The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-12
To the Stockholders OF the New York and
New Haven Railroad Company. 9

10 the StOckh0ldcrs OF the New York and
New Haven Railroad Company. ~ 6
It has become the painful duty Of the directors to re-
port the occurrence of most appalling catastrophe on
the New York and New Haven Railroad Friday last
the 9Th nst by which loss of life almost beyond pre-
cedent has been occasoned. The overwhelming effect OF
this disaster and the sympathy which it is impossible to
subdue have almost entirely absorbed the care and
thoughts of the directors and officers though every effort
has been made to relieve the suffering and to provide for
the observances due to the Dead and it is hoped that
nothing has been omitted which could be done under the
circumstances The directors do not pretsnd to Offer
of deep interest In the sorows Of the friends
Of the sufferers to feel most deeply and with the
most acute pain, would imply want Of the ordinary
sympathies Of nature which familiarity with Gala
nifty possibly create.
The first intelligence Of the disaster to the express
train Of Friday, leaving New York at NJ was prompt
ly communicated by Mr.. Swan Superintendent Of the
Union Telegraph Company in person, at the Office in
Hanover street, about thirty minutes past eleven O'Clock
Mr.. Burra the Vice President, being at that moment
in the Office Immediately proceeded by the tran of half
past eleven TO Norwa BRIDGE and found that the tele
graphic communication had been only too true and that
the loss of life had not been oveated. Every arrange
ment which he deemed necessary and proper made
with energy and despatch, and in the course of few
hours Mr. Whistler also at Norwalk, with largo
force of to the broken cars order rescue
the bodies of those who had drowned or
killed. Among the passengers in the train emf.
nent physicians OF whom many lost their lives
but those who escaped every possible care and at
tenon which humanity and skill could suggest were ex
ttnded to the sufferers.
The circumstances Of this disaster and any details
connected with It, we'll the long list of the names of
those who suddenly hurried from life. SO well
and accurately set forth In the verdict of the coroners
inquest held the spot that the directors deem it
proper to submit that document for your information
than any statement which has been possible for them
been The inquest has been held amid the
natural influences against the company-testmOny has
been received it existed at the moment and yet the
facts clearly appear to be already established and fairly
sta ed and the community well this company, will
look the verdict Of this inquest for the bst and most
reliable information to the fatal catastrophe at the
Norwalk drawbridge.
The directors nevertheless deem 1t due to the admins.
taton of your road to submis you such statements
Of the rules and regulations relating to the dra wbrdges
as will enable ou to judge of such as bear upon the
The transportation department, and all persons em.
posed In it governed by general rules and regua-
tons. Of permanent character, and by special in.
cable only to tina. table. The general rules and
regulations adopted in 1849 under the supcrintea.
force. BY these rules the signals for the drawbrdges
were safety sigoalithat s the signal when in place
denoted that the bridge was in order and might be
crossed but If not seen at Masthead all trains were
bound to come to full stop. This signal large red
ball. which is illuminated at night 1t is the duty OF the
engineer Dy the general rules, to look out for this sig
nal, and to approach drawbtidge with the greatest
possble caution and unless he can distinctly see the
signal in its position at masthead the draw to come
This rule is perfectly understood the road by all the
engineers ard fully explained by the Superne n
person to each engineer when entering the service of the
company At the time he specially instructs each
engineer Of his duty to approach all drawbrdges speed
which enables him TO command the train bring
it to full stop before reaching the draw should be ne
cessarv That the rule and the signal the points Of
observation were all perfectly known to Me- Tucker the
engineer OF the express train Friday last Is not ques
toned He admits the fact and has done in the most
unqualified manner to special committee Of the Board
-Messrs. Boardman Sturgcs, and Sandford--who were
charged with the duty of inyestigston That the en-
gneer did not observe this well kno rule is also estab
lshed and though the i'm preston on his mind TO
be that he did lock for the signal and saw at mast
head and accordingly kept his course yet the
be- ond doubt that the signal had been lowered at the
The general rules make the duty Of the draw teuder
to keep the signal at masthead when the bridge and the
not in order the draw is to be removed for the passage
OF vessels or for any purpose whatever the first duty Of
the tender add one he must never omit is TO lower the
signal down to the bridge, and to let 1t remain down
until the draw replaced and properly secured for trains
to pass oyenit The tender at fhe Norwalk draw per
has been brought forward to show that has been
urmndful Of either and the testimony beyond ques
ton that he did his duty Friday last and that the
signai was then in its proper place
The general regulations were, therefore, well under.
stood on Friday last and compliance with their require
calamity Of that day. For grea er security and 10 call
atenon to these rules notice Is posted in front Of the
engineer and duplicates placed in box ut his hand to
'look well for the dravbridee signal and or
the point in the road where he shoui look for this
signal large sign board Is erected and the words draw
bridge. With hand pointing towards the bridge,
painted in large Letters.
In addition TO these general regulations upon the back
Of each time table printed special instruc lions ap
pcabs only to that table. ON FRIDAY last the train
ruaning under Time Table No. 81 which had been in effect
since February I, 1853 and by of the instructions
thereon, the engineers directed TO all trains
with approaching Nofwak river bridge and wber
going east fiom Norwalk station 70 move round tia
With exceeding and conductors o trains out
OF time cautioned about crossing the br,dgethey
will be held responsible for the safety Of their trains
Unusual caution was deemed necessary at this bridge
from the frequency with which the draw removed
and from the in the road, which prevented full
view OF the bridge The last provision Of this order how
not made much in reference to the removal
OF the draw for which abundant provsion bad been al
ready made believed TO the meeting OF trains
out OF time the single track upon the bridge this