The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-07

contributions.
Talk ON Change.
Owing to the inclemency Of the weather. trade in
general way inactive. Cotton sold to the extent
Of 1000 bales, without quotable change in prices.
The reported catastrophe with the melancholy loss Of
hfe on tho New Haven Railroad at Nerwak, spread
gloom Change. Deep regret was expressed for the
sufferers and their friends 1t being the morning
train hence for Boston, believed to contain quite
number OF prominent citizens including many professional
and business The Of several mentioned
having probably taken passage at Canal street, but
it not known whether they safe among the
slain Among others mentioned Mr. Nevns of Broad
street. who afterwards said to have escaped Miss
Fisher Of Boston, who had been visit to friends
Brooklyn was said to have been ON board. Several
PERSONS whore friends had left in the cars,
they heard Of the accident Immediately set out
by express for Norwalk, in order, necessary, to
render all the assistance in their power The hope
universally expressed that example should
be made with the parties to whose careessness the
accident could be traced II human life sacrificed
by idle careless signal man, drawbrdge tender
engineer the act should be stgmatized murder and
the offender be made to suffer capital punishment.
These drawbridges seem to be the most dangerous
places railroads. Within year the whole pas
senger train bound from New York to Philadelphia
very being precpated into the Hackensack river
New Jersey and was only prevented by the connection
with the first passenger being broken when the loco
motive plunged into the river 1t only the other day
that ac,dent happened at q drawbridge on the
Camden and Amboy road. 1t suggested that
strong gates should be placed at the ends Of bridges,
which should be invariably closed when the drawbridge
up and not opened again until it should be replaced.
The railroad companies had to rely upon the best agents
and servants they could find and when their conduct
involved loss Of life property they had no power to
punish this the province Of the legal authorities ;
all they could do would be to dismiss them. present
laws could not reach them others should be enacted that
would. The subject that should engage the at
tention Of the State legislature which to reasonable
at Albany.
It was believed by some that the only efecsual
method OF establishing uniform system for guafling
life and property railroads would be for Congress to
pass general law in reference to them. As they
traversed large number Of separate States no unor-
nifty Of legislation could prevail Thus the express train
to Boston in . few hours passed through three
States, and there four States traversed in
. trip by railroad from New York to Washington.
When accident happened and lives lost it
generally found that victims supplied from various
parts Of the Union In State the offence Of causing
the loss Of life by railroad accident might be pun
ished q msdemeanor, in another granddaughter,
conviction, deem ana imprisonment sufficient pun
ishment.
national law was vansedif consistent with the con-
s6tution-which shoG prevail the whole country,
and in all Of accident prompt Investigations houd
follow, and parties found guilty promptly punished.
Rail commissioner inspectors, shoald be appointed,
whose duty should be to report upon the condition and
safety Of reads the character Of the machinery
dton Of the cars bridges &c. with the general manage
mcnt of roads, and when accidents it should be
their duty repair to the Of disaster all
the p&rtsuars and publish official report Of the same
and to prosecute offenders The disregard Of human life
in the United States not only subject for dis
parazng remark in foreign countries but had become
startling and appalling to own people, many of whom
had valuable friends untimely swept from time to
eternity leaving voids which earthly power could Gil.
Serious complaints continued to be made respecting the
untowerd delays encountered at the Custom House in
this city Some had endured vexatOus delays varying
from two to three weels It concluded that II the
fault out Of the laws they should be amended and
simplifed and il from the officials setting At the
receipt OF CUSTOM" they should be made 70 vacae Ok
reform. II men were unwilling to work An hour or t~o
after three P. NJ, without extra pay, to bring mp
pressing busines to promote the interest Of suffering
merchants At . time Of increased but probably mo-
mentary pressure their places ought to be given to
others who would condescend occasionally to do 70.
Marine Affairs.
ARRIVAL OF THE CLIPPER SHIP SOVEREIGN OF THE
sEAs--ExTRAORDINARY SAILING AND SHORT PAS
SAGE.
The clipper ship Sovereign of the Seas Captain Mckay
arrived at this port yesterday, in 50 days from Honolulu
(sandwch slands 1t usually requires four five months
from these islands Besides this speed for the whole pas
sage portions Of the time show remarkable per-
Torrance, the following items will show. The
from Honolulu to Cape Horn distance Of 1884 miles
accomplished In 81 days. in 20 Of those days
cutvely the ship miles, and Of these days
distinguished by ext aordnary Of 430 miles.
This is the greatest sailing recorded the nearest approach
10 it being that Of The Flying Cloud which in 20
secuve days average of 227 miles per day. while the
daily of the Sovereign Of the Seas for the
time, was 249 IL 10 miles, or 20 miles day more than
the Flying Cloud The best days run OF the Flying
Cloud was 374 miles, There is doubt OF the above
Of the Sovereign Of the Seas it appears from the
sights and calculations entered at large Captain Nc
greater than ever done under canvass.
City Intelligence.
THE WEATHER Since WEDNESDAY night it has rained
almost without intefmisson Yesterday
tnued wet day and umbrellas we're fitting about in
every direction The streets mostly wanted watering and
they have had IL most bor1fuly. Thermometer at
noon, out of DOORS in elevated POSITION 81 degrees
in less elevated places and where sheltered it at 81
The temper AZURE continued at about this the whole of
the day.
THE LATE LOTTERY CAsE-The first case OF any note
that has been brought TO light since tie anti gam.
passed by the legislature win be tried Monday at the
police over Jefferson Market before Jushcs Stuart