New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-09
THE NORwALK CARNAGE.

The facts of the tragedy on the NewHayen Railroad
are now so clearly established that they may be pro-
nounced upon with justice 1t is shown that the grosses
and most criminal negligence has prevailed in the
aCement of the road and that the Company have allowed
the drawbrdgeto be opened whether trains and
liable to arrive every instant or not 1t certain that
they have not employed watchmen atevery crossing near
every bridge and at every other point opossble danger
the curve at the NOrwalk depot for example with sig
mails such as could not be overlooked neglected to ar
rest approaching trains at sufficient distance to prevent
calamity and it proved that they careless in
ascerainng the qualifications of their engineers that
they enrus the lives of their passengers to such idiot
or mailman as he who on Friday consummated the
slaughter of fifty human beings which he could not have
done had mott Company rendered the taskeasy fohm
These are facts which cannot be denied aud they de-
monsrae beyond question: that the great burden OF this
guilt rests upon the Company Yes, Gentlemen Direct
ors it is upon you above all that it rests
We know that the outcry of public indignation is main
" directed against the engineer who is in the hands of
Justice and who we trust viii be punished he deserves
but we cannot on that account acquit his employers.
How could they pu. such man in position where
turn of the hand glance ofthe eye almost launch
hundred persons to destruction How could they allow
a drawbridge to be touched when train about to
come up and might be thrown into the river if il
openl How could they fail TO have proper signal men
stationed along the line far enough to stop train long
before il should reach the spot Or how they per
NIT the bridge to be opened without any means of
warning train on the curve behind the depot where the
bridge itself and its signals are nyisibe These are
points on which the guilt the Company and its share in
this awful massacre become undeniable.
People are wont TO boast ofthe superior eheapness
with which our Railroads managed contrastedwith
those Of Europe 1t is boast We desire to think
of more Ii is botted out in blood. The economy in
money is more than made up by the sangunsry waste
of precious lives On European railway such whole
sale murders as this at Norwalk that Chicago
such casualties as that of RancOcus Creek,--which
lacked buta hairs breadth OF becoming terrible in its
slaughter as this of Frday-cOud not happen for the
reason that life is regiOusy cared for and thorough
police stationed the whole length of the line watch
for and announce every indication of peril. In this
country We know Of but one railway well provided in
! this respect; We mean that Of the Hudson River
Abin has been introduced in the Legislature of Con
necticut to make railroad companies liable pay ten
thousand dollars for every life lost through the careless
ness of their employees We hope it will pass. At
that rate it would cost hafa million Ofdoars repeat
the transaction of Friday and We only wish that half
that pecuniary punishment could now be Inflicted
/ But We suggest to the Legislature that this
heavy fine is bet sufficient TO guard the lives
of travellers Stringent regulations should also forbid
the opening OF drsw-br5ges within al least half an hour
ofthe time for train pass Wherever railway crosses
/ a common road a bridge or tunnel should carry il
either over or under The whole road should be care
fully fenced TO exclude both animals and foot passengers
corps of signal men should be kept all along the line
to watch the track snd give warning whenever there
might be dagger. Frequent and thorough examination
should prove the carwhees and axlss and the rails to
be sound and perfect and all that wsuld not stand the
test should be put out ouse Let regulations Ike these
adopted and LEI Railroad Companies be less nggardy
m expendpg money for the safety of their passengers
sndiess greedy Of their profits and il vii be pos
sbe to say goodbye to your friends, and take seat ina
car,without feeling as II you proceeding
ten But until these reforms have been introduced We
advise every enc who obliged to travel BY railroad to
make his WILL and set his Affairs in order for il Is doubt
| ful whether he viii ever be brought back alive.