Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-13
THE NEW JERSEY DISASTER.


The Northern papers bring US abundant details
of the last railway murder, and our hearts sicken
as we read accounts of the horrible deaths and
CHASTITY wounds incurred through the palpable and
deestable rashness of those in charge of the trains
from Philadelphia and New York The terms
gross neglect and culpable careessness fall short
of the atrocy of such acts Of reckless disregard Of
human life They do not place the crime in
proper light before the public, and even they are
seldom used, unless, in this case, deplorable loss
Of life attends the crash of meeting trains.
If ever any thing more than newspaper condem-
nation is to follow the preparation of such fool
hardy trifing with the safety of those who confde
themselves to the care and discretion of railroad
company's servants, it seems to that the present
accident loudly calls for the interference Of Justice
in her sternest and promptest mood. We read that
one if not both trains were out of time; yet the
New York train, according to one witness, though
rounding curve, very sharp at that point, "was
coming along like lightning" both trains endea-
voring to reach some station at which they could
lay by and let the other pass.
The very statement of such facts carries with it
the strongest reprobation and adherence of such
VI
not have just parted with those dearest to him. or
be impatienty expecting their return by any train,
and, above the torturing suspense he suffers from
the first tclegraphic rumor until the true events
are known who can be that the real facts will
not bring tdings of the death or mining of those
whom he had expected soon to greet after weary
absence? They may have been hurried into a
river, thrown down mountain, tossed and crushed
beneath pile of shattered ears, and all from the
obtuseness ola draw-keeper, the drunkenness of an
engineer, or the negligence of a switchman.
We take it to be thing certain that the Direc-
tors of railroad company, except under rare and
peculiar circumstances, have the remedy for these
wholesale slaughters in their hands. They can be,
if they choose, perfectly sure that their servants
are competent, sober, discreet and vigilant. They
can regulate with undertaking certainty the rates
of travel the times of starting the precautions to
be adopted in every contingency which can happen
in the running Of their trains Especially, they
can prevent collisions from trains being out Of time
or out of place. Let them emulate the order given
by one company to its subordinates " If you are
out of time and have to expect another tran
stay where you are till the uheelS drop off from
rust if that train does not come"
Every one must be satisfied, and especially that
portion Of the community likely to be called to serve
as juries that it is full time that this horrible IN
difference to human life, whether manifested by
employers or employed, must be cured Human
patience AMI forbearance cannot be asked to be
silent any longer, when valuable lives are DESTROYED
and limbs Topped off by scores every year. Then
let those responsible be detected and punished If
the servants Of the company be guilty, let them
suffer in person /; if the company cannot clearly
prove that the event occurred from causes beyond
their control, let them suffer in purse. 1t is beyond
reasonable doubt that certainty of being heavily
mulcted for every injury sustained by passengers
would induce safety in journeying by railroad. As
soon as the probable sum to be paid by them for
damages shall equal that requisite to procure the
improvements and precautions demanded on every
road, so soon will the company be at the pains to
place upon an unexceptonable footing all the ar
rangements incident to thetransportation Of travel
lers We of this, because we believe that,
other things being equal, the companies would as
lief have the confidence and good opinion of the
public as their distrust and condemnation.
| The Legislatures of the several States have also
their duty to execute. We cannot at present pre-
tend to propose any digested plan for general adop
ton. But certain rules, never to be disobeyed OF
evaded, appear to us necessary to be imposed on
every railroad company before the grant Of char
ter. Were we not callous from the long-accustomed
fact we should shudder at any company even COM
mencing its business without double track, one
| for the up and the other for the down train. A
double track should be thing as primary in con-
| sideration an engine; and an engine should
under no circumstances be on the wrong side.
Every railroad should be fenced in if possible every
foot Of its length and the condition Of that fence
carefully watched The excellent system of guards
at proper distances should be copied from the two
New York companies which have so wisely so
humanely, and indeed so economically introduced it.
Every railroad track should be forced to 60 over
or under every frequented road that it crosses and
guard should be stationed at every by-road; even
if it be not thought essential to have gate at every
such point to be closed some moments before train
is due. Private inconvenience, SO slight as such
plan would cause, should cheerfully yield to the
Unreasonable regard due to the preservation Of
hundreds Of lives.
We will not to-day say more than to add one Of
the most important duties of the civil authorities in
cases which they deem worthy of judicial investga-
ton. Let that investigation proceed without mo-
ments delay. If there be reason for punishment,
let judges and juries combine to render it not ex-
cessive but Adequate and, above ALL let it be sure
and prompt DO mot drag trial slowly along until,
even if conviction ensues, the public have forgot
ten the circumstances, and the moral effect and
wholesome fear sought to be inspired have little in
fuence upon the class whose dread Of consequences
| it was most desirable to secure.
SAILING OF THE AsIA.-The British mail steamer Asia
sailed from New York Wednesday for Liverpool with
seventy.six passengers and S4S9, 100 in specie