The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-23
Incidents OF Travel.

large an expense of time, money, and patience,
as any other journey of two hundred and thirty
miles in the civilized world. We hear daily
complaints OF the Inconvenience and imposi-
tions to which travellers are subjected on this
route, and the following letter, from gentle
man who is compelled to make the trip much
more frequently than he finds agreeable, will
find many interested readers and sympathizers:
[FRoM coRREsPoNDENT.l
New YoRK, Oct, 20, 1851.
To the Editor Of The Republic
left Washington in such hot haste that had
no opportunity to say adieu but ii is no use to be
in hurry when you are to travel between Wash
ington and this city the railroads. The compa-
MES toiH take their own time TO it,
We left Washington at five p. M, and after
running at the alarming average rate of speed of
eighteen miles hour, and paying five cents
mile at that, got TO Baltimore at seven.
Taking those splendid % which belong to
the Baltimore and Philadelphia road. the springs
under which rather inferior to those under the
freight cars on the eastern and northern roads, we
left Baltimore at eight, at rate OF speed whichwoud
not have excited astonshment even from Rip Van
Wrinkle, if railroads had been in vogue when that
worthy Dutchman reused himself from his after
dinner nap. After being jerked, pulled, hauled,
squeezed, punched, thumped, shaken, Jared, and
flabbergaseed in general for seven mortal hours,
reached the station in Market street, Pbiladel-
phia, at little after three, thus ''doing the thing
up" at rate not quite averaging fourteen miles
hour, at little three cents mile.
The day succeeding Saturday being usually
Sunday, the directors of the railroad between New
York and Philadelphia (being gentlemen who
themselves abstain from all secular emotions
enjoyments on that day. have decided to no
train except one, at five o'clock p M, and there
fore halted at the United States Hotel, thing not
much to be regretted, by the way, for gets cap
ital beds, breakfasts, and dinners at that house,
and there is plenty Of "sated preaching within a
short distance.
So on Sunday, at tive p M, nice little party of
us started for home via Trenton, New Brunswick,
and Jersey City; and, as the New Jersey Railroad
had on Saturday posted up notice that at the re-
quest of the Postmaster General they intended .or
the future TO expedite the mail and put us through
in four hours, we were all in good spirits.
But there screw loose somewhere, for it
took two hours and quarter to get to Princeton,
and when we left Newark it was half past nine /;
so that we could not possibly get to New York be-
fore quarter past ten, or five hours and quarter
from Philadelphia but, short sighted NOR tails that
we are, while we were grumbling at the delay, a
small shake.up was preparing for us which was
destined to make five hours and quarter con-
summation devoutly to be wished for.
II seems that the New Jersey Railroad Company
had, with degree of iberalty in the cause of sci
peculiar to the directors of that company,
prepared grand philosophical experiment for the
purpose Of demonstrating the effect produced by a
collision of objects moving at high rate of speed
al IL I
the collision had been prepared, for jury would
certainly infer that from the facts. The Newark
meadows are, as you know, used a pasture for
all sorts Of cattle, and the railroad track being
high and well drained, is comparatively dry and
warm, and, therefore, selected a sleeping place
by the animals; and the company have not par
tice of fence on the road between the Passaic and
the Hackensack rivers, and have not even printed
notice put up warning the cattle aforesaid of the
dangers of sleeping on the track.
We had train Of eleven cars. First behind the
locomotive and tender came long car on which
were placed many baggage and mail cars, or
crates, capable of being readily moved; then
came a with few passengers and lots
of milk then the way car, and then some
six or seven passenger cars, in one of which
was your humble servant. Shortly before getting
to the four-mie post from Jersey City heard a
X,
jerk. and on looking out of the window saw the
locomotive was ''far afield," and on getting out
found as successful an experiment the directors
could possibly have desired. The locomotive had
shot of the right, going off at angle of about
thirty degrees; it was capsized and buried in the
mud, and the tender completely turned round
and laid the top of the engine, with its left side
resting upon the left side Of the engine. The large
baggage car had started off at angle of about
forty five degrees, till the forward wheels had sunk
in the swamp, when, being pressed by the train be-
hind, it had plunged deep into the mud, and got al
right angles with the track, while the movable
crates had kept up their direction, and went dash
ing headlong into the swamp beyond; that having
his majesty's mails had burst open its doors, and
waiting patiently for the clerks TO come and
assert the letters. The car behind the baggage car
rose up on one end and dashed on to the baggage
car, which returned the compliment by stripping
the floor out, dropping the unfortunate passengers
to the track, and bleeding the milk kettles free
ly. Strange to say, there only three persons
at all injured When | got on to the top of the
wreck it was avery interesting sight; but one, up.
on the whole, don't to again. The en-
gineer had probably turned the steam to the
whistle when he first the cows, and the engine
lay away Off from the track belching fire and
smoke, and screaming unceaslngly, as ii II were
wounded animal, while it lay powerless
hamstrung catamount. The confusion of the train
and the troubled condition of the men, women
and children, who came tumbng out like bees
from hive altogether made sight to see but once
But then the tug Of war; to foot it to Jersey
City wait till the relief train came up was the
questions; but did not want to wait, 80 off some
of US started, Juggling coats, umbrellas. carpe
bags, SC, &c, which got deuced heavy after
while. We got along till We came to the Hacken
sack bridge-that is just enough finished to allow
train of cars to go over it; there is floor and nj
railing, and all We had to walk planl
varying from five to nine inches in width, laiC
alongside of the railroad track, while twenty t,
thirty feet below the wnter hurrying out t,
Sandy Hook There a sudden falling off il
the number Of those who determined to foo
it. ! went along, but confess have strolled NOR
at my ease on the broad sidewalks Of Washington
on moonlight night in the leafy month Of June
One misstcp, and bah-if it had only been punch o
champagne, one would not mind it, but as 70
| pitching into the muddy waters Of the Hackensack
| - 4