe condition for the operation of its trains by its employes. * * The defendant complains of the portions of the charge quoted, on the ground that they require the defendant to keep its road in a safe condition, while the rule is that it must be kept in a reasonably safe condition. We do-not think the jury would so understand the charge. It instructed them that it was the duty of the defendant to use all ordinary and all reasonable care and supervision to keep its roadway safe, and that, we think, is the law. 'If the road could have been made safe by such means, then it was the duty of the defendant to make it so.

2. _: negligence: construction of road: rules for employes: evidence. II. The only charge of wrong against thó defendant is that it negligently placed the fence with which the decedent came in contact too close to the track. That it was a proper appurtenance of the road, is not questioned, evi¿[eilce shows that all the cattle-guards and cattle-guard fences along the line of the defendant’s railway, upon which the decedent had been employed, were constructed substantially alike. As we understand the record each cattle-guard was made by digging a pit across the roadbed about eight feet wide and two feet deep. Across the pit were placed timbers, and on them were laid ties from twelve to fourteen feet in length. At each end of the ties was constructed a wing fence eight feet' in length parallel to the track. It was made of two posts, and boards nailed thereon, and to its center was attached the right-of-way fence. The posts of the wing fences inclined outward somewhat, but, as a rule, were nearly perpendicular to the surface, of the earth, and were from three feet, five inches to four feet, seven inches from the rails. The fence which caused the accident in question was three feet, ten inches from the rail at the bottom, and inclined outward at the top three inches. There is no competent evidence that it was improperly constructed or located. Certain rules of the defendant, designed for the guidance of its track repairers, were, however, introduced in evidence over the objections of the defendant. One of the rules -so introduced is as follows: “Second. They must see that no lumber, wood, stone, materials or tools are placed at any time within five feet of the rail, and that all gravel and ballast is leveled so as not to endanger the safety of the trains.” It is urged by the appellee that this rule is evidence that a wing fence should not be placed within five feet of the track, and it is claimed that, if the one in question had been placed that distance from it, the accident would not have occurred. But the rule cannot be given the effect claimed for it. It evidently does not refer to permanent structures, but to loose tools and materials. There would be good reason for requiring articles which might be readily moved by the wind, by animals or other cause, without the concurrence and against the wish of the defendant, to be placed further from the track than appurtenances of the road, which are permanently attached to the earth or roadbed.

Other rules required the track repairers to examine their sections daily to ascertain if the track was safe, and to observe closely the fences, and to keep them and the cattle-guards in good repair. It is not claimed that the fence in question was not in good order, and the rules gave the repairers no authority tó move it. The rules were, therefore, improperly admitted. The jury were instructed that they could not presume negligence from the fact that the accident occurred, but there was no other evidence of such negligence.

3. -:-:degree of care required. III. It is said, however, that the cattle-guard and fence could, with reasonable care, have been so constructed that the decedent would have passed the fence in safety. That may be conceded, and the question then arises •whether the accident was of snch a nature that the defendant should have guarded against it. The stones and ballast which had attracted the attention of the decedent, and caused him to descend the ladder on the side of the car, and look under it, were thrown out by a brakebeam which was down and dragging. The evidence shows that, in operating trains, it sometimes happens that a brakebeam or other appurtenance of the trucks of a car gets out of order. When there are indications that such a state of affairs exists it is the duty of the brakeman who discovers it to report the fact to the conductor, and under his direction to ascertain what, if anything, requires attention, and if necessary to stop the train. To make the required examination it may be proper for the brakeman to descend the ladder at the end or on the side of a -car, and look under it while the train is in motion. But the evidence does not show that such an event is of common occurrence, and it does show without contradiction that it is not customary for a brakeman to descend the side of a car while it is in motion between stations. It does not appear that any accident caused by the location of a wing fence had ever happened on the road of the defendant before that in question, although its road had been operated many years.

