The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-11
TIE MoRwALK CATASTROPHE.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Verdict Of the COrOner,s Jury.
&c., kc., DC.

Tho wrecks Of the cars and engines t remain at tho
soene Of the late accident and judging from present a
pearances, will not be removed for days. The
sne and tender are still under water, the former
bedded to such depth in the mud as to be almost
wholly invisible. As the long expected derrick arrived
yesterday, there is probability Of its being removed
some time to- day. Various spsculaons afoat as to
whether it reversed before It made the fearful
Jupge into the river, some contending that 1t win be
found 30, and others again expressing the opposite
opinion One of the Witnesses who, believe is prac-
teal engineer, said that it ihould not be found re-
versed that for believing that precautiou
had not been taken However. this point of no ma
tera importance upon the great question at issue as to
the parties who are in fault
Dr. Bems is sufficiently recovered to be able to walk
about, ard viii leave Norwak to day for Boston,
HMss Griswold passed favorable night and homes are
entertained Of her recovery
The other injured persons are doing well Mr.. White
one Of the injured, went home this morning
The meeting which held Monday near the scene
OF the disaster WILL it is expected be productive Of the
most beneficial effects. The memorial is at present re-
ceivng signatures and has been distributed all over the
State will soon be presented to the legislature and
will doubtless meet with prompt consideration.
Dr. Alexander Fl. Stevens and Dr. Francis Of New York
have been upremng in their attention to the wounded
rs indeed have all the physicians in attendance upon the
Injured Too much praise cannot be given to the ladies
OF Norwak for the promptness with which they gave
their assistance to the injured Their noble conduct as
given Norwalk amiable character for dsnterested
kindness and true humanity.
The most intense anxiety prevailed yesterday in rela
tion to the Coroners verdict was expected it would
be delivered sometime during the evening. The jury
having closed the investigation Monday adjourned till
last evening at seven O'Clock to deliberate and were
about three hours in session when they rendered the
following verdict -
VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY.
.N FARTIRLD COUNTY S.
NoRwALK, May 10TH 1853
The undersigned jurors, being duly empanneIled and
sworn according to law to inquire Of the canse and man
ner of the death Samuel Beach John c. Gray Walter
French, Norman Parker, Nathaniel Ring, Jr., Michael
Reardon, Mrs. A. L. Desauque, Francis W. Sayles T. NJ
Hutchinson, Archibald Wech, Ann T. Greene, Butler
Wilmarth, Samuel N. Hassard, - Harley, female in
FAINT, aged about four months Oliver Barr W Dimmock
Emene Sheppard Mary Tame, Elen Goss Ellen s. Bacon
Jacob Vandeventer, William c. Dwight, Joseph NJ. Hill
John Henry Luhrs, Mrs. j. NJ. Fluent, Anna r. Lang,
John Moss, Frances Harley Beverly Parker Miss Mary
Robbins, James NJ Smith, Robert Stonham, Alice Carri
gan, Sarah ]. R. Hanna Susan Pomeroy, Mrs. Mary E.
Robbins, Mrs G. R. Sparks Josiah Bartlett, Abel L.
Psrson Isaac p Goliath, Martin Tane Julia Anderson
David B. Newa and B. F. Lazer, the death of which said
persons was sudden and untimely, and the and
manner Of which unknown Having viewed the
bodies Of the persons above named and considered the
evidence given to u.s. do oaths say that all the
herein before named drowned in the harbor
OF Norwa at the west opening of the draw in the rail
road bridge at South Norwak killed by injuries there
received on Friday, the 9th day of May, A. 1853 in
consequences Of the falling Of the engine and ten der and
two basgsgs csrss twe passsuuB ssss ssAwroFsae0ss
ther, Of the o'clock, A. NJ, express train from New
York into the harbor at that place. they and each of
them being passengers in said train.
Having thus found, upon oaths the cause and man.
ner Of tie death Of the persons above named the duty
imposed upon us by ths law under which act, may
perhaps be considered at end. But an event which
has thus suddenly launched many of innocent fell
low beings into eternity, without moments warming
and which has carried desolauon and anguish into so
many households require that the details of
our investigation be stated more at length. We fnd
therefore, the following facts
The NcvYork and New Haven Railroad crosses the har
bor of Norwslk at South Norwalk, thousand and
eighty six feet east of the depot upon bridge In the
bridge the channel Of the harbor and one hundred
and ftyhree feet from the next abutment there is
draw which revolves horizontally upon central abut
ment, and leaves, when open, two passages Of
sixty feet each. This bridge was under the
CSto VI WMihm IdrIOru, VINO was the EN-.
ployment of the company as bridge tender By the
regulao Of the company was his duty to open the
draw for the passage of boats and vessels when they
sired to pass without reference to the time whom trains
due. Ths being supposed to be In accordance with
the paramount rights of those in the legitimate use
navgable waters and 1t equally the duty Of those
having the management of trains upon the road to
certain before attempting to pass the bridge and be
fore they approached that the train could not be
stepped whether the draw in condition for them
pass To enable those who have the management
of trains TO ascertain this fact pole erected upon
the draw about forty feet in height with piece
upon the top to which to be hosed and kept red
ball about two feet in diameter containing light in the
night. The regulations Of the company requiled this
ball TO be kept up, whenever the draw in condition
to be passed by the trains, and lowered before
the draw opened, in of accident to
the bridge, that when the trains were ap-
preaching from the east west, and those having
their management the ball in its place, they would
know that all right and the other hand if they
should not see the ball in its place. they might know
that the bridge not in condition to be crossed.
This ball is visible to those running trains and ap-
preaching from the east all the time after they have
arrived within half mile Of the bfidge-the grade
descending to the bridge a the rate Of rom forty to fifty
feet to the mile. But it is so when the train
proaching from tGe West.&
As the train emerges from the cut at the north
end of the east abutment of the protection wall,
which is 1886 feet southwest of the west abutment Of
the rairchd bridge the ball visible and be
clearly for the distance Of 800 feet is then partially
obscured by intervening tree and cannot be again
clearly from the train for the distance of about 100
feet it is then fairly in view for 800 hundred eefurthcr
theo is obscured by tree for distance of 100 feet
then visible for the further distance Of 400 feet be-
ing 1900 feet from the place where 1t is first visi
Bile; from this point 1t remains obscured until the
train passed the depot and upon the highway
where may be again for the distance of fifty
This point is nine hundred ninety nine the
draw. The ball does not ain become visible until the
train arrives at point Ave hundred and sixty four feet
from the draw from this point remains in view until
the draw is reached
the draw s open. the north end Of the draw can be
fifty feet sooner. At the time of this
A.