The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-07

don't think got to my regular speed afterwards; when
] came to the Trenton end Of the turn out, saw the
switches right there; came along nearly to the
house; q In the turn out track; whether
she came out Of the house do not know; got few
yards past the house. and cast at tho swches
that the short switch that IL, the first one,
wrong could the lever; by the rail that
the switch was wrong; | reversed the engine, blow
the whistle and put the breaks, aud by that time
saw that the long switch wrong the train passed
over the short switch shifting it to the straight
track my engine went ea at the long switch; think
he went about ten feet clear of the switch before
the truck turned round the wheels down the side
Of the canal jumped of then she upset the fire.
the track could see the lever raw the up aud
down post only; have often known the locomotive to
shift switch in passing over 1t running twen
ty or twenty five miles an hour.
jams CLEAR sworn-Am EN- ployed ON the railroad
was at work with my brother on Wednesday last, at
the threemie turnout, above Trenton after
down, We both went home the jump stopped
where on the read be opened the switches near the
house and pushed the per in the turn OUT my
brother then fixed the switches after came in
did not NEEDLE with the switches ut the other end
had put the first switches right he went down
towards the other end of the turnout, and
went into the house; saw him no more that
night when got up next morning. saw my bro
when started to work ON Thursday morning We
came out OF the switch near the house; don't know
whether my brother went down to the farther switch
have often heard him orders the house,
not to NEEDLE with the switches know nothing about
them; DON'T know when they right; not at
home when the train met on Wednesday night; did
not hear OF any mas being there on Thursday morn
Ing end my brother arrived at the place of the acct
dent about 10 or II o'clock lrhey were taken there
by the train that went from the Bordenown workshops
to the assistance Of the injured train l heard my
brother he closed the switches the house. but
did not b. him say he listed the other switches
don't reeolleet any other train running along that
night or next morning; have lived with my brother
since April lst Adjourned
At four o'clock in the Afternoon the jury went up to
view the turnout They found it pretty much as des-
No i'm fha a4fi hay aQf aGah
derstand that the engineer could not the post
lever Of tie upper switch in time to prevent the acct
and bushes.
In the evening the jury delberatea till late hour
caused by the removal of the switch by some un-
known person Seven of the Jurors refused to sign the
verdict.
SUMMING THE CASE.
The labors Of the coroner in the inquest upon the
bedies Of those who killed by the railroad acct
come 90 q close The verdict of the jury is that
the accident was caused by the act of unknown
person, in turning of the switch. Such a verdict
bears heavily on the company We perceive, however,
that they to its before the jury
bad made their investigation. MIR. Stevens offered
reward OF 600 for the detection Of this unknown
peIson
day evening and found in the same situation by the
FIRST train on Thursday morning and hence the dread
Though the switch was left off by one train and
found of by the next, the switch tender found it
morning Who set it right on Wednesday night aud
who set 1t wrong on Thursday morning, no one knows
The switch-tender swears that he did not.
The Coroner's verdict that IL set wrong
by some unknown person on Thursday morning This
assumption requires another assumption namely that
II was set right by the same some other unknown
person Wednesday evening. IL was this difficulty
no doubt that made number Of Jurors dissent from
The investigation disclosed other important facts
There Is DO man whose duty 1t is to see that the
switches are right before the train approaches The
nd ha pnr Varlv aIlaA Ia puaI
the road, several miles of All he do,
peeted to do is to have the switches right about
them. They may be moved by any thoughtlsss
lcous pas.er by-in ignorance, in idle curiosity or by
LOIS Of life and limb ana property, must be eIpsctea
In this case the engineer could not tbs handles OF
the switches IN time to stop the train His old order
was expected to Keep up bis speed, u. 9s 49, .ct
turn out that he could see tN' ~. = ere u y -
This order -hi~' ~ -. In. s'hle - tss-
the handles TIN .lsli ~ ~ lIlN long
they have been 50, end how May tan hare eontinu-
ally passed this switch, Without the engiGeers being
able TO pass in the manner erisrvd by the supcrinten
dent, depends simply upon the question how long the
have been there long enough TO have been many
times by the superior officers of the company.
The persons whose duty IT TO watch the switches
are the conductors and braksmcn. They required
to that the switch IL right after the train passes
fit Is wrong before the train reaches It, IL Is ones
duty to know 1t and set it right, and an accident is
The company have dispensed with one Of their old
Pfecautions adopted IL.
They formerly made their approach the turn
out, ash II was wrong Now they to on as II
the turnout right; but there Is absolute
tainty that II is right; Is employed to that
Is rights and II II Is not right destruction and death
await the doomed train.
Again, the lecks the switches are not locked.
Why Because, If they locked, a man must be
paid TO lock and unlock them Does tho company or
set the wages Of dsy-aborer against the lives aud
property passing over their road
Asfor the locks, however, they, though protec
ton against ankaown persons are not the proper pro-
lection careful to watch every before
every train reaches It, Is the proper precautien, II
that Is dispensed WITH the company responsible for
ell the evil That results.
We say these things With pain yet they obvi-
ously true. and plainly required ct hands IL will
be duty to enforce them by further remarks here
after. That too, will be painful duty; but shall
perform 1t.