Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-05-16


The coroner'S jury, empannelled to enquire into
all the facts concerning the railroad massacre at
Norwalk have made long and interesting report.
After detailing various facts brought before them,
they proceed to declare that the ''immedate cause
of this disaster was the negligence and reckless
ness of the said engineer" and they add the fol-
lowing reasons:
/. In running around the curve at a rate not
less, certainly, than twenty miles an hour when,
under no circumstances, should it been more than
half that.
3D. In not discovering that the ball was down
immediately after emerging from the cut,
3D. In not looking for the ball at the highwa Y
crossing east of the depot.
4th. In -elying, as he says he did, upon the flags
"t the Swltch-tenderS, when he well knew that
they were not in sight of the draw, and had no.
thing to do it with.
9th. In not running even slower than usual w hen
the track was wet and slippery.
In addition TO all this, they say, be well knew
mat the draw was required TO be very frequently
opened.
In not discovering that the ball was down, we
think he was guilty of gross negligence. In RIM
nIng around thr curve at such rapid rate, md un-
der such circumstances, we think him guilty of
the groSSeSt negligence.
At the same time we do not think the entire re-
sPonsibility of this disaster rests upon h i'm. As
we have before observed, the rules of the compa-
ny do not make it the duty of The conductor to OBJ
they should. His other duties and his position in
the cars are such that the duty, if imposed upon
him, would probably be very imperfectly perform
ed; and 1t may well be doubted, whether anything
would be gained by way of safety to the pasSen-
gers. If the engineer could feel that there was an
other with whom he might divide the responsibility
AT the same time we cannot forbear the express
SION oil out opinion, that every careful and pru-
dent conductor Will, when not otherwise neceS-
Sarily occupied, endeavor to see whether the sig.
mails are down or not In this instance, he adj
mts that he did not, though not otherwise partcu-
ulariy occupied But he must have known that
the train was on this occasion. and habitually
driven round the curve west of the bridge in utter
violation of the rule of company and this he might
and should have put a stop to.
No do we think the responsibility of this occur
renee stops here. The proof before the Jury was
abundant that the ordinary speed of that train
around the curve has never Leen less than twenty
miles an hour, and it is incredible that the officers
OF the company should not, some of them, have
known that the train did not, in the language of
their rules, smove round the curve with exceed
ing care
Wefurther find that for the protection of trains
approaching from the East, and of all trains from
The West stopping at Norwalk, the ball signal
was sufficient; naSmuch trains starting from the
depot IN Norwalk will not attain so much speed
before coming in sight of the bridge that they can
not be easily stopped if the draw should be- open;
but, ior trains coming from the West, which do
not stop at the depot, the signal was insufficient
But we do not mean TO be understood that the
engineer was excnSable in this instance, in not
observing that the ball was down. We would
however, express the opinion that the signal ought
TO be raised above the summit the hill on the east
that 1t may be more plainly seen, and also, that if
this train does not hereafter stop at the depot,
man with signal should be stationed where he
can see the draw, and where he can be seen by
the engineer on the train from the west, before
reaching the depot.
As the Legislature of Connecticut has appointed
committee 10 investigate the matter, the Jury re-
IRAN from making any recommendations.