The undisputed facts of this case bring it within the rule announced in Koontz v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 65 Iowa, 226. The facts involved in that case were substantially as follows: A train of the defendant was stopped on a bridge because the engineer supposed that some of the cars were off the track, or that one of the brakes was set. A brakeman who had been riding in the cab of the engine got down, and in the discharge of his duty proceeded to walk back beside the train to ascertain what cause, if any, there was for stopping. While so engaged he fell through the bridge, and received injuries which caused his death.' This court held that it was not the duty of the railway company to plank every bridge and cattle-guard to prevent accidents to its employes, although it might have anticipated that trains would be required to stop at other than the usual stopping places; and it was said that “ordinary care does not require that every possible contingency must be anticipated and guarded against, but only such as are likely to occur.” That such is the rule applicable to cases of this kind is well settled by the authorities. In Wabash, St. L. & P. Ry. Co. v. Locke, 112 Ind. 404; 14 N. E. Rep. 395, it is stated as follows: “The duty.imposed does not require the use of every possible precaution to avoid injury to individuals, nor that the company should have employed any particular means which it may appear, after the accident, would have avoided it. It was only required to use such reasonable precautions to prevent accidents as would have been adopted by prudent persons prior to the accident.” In Loftus v. Union Ferry Co., 84 N. Y. 459, the material facts involved were as follows: A child six years of age fell from a bridge or float adjoining the passage-way for passengers going upon or leaving the ferry-boat into the water, and was drowned in consequence of an alleged defect in the guard at the side of the bridge or float. The guard, at the time of the accident, was in the condition it had been in for years. * Many people had passed that place yearly, and no accident like that complained of had happened before. The court held that the ferry company was bound to provide suitable and safe accommodations for the landing of passengers, and that the rule of strictest diligence in that respect was the only one consistent with a due regard to the value of human life, and with the relations of the company to the public. It further held that “the rule does not impose upon the defendant the duty of so providing for the safety of passengers that they shall encounter no possible danger, and meet with no casualty, in the use of the appliances provided by it. It was possible for the defendant so to have constructed the guard that such an accident as this could not have happened, and this, so far as appears, could have been done without unreasonable expense or trouble. If the defendant ought to have foreseen that such an accident might happen, or if such an accident could reasonably have been anticipated, the omission to provide against it would be actionable negligence.” The company was held not liable, because it appeared that it had no reason to apprehend an accident like that for which it was sought to make it liable, and that the arrangements it had made were such as experience had, up to that time, shown to be safe and suitable, and sufficient to meet the requirements of its duty.

In Sjogren v. Hall, 18 N. W. Rep. (Mich.) 813, a case in which an employe in a steam sawmill sought to recover for injuries sustained in the course of his employment, the supreme court of Michigan said it was the duty of the mill-owner to guard against probable dangers, not to make accidental injuries impossible. It was further stated, in effect, that the fact that the employe, who was not wanting in intelligence nor incapable of judging of probable danger, continued to expose himself without hesitation, and apparently without fear, to such risks as those were, was very conclusive proof either that the employer was not culpable in the matter complained of, or that the employe was inexcusably careless of his own safety. It was further said,, in effect, that the fact that, after the accident ■occurred, it was seen that it could have been easily guarded against, was no reason for holding the employer liable.

To have guarded against the accident in controversy, it was necessaiy for the defendant to foresee that .something might occur to one of its moving trains which would make it proper for an employe to descend a car to look beneath it, and that he would descend, and swing himself out from the car while passing a wing-fence, to make the desired examination. It is undoubtedly true that the defendant might readily have known that such a combination of circumstances was possible, but it is apparent that it was not likely to occur. So far as the record shows, the accident in question was so improbable, and it was due to causes of such rare occurrence, that the defendant, in the exercise of reasonable-diligence, was not required to provide against it. It is readily seen now how it could have been avoided, but it does not appear that anyone anticipated it, or anything of that nature. It is not shown that complaint of the wing fences was ever made to the defendant, nor that it had any reason to anticipate accidents from them. They were properly constructed, so far as the record discloses, and the defendant had reason to believe, from the length of time during which it had operated the road without accident from them, that they were properly located.

4__._._. contributory negligence: use of defective appliances by employe. IY. Another objection to a recovery by the plaintiff on the record submitted is that it clearly appears the accident would have been avoided by the use of ordinary care on the-part of the decedent. He had been empi0ye¿ as forakeman on the division on which the accident occurred in all about three years,, and his runs were usually made in daylight. On that division there were about four hundred wing fences, all. of which were substantially like that in question, as to plan of construction and distance from the track. The distance between the wing fences and the sides of passing box cars was about two feet, and it is shown without contradiction that the side ladders could be used with safety in examining as to the condition of trains in passing the wing fences in question. But it must have been apparent to anyone who had observed the width. of the spaces between the fences and passing cars, that a person conld not safely swing ont from a car while passing such a fence on its level more than two feet, and that an attempt to do so would be apt to result in serious injury.

