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

We sve place IN this psPsr to the ststement OF Mr.
JoHS B JrHvIs, the Chief Engineer Of the Northern
Indiana and Michigan Soathern Railroad IN reference 70
the late fstsl disaster Chicago. The gis Of the
denec which Mr Jervi sets up II behalf Of that Co-s
pauy Is much the has already appeared in or
columns from another source. IL is briefly hat the
disaster cane from the fact that the Illinois Central
Road had laid rs track across that Of the Northern Ia
diana the same level instead Of carrying on
bridge, as should have been done And inasmuch as in
this the Illinois Central Company scted in direc; oPpos
ton to the wishes Of the demands Of the Northern Ind
ana expressed at the time aud since frequently repeat
cd therefore, according to our Correspondent Is
the former Corporation that the blame OF this dreadful
casualty should be laid
We eaun0t admit this apology as fully meeting the
case by any exonerating the Northern Inl
ara Company from the fearful responsibility under which
II row stands in the view Of the public No doubt such
mode OF crossing is peculiarly dangerous bas the dan
ge- was perfectly well known to this Company and
should have been provided against with the greatest
caution and vigilance. The Company was bound on
the one hand to insist on the building of bridge by the
other road and if need weretO enforce By law aud
the other to take every possible means TO avoid calamity
as long the crossing remained in that condition, by
always approaching It slowly and pruieuty, by vigorously
vas the fault Of the Illinois Central Company that the
crsssng vas so arranged but that does not justify the
Northern Indiana Company for running over it at
full express speed without waiting TO whether
another tran Vhch had the right to first might not
be close at hand Great general blame certainly az.
taches to the former Company, but that docs not relieve
tie special blame Of this particular event from che
shoulders Of the latter As well might the careless dr
yer Of carriage dashng itsefo pieces against another
at the corner Of street, the Common Council
with being guilty of his snashup because it had not
carried the one thoroughfre over the other a bridge
or under it by tunnel
With regard to the Michigan Central Company,
while we hold that less cupeble in the than It's
rival we have by no asserted or implied its in.
nocence TWAS proved a; the COroners Inquest that
it's locomotive carried no head light on the fatal
ipg and tie conductor and engineer very proper
" held for trial in consequence And We hope that
they and all other persons concerned in the massacre
may receive strict justice at the hands of the Jury.
II is high time that events Of the sort should be duly
noticed and punished by tie lsw then We shall have
fewer Of them.
We trust that this dreadful affair may speedily re-
suit in the construction Of proper crossing by the
illinois Central Company. 1. would not seem possible
that great and wealthy Corporation should delay
hour AFTER such a warning II it should let the local
authorities proceed against it nuisance and compel
il to adopt a more liberal and decent course.