The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-09
TESTIMONY OF IRA FORD.

saw the train coming at full speed the bali was down
and the draw open; the whistle sounded about i've
seconds before the train went OFT don't think the engi
neer the signal until within hundred and fifty
feet of the bridge when the whistle was blown could
not ray that he rang bell there would to have
been some neglect the bridge completely open it
would take about four minutes the ball and
open the draw; think the train going at the rate
Of twenty miles hour when the accident occurred
saw the train fell in and did observe any brake
men at their places.
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM HARTFORD, THE BRIDGE
KEEPER.
William Hartford sworn, testified follows As near
as can remember it fifteen minutes from the time
started the draw to close before the train went over
stood the bridge when Captain Byxbee of the steam
boat Pacific called to open the draw then lowered
the ball and laid it on the bridge kept the bridge down
few minutes and listened if could hear the train
coming when the draw raised left it open to get
another boat through the train due before opened
the draw my orders are to give attention first to the
boats those the orders received from the
only heard the whistle as the train came round the
curve his is hundred and fty fee from the
draw } the whistle blown twice heard bell I
excited that could no. take any notice of the
speed Of the train l was tho draw, and was of
course anxious about my own safety; l could not
get the draw open before the train reached it while
it hundred and Hfty feet from the bridge !;
had heard the train coming would no. have opened
the draw tho boat itself would not pass through il
train was coming; the depth to the mud is twenty fve
feet and the water eight ten at high tide the
train before / heard it; got my directions from Mr.
sandbourne the road master who told when heard
train to give it the preference and when did not hear
it to give the boat the preference he told also to
forget to lower the ball when the draw open
kent hack whe fho hall
was down fourteen fifteen minutes before the train
came up; that is my opinion guess the
length of time have not the engineer and don't
want to see him hardly.
TESTIMONY OF THE ENGINEER, EDWARD W. TUCKER
Ihaye been on the road about two months the last
time received instructions the printed card from
Mr.. Simons, at the shop in New Haven believe the
train going at the rate of fifteen miles hour past
the Norwak depot whsted for breaking up Just west
Of the bridge the road before coming to the depot
am certain that the ball up cannot be deceived
did not look through the window glass; but entirely out
do not think could have mistaken anything for the
signal can the signal just before get the BRIDGE
am certain saw the signal very careful the brake
man usually the ball. and suppose he saw it that
tme and let the brakes received other directions
except to look out for tho ball. sounded the whistle the
moment the end of the draw the brakes were
Piled for they had been think the train might have
been stopped before going off the BRIDGE gave the signal
before getting to the depo the engine might have gone
the brakes had been applied but not the cars; had
no conversation with the conductor except about the brake
on one end Of the cars never read while the engine
had no paper yesterday; the fireman jumped of near
the abutment of the bridge; he is not hurt can stop
the train before it has time 60 twice its length the
train yesterday had two baggage and FIVE
was behind time eight minutes ut Norwalk it is the
worst bridge the road to stop the train before coming
to the draw; after turning the the draw
the distance is much shorter than any other.
TESTIMONY OF GEORGE ELLMER, FIREMAN.
reside in New York; fireman ths train to
which the accident happened have it thirteen
months did not look at the signal it not my bust
was attending to my duty; when we got to dis
tance Of hundred yards from the iw the engineer
haced to me- he blew the sgLal the bridge about
half mile from the drawbrdge; he blew it for coming
into the depot but did not blow any signal for breaking
up think the breaks were put when the first whistle
sounded If 1t known at the depot that the bridge
open think the train could have been stopped;
whenthe train went over jumped from the engine on
to the abutment the train going at the rate of from
fifteen to twenty miles when passing the depot. rte
depot is about six hundred feet from the drawbidge
l heard orders given to the engineer
by the conductor Mr. Comstock he Is not in the habit of
giving ORDERS TO the engineer never saw MIN readng
only fired for him once sometimes the engineer reads
upon the train never him read upon the train
him put his head out of the window just before
ing the bridge did not hear any conversation between
the conductor and engineer at Stamford; Mr. Com
stock just after the accident have not him since,
INQUEST on ONE OF TIE NoRwALK VICTIMS IN THIS
CITY.
Coroner Gamble held inquest yesterday, at No 23l
-
the victims of the late calamity at Norwa The casual
ty by which he lost his life having occurred arother
State, the had only to ascertain the of
death Mr. Sampson Goldsmith of No 23l Hudson street
testified to the deceased having been 10 his employ He
sent him to Vermont with goods and deceased in the
train "hen it went into the river and supposed to
have been instantly killed The body was brought to this
city without certificate for burial The jury rendered
the following verdict That Ra aphael Seinner came
his death by ibu ies received the 9th inst by tho
Of the New Haven Railroad running into the draw
bridge ct South Norwak State Of Connecticut The de-
ceased was a native OF Germany, % years of age.