It is said that there is no evidence that decedent' knew the distance of the fence from the passing car, but that claim is in conflict with the approved rules of evidence. It was said in Muldowney v. Illinois Central Ry. Co., 39 Iowa, 620, that “the means of knowing by ordinary care is evidence of knowledge. ” If it be shown that a given statement was made in the presence and hearing of a person possessed of the ability to hear, the presumption, conclusive in the absence of a showing to the contrary, is that he heard it. If it be shown that an event, capable of being seen by any ordinary observer, occurred in the presence of a person possessed of the ability to see, and that his attention was at the time directed to it, it will be presumed, until the contrary appears, that he saw it. So a person engaged in a particular employment will be presumed to have that knowledge of the dangers incident to his employment which he could have acquired by the use of ordinary diligence.

In Mayes v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 63 Iowa, 563, it was shown that the plaintiff’s intestate was a switchman or brakeman in the employment of the defendant, and that his death was caused by the-negligence of the defendant in failing to place blocks, between the rails and the guardrails at the switches.. It was said by this court, in effect, that the knowledge-of defects possessed by an employe, and his ability in the exercise of ordinary diligence to acquire knowledge thereof, are questions of fact to be determined on the evidence submitted in cases where the defects or dangers are not open and obvious to every one serving in the capacity of an employe; but that the rule was not applicable to that case, for the reason that the decedent had worked over the track in question for six weeks, and must be presumed to have known of the defect, and that it was dangerous. The plaintiff in Mooney v. Lower Vein Coal Co., 55 Iowa, 671, sought to recover for injuries received from a falling roof while working as a miner in the mine of the defendant. This court held as follows: “The true rule is that if plaintiff knew, or by the exercise of ordinary care might have known, of the unsafe condition of the roof, and he continued to work in the dangerous place without protest or complaint, and without being induced to believe that a change would be made, he assumed the risk and ,cannot recover.” In Muldowney v. Illinois Central Ry. Co., supra, this court approved the following: “When an employe has the means of acquiring knowledge, by the exercise of ordinary care and diligence, of the defects or imperfections in the machinery or cars about or upon which he is employed, and- continues in his employer’s service without objecting to, or protesting against, the use of such defective or imperfect cars or machinery, he will be held to have assumed all the risks incident to the use of the cars and machinery in such defective condition.” The court cited a large number of cases as supporting the rule. In Perigo v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 52 Iowa, 276, it appeared that the defendant had erected a coal platform between two of its tracks at Winterset, and, for convenience in unloading and taking on coal, placed it so near one of the tracks that a passenger car, moving along the track, passed within seven inches of the platform at one end, and within four and a half inches of it at the other end. The platform had been in the position described two years, when a baggageman in the employment of the defendant, while engaged in the discharge of his duties in helping to make up a train, was knocked off the car by the coal platform, thereby receiving injuries which resulted in his death. He had been in that employment for more than two years, and had assisted in making up the train during nearly every day of that time. In considering an instruction in which the rule under consideration was stated, the court said: “It is now the established doctrine of this court, in harmony with the current of authority elsewhere, that an employe who knows, or by the exercise of ordinary diligence could know, of any defects or imperfections in the things about which he is employed, and continues in the service without objection, and without promise of change, is presumed to have assumed all the consequences resulting from such defects, and to have waived all right to recover for injuries caused thereby.”

