The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-08
THE FRIGHTFUL
RAILROAD CALAMITY,
Additional Details from the Melancholy
Scene at NOrwalk.

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Scene at NOrwalk.
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The Sad Incidents Of the Disaster,
&c., &C., DC.
Latest possible moment yesterday morning. and yet
reporters were unable to write out detailed of
3he many aflictng and soulharowng spsctases
which they witnessed at and around the place or this
taroad hscatonh. When they arrived as the spot the
rawbrdge was placed In its original position and the
tide had retired But aas how changed was the aspect
Of the place from its usual pastoral appearance For
miles around the country looked desolac and no living
poul moving about Nearing the Norwak station
Bere observsda few excited individuals hurryng seeming
~ towards ONE point They going to the drawbrdge
over the NorwaR river. At this point to be ssen
perhaps the greatest amount Of sudden and unexpected
mortality family bereavement agonizsd grief and soul
narrowing anxiety, combined with the largest share Of
generous sympathy manly exerton female tenderness,
and true national hospitality, that was presented
in ono group.
The chief rush made toward the door the engine
house, which ID situated few hundred yards upon th
side Of the railroad leading to the river The place
Was literally besegedwh people who had arrived fromNew
York. New Haven and other places in search of friends
or near relatives At that time person could be
admitted; the jury viewing the dead bodies and
tho agony Of the crowd dreadful Personal grief set
aside every other consideration. gentleman upon the
outer edge Of the wedged mass, would cry, Let in
70 fnd out If my dear brother Is dead Another would
ray. "I cannot endure 1t; " must get in and know
my friend ID there" man, stupid with grief would
3otter forward, saying, "My wife! my wfe' whilst the
most delicate ladies' needless Of the maddened rush. would
maintain their places sobbng out The bride of yester
day l-dead-dsadl Oh that could her lfeess form
Amongst the New Yolkers very 90 neral feeling
exhibited to know the fate of Mr. Jonathan Troter One
gentleman perfectly pale with the intensity Of his
thoughts regarding his safety and in with him
and others, rejoced to hear, in short time, from
Dr. Quaskenbos of the safety Of his friend Mr. Totter
During this time the officials in charge of the door per-
formed their duty with great tenderness but frmness
TO the entreates Of For Gods sake let me the un
sersal reply wss God assist you! sorry for you,
but at this moment you cannot enter-by and BY you
will" When the door opened, what effect was pro-
Euced Tho door was strewed with dead bodies cofns,
And dresses whilst the air was filled with shrieks
announcing the recognition Of departed father brother
rnsther sister, child. The bodies not much dis.
figured There bruised about the head having
the wounds principally upon the left temple, and the
Same side Of the skull This struck resulting from
the angular position at which the bodies touched the
ears after being projected in the fatal direction by
the shsck The majority seemed to have died from slow
Arownng and their countenancss nresantaa the rue
sx Of their feelings ct ths monsnt Of ths swu Pssas
non tne - eternity Inc chisel of tie sculptor has
,usvsr caught the real delineadon Of lneament and
expression which could be there upon the faces Of
3hs Ifeless human monuments Of the New Haven
railroad tragedy 0pe men lay with his lips slgt2ay
ap. his har literally erect his eyes staring his hands
e1tsnded a. in aversion Of danger ana ms
muscles showing his fee..-s " 1A'~~ w ~ wv 's's
the terrible gulf Although stiff and cold as he lay Spen
his back, An observer would imagine that he was still
feceding from the contemplation Of the horribs catas
3rophe Upon the sountenance Of the once robust Mr.
Colbach Of Richmond Ne, you would clearly the OK.
pressed conviction of inevitable DEATH and the calm,
peady gaze Of famiiarxed with its contem
MI Colbach was ship carpenter just returning to his
native place Near to the door lay the body Of gentle
man. said to b Dr. Bartlett of Massachusetts 1t looked
as ne had endeavored to tear of his gloves in order
to attempt to free himself, but had not time to
accomplish the act before he died. beautiful
child lay near to him, looking if the chsrub had re-
turned to earth after the catastrophe ard laid down to
Sleep Hopeless horror portrayed upon the coun-
tenanoes Of the ladies.
The faces we're unusually pale for the color of the
departed. This was in measure owing to the stop
page Of the hearts action by the nervous
contraction when the unfortunate sufferers realized the
first idea Of their fate Some who had struggled violently
when cooped in the water had their faces covered with
bubbles Of foam beched forth in the strong swimmers
dying agony"
Almighty engine stood hard by whizzing up its steam,
rejoicing at the temporary triumph of the material
over the immaterial life.
Around wbridoe were n nunher of a. ont ~
Norwak with ropes ard engaged in endeavor
geBout the smoking car any other part of the wrecs
which they could Women there consoing and min
iseng to the afflicted and inviting the wounded to their
houses The medical men Of the paceDrs Fitch Barker
and otherswere there aordng aid to the sufferers Mr.
Warner, of the Plan6ed County Bank indefagable
In giving information, arranging fer the inquest and aid
ing the members of The press Our extended account ar
rived at such late hour, prevented giving the in
terestipg statement of Mr.. Hicks which we now give
Some of the escapes provdental in the extreme
and of the deaths happened under circumstances
auguring personal fatality.
For instance-Major Everett Candee Of New Haven,
and his lady did not leave the Union Place Hotel in the
eight O'Clock tranas reported-but fortunately waited
for the at half past eleven which change of hou
they probably their lives. Mr. peck of Burlington
Vermont and Miss Clark, his wifes sister, were in the
second car and with other beside the conductor,
escaped.
Two gentlemen were sitting about midway of the
thrd car when, without any warning they, together
with the seat upon which they sitting, pitched
headlong into the river fortunately thsy both escaped
with only slight bruises.
clergyman and his wife had just changed seats with
Mr.. Goliath, ship carpenter Mr. G. was killed. and the
others escaped
James Colburn, man about thirty five years of age
from Richmond, Me- was together with his brother in
company with his ployer, Mr.. Ring, and his wife in
She second His brother was instantly killed. Col
burn broke out of Of the windo vs. and helped Mrs.
Rrg out, and then got out himself in the fall he had
his right shoulder broken. Mr.. Riog also escaped.
Several of the friends of Dr. Person of Salem (Mess
staying in the Union Place Hotel with him. urged
him TO remain and take the boat for safety, but
he replied that the cars we're more secure. He
went and was killed Miss Susan Pomeroy who
"a 4,a I'd tha nfM