Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-05-12

Mr. and Mrs. Halle,i, and Mr.. Bacon,
who lett he's 10 accompany the remains
of Mr.. Sayles and MISS Bacon, passed
the train conveying them AT Berlin.
There is an immense crowd OF per
sons M the depot waiting The arrival oil
The trains and the greatrs. anxiety is
manifested TO learn all the particulars
A number OF the bodies recovered
were dreadfully disfigurod This was
I particularly the case with the bod rs Of
Dr. Dwigh, of Brooklyn, and DR.. Pier
sDr, oi Salem, WLo were recognized on-
| ly by some articles in lht ir pockets.
Mr.. Buck, Of New York, who was In
! The forward passenger car, thinks that
not more than six or seven who were in
that car. were saved. The car was full
Of passengers Mr.. Buck succeeded in
saving an old lady, whose son was also
saved.
TINES OrricE, Hartford, May7.
The Legislature at lis session this
morning, appointed a special committee
to investigate the cause OF the late dis
aster.
| The committee consists of Senator
| Hyatt, Dr.. Beckwith, oi Litchfield, Mr..
Blssel, of Sharon, and Mr. HaIsey, OF
! Norwich.
( They are instructed to repair a, once
! TO the scene of disaster, ard collect facts
! aud report officially.
A bill was n so introduced, making u
q fine Of $4,000 for every person killed
upon railroad, and imposing heavy
penalties for injuries on account OF ac'
cijents, caured by careessness.
A thorough investigation OF this al
fair is 10 be made.
The Legislature have also resolved
| 10 appoin. a board OF railway conmis-
sioners, with extensive powers.
The following account, by an eye
witness, we find IN the New York Her
aid; i; is from the engineer of the steam
boat Pacific, which had just passed
through the draw at the time Of the ac-
ci lcnt -
New YoRk May 6.
l witnessed III. terrible accident on
the New York and New Haven railroad
which occurred AT ten O'Clock his
morring. The place where il happen.
ed is called South Norwalk Village.
where there is il draw bridge across the
Norwalk river. The drawbridge had
been raised To permit The passage OF the
steamboat Pacific. am the engineer
oil that boat. and was on board her at
the time the accident occurred. We had
got about thirty or ;orty yards from the
draw when we heard the cars coming.
| Immediately walked aft and stood on
the guard, where could see everything
that happened. The cars were then
coming with full speed. The draw
was WIDE open and the ball Was down
This ball is used Tor a signal. When il
is up /, signifies that all Is right.
The locomotive was under such head
way when II ran of that before it reach
ed the water IL struck the aJufment on
The opposite side. a distance " about sir
ty jeef. The tender baggage car, ana
two mail cars came next. Two passen-
ger cars wen, into he opening Oh The
top OF what had preceded then! The
third b, Oke in the middle. and halt Of II
weat down. LII this third car two w,re
instantly killed, and many more were
hurt. How many in all were killed do
not know, but before lett, at l2 O'Clock
noon, between thirty and lorly had been
taken out dead. They were horribly
bruised aud mangled. One beautiful
young glrl. about 10 years old, had the
back oil her head knncked in. There
was one child about tour months old aud
many other children killed. The cngI-
neer and fireman Of the train, when they
saw The ball down. jumped oil before Tie
cars reached the bridge.
" hen HE cars ran off those in the
rear ones screamed tcrrlfcalIy. We
put right back and rendered what ass, s.
iance we could. People went t. eating
the cars with axes aud taAing out the
dead. Not one that was taken out OF
the second car was alive. The excite
ment was intense women were rush
ing down with qulIls TO cover the dead;
others were vanly striving To restore TO
l,fr the poor victims as they were taken
out
We brought back few OF the passen-
! gers 10 his city. but most Oi them pre-
! ieired 10 remaln there.
| Very respectfully, yours,
| JAMES A. RtNAUD,
Engineer steamboat Pacific.
! Most Of the details stated above my.
self witnessed, and believe W above
account 10 be strictly correct
! 5. S. ByxBfE,
Captain steamboat Pacific.