The rule, as thus stated, was approved in Wells v. Burlington, C. R. & N. Ry. Co., 56 Iowa, 524. The facts involved in that case were that the plaintiff’s intestate was a brakeman in the employment of the defendant, and had been so engaged for more than four years upon that part of its road where the accident occurred. He was killed by being knocked from the top of a freight train by the timbers of a bridge over which the train was passing. The bridge timbers with which he came in contact were a little more than five feet above the top of the car, while he was more than six feet in height. There were other bridges of like construction and height on that part of the road, over which he had often passed. In the opinion written by Beck, J., it was held that an instruction embodying the rule under consideration should have been given. It was also said, in regard to the dangers of the employment, that “the knowledge of the intestate and his failure to make objections may be shown by circumstances and inferred from his conduct. Direct proof on these points is not required. The knowledge of the dangerous character of the bridge may be inferred from opportunities of obtaining such knowledge in-the exercise of ordinary care.” In Gould v. Chicago, B. & Q. Ry. Co., 66 Iowa, 590, it appeared that the plaintiff’s intestate, a locomotive engineer in the employment of the defendant, was fatally injured while in the discharge of his duties. He, had been instructed to make a certain trip without stopping at any station-, unless signaled or specially directed so to do. It was the duty of the conductor or brakeman to make-signals to the engineer from the rear end of the train when passing stations. While the train was passing a station on the trip the engineer went to the fireman’s side of the engine, and leaned out of the gangway, looking back for the expected signal. He was almost instantly struck by a water crane, and injured as stated. The water crane, or the frame supporting it, was about two feet from the floor of the gangway upon which the engineer was standing when he was struck. This court approved an instruction to the effect that if the crane was so located as to be reasonably safe for trainmen operating trains in a reasonably safe and prudent manner, then the defendant was not guilty of negligence in the location of the crane, and disapproved one which stated, in effect, that, if the crane was placed in such close proximity to the track as to be dangerous to the persons operating the trains, then the defendant might be found guilty of-negligence in locating and erecting it. In considering that instruction, the court, speaking by Beck, O. J., stated that 1 fit is not true that a railroad company is to be regarded as negligent in erecting or maintaining contrivances or things for use in the operation of their roads, for the reason that they are dangerous to the persons operating the trains. Indeed, the whole business of operating trains is dangerous. It is full of perils to those employed therein. Because there is danger, it does not follow that the companies are negligent as to the things from which the danger springs. The instruction should have expressed the thought that, if the crane was dangerous to persons operating trains in the exercise of ordinary care, the defendant was negligent in constructing it.”

The rule under consideration is too well grounded in reason and authority, and has been too long followed by this court without dissent, to be now abandoned. "When applied to the facts in this case, its effect cannot be a matter of doubt. The decedent, during his long term of service on the road in question, could not have failed to observe, in the use of ordinary diligence, that the wing fences were too near the track to permit a person to swing out from the bottom of a passing car with safety. This is especially true if the trainmen were required to descend the sides of moving cars, and look beneath them as was done in this case, so frequently that the defendant should be charged with knowledge of such examinations, and be required to provide for them. The decedent may not have known the exact distance of any wing fence from the track, but he could not have avoided knowing that he could not safely do that which he attempted if he had given the matter that attention which his duty to his employer and to himself demanded. The accident occurred at about noon of a pleasant day. The track where it occurred was .straight. There were no obstructions, and decedent could have seen the fence which caused his death, from his position at the bottom of the ladder, for a distance of nine hundred and thirty feet before it was reached. There was nothing in the condition of the car which he sought to examine, as it appeared at the time to justify him in exposing himself to any unusual risk. There was nothing to indicate such an impending danger to the employes or property of the defendant, nor to passengers, as justified the decedent in acting without regard to his own safety. It appears that a brakebeam or lever, or a brake loose and dragging, might have thrown the stones from the track, or that a swingbeam might have thrown them from ballast filled in too full. It is not shown that when stones were thrown as were those in question it was regarded as indicating unusual danger, or anything of a serious nature, althought it made an examination as to the condition of the train necessary. That the decedent was not alarmed by what he saw is shown by what he did. It was his duty to report to the conductor if he saw anything wrong with the train. He made no report in this case, but proceeded without orders, evidently not for the purpose of averting an apparent and impending danger, but to ascertain if one existed. The conductor and a fellow brakeman were near him in the caboose when he left it, but he did not regard the cause of his leaving of sufficient importance to call their attention to it.

In Hosic v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 75 Iowa, 686, it appeared that a brakeman was injured in attempting to set a brake in obedience to a signal which was unusual, and indicated that prompt action was required. It was held that, under the facts of that case, the brakeman was justified in attempting to obey the signal, although in so doing he knowingly incurred risk to himself; but the rule of that and similar cases has no application to this case. It clearly appears from the undisputed facts of the case and the authorities cited that the defendant is not shown to have been negligent in the provision it has made for the safety of its employes in the matter in controversy. The case of Loftus v. Union Ferry Co., supra, is even authority for the conclusion that it has exercised that higher degree of care which a passenger might have demanded. On the other hand, it appears that, had the decedent used reasonable care to ascertain and avoid the danger to which, lie exposed himself, the accident which caused his death could not have occurred.

What we have said disposes .of all questions discussed by counsel which are likely to arise on another trial. For the reasons indicated the judgment of the district court is keyeksed.