Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-05-16

At Norwalk, Id miles distant from New
York, the road crosses bridge with draw 40
feet in breadth.
About half past ten in the morning, William
Hartford lowered tho signal and opened the draw
bridge to allow the steamboat Pacific TO pass
through for New York. Scarcely had the
steamboat cleared the bridge, and before time
was allowed for the bridge-mAster 10 close the
draw again, round came the express train ut full
speed, estimated as running thirty miles the
hour, and in an instant the locomotive bounded
Of ut the end OF the bridge, striking against the
opposite ubulment Of the draw, and burying
itself in tho river. The tender, baggage cars
aud two OF the passenger cars, and onc-hOlt Of
another, which Was broken in two, were prCoip.
itOted into the water, which, It being high tide
at the time Of the accident, was twenty-five feet
deep!
Many citizens Of Norwolk witnessed the up.
proaoh Of the train, and some Of them called out
tr the engineer 10 stop, as they foreSaw the dam
ger; but no heed was taken, and from the speed
at which the locomotive was then going, il was
impossible to stop in season to prevent the acci-
dent, The engineer, whose name is Edward
Tucker, behOdmg tho danger, jumped of the
engine and escaped with brt ken leg and some
bruises. The fIemen, brukemen and baggage.
masters, followed his example.
Up to six o'clock Of the evening Of the dsaS.
ter, the bodies Of fOrty.SiN passengers had been
recovered.
From the New York Tribune.
Capt, Renord, Of the steamboat Pacific, to
pass which the fatal draw-bridge was raised,
says ave had got about thirty or forty yards
from the draw when we heard the cars coming
al full speed. The draw was wide open and
the ball was down. This ball is used rsr a sig
nal. When it is up il signifies that all is right.
The locomotive was under such Roadway when
il ran of that before it reached the water il
struck the Obutment on the opposite side ii dis.
lance Of about sixty Geel The tender, baggage
car, and two mail cars came next. Two paSsrn.
ger cars went into the opening, on top Of what
had preceded lhCmj the third 6roku in tho mid,
die, and half OF invent down. In this third car
two were killed outright, and many more were
hurr. One beautiful young girl, about sixteen
years old, had the back Of her head Knocked in.
There was one child, about 4 months old, and
many other children, killed. The engineer and
fremcn Of the train, when they saw the ball
down, jumped oil before the cars reached the
bridge,
ETtrGcto Ct Letters from Passengers
The dead lay in ranks, their
faces cleaning horribly, as lamps were carried
along TO enable the newly arrived strangers 10
discover whether their wives and children or
parents, or brothers, or sisters, were among
them. l have very frequently seen deud men
and women, but never before SO frghtnl IN
exhibition. The males were in one largo and
rude apartment, and tho females in another, and
both were dark, except as lighted fitrully and
imperfeotly by candles and lamps, Of which the
rays could scarcely penetrate more than an
arms length from the b2holdcr, Every house
in the village is n hospital. Every family is
devoted to the care OF the suffering and the dy.
ing.
l learn that there was no orying--no appar.
ent eXeitement--at the time OF the catastrophe.
Every one seemed rriEhtfully calm; and the Ut.
most presence Of mind and energy were exhibit.
cd by tho citizens of the village and others in
roseuing the unfortunate living and dead.
Scenes In the Baggage Room.
| The scene at the oOr'house and baggage-room
was most solemn and impressive, Never shall
we forget il. Forty.six bodies of men and wo.
men, and two little children were laying aroundl
The Ogonized features, some covered with hor.
rlble Commissions, or deep gashes--;ho foam iSsu.
ing from the mouth and nostrils, the clonched
teeth and hands, and the wet garments, formed
a tableau most horrible, The friends or rela
tives of the deceased, wandering from corpse
TO corpse, and eagerly searching FOR the features
OF some loved one, rendered the scene not UNI
like that of field Of battle.
Strong testimony against he Engineers.
From the evidence at the inquest, and from
the statements Of all who knew ANYTHING Of the
matter, we learn that the signal ball had been
lowered full Is minutes previous to the aeoi
liant W. aa,,ll la.,v, T.