The crematory money-bilt [sic] system. "The cost of the equipment is great" - Depew
Summary
Chauncey M. Depew, President of the New York Central Railroad Company caricatured as a railroad cart stove.
In the caption, the "s" in the word "system" is written as a "$" and the quotation marks are also represented by "$".
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Signed, lower left: Th: Nast.
Title inscribed left and below image.
Bequest and gift; Caroline and Erwin Swann; 1974; (DLC/PP-1974:232.472)
The cartoon appeared as one of several illustrations which accompanied an article entitled, "Has a Corporation a Soul?" It discussed the dangers of the railroad car stove and the lack of concern among officals to find safer methods of heating railroad vehicles. The article was the second of two that voiced outrage over a deadly train accident, castigating officials of the Central Railroad Company. On February 20, 1891, two New York Central Railroad trains collided and burst into flames in New York City's Fourth Avenue tunnel, burning six people alive. The cause of the fire that engulfed the train was the upsetting of a car stove that exploded when the two trains collided. President of the company, Chauncey M. Depew, was charged with and convicted of second degree murder in the deaths of the six people. The prosecution contended that the Central Railroad Company willingly placed cart stoves on trains even though they were illegal in the state of New York.
Published as illustration in: "Has a Corporation a Soul?" Illustrated American, April 4, 1891.
Exhibit loan 4207-L.
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