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

NASAS4NA4N0 AOx xxOIVssssO
gfsn who having been In the second class car AZ thu
escaped unnured but who did less vent their
curses deep and Loud the persors to whose nexrUnoe
the casualty attributed Throughout the whole neigh
borheod the excitement msst ntense and the bridge
and either shore Of the little river and tho farm houses
In the vicinity, to which some Of the wounded were
brought were crowded with spectators. In the mean
time the remnants Of the placed behind an en-
sns and the train slowly proceeded on its way taking
init . few Of The wounded, but leaving behind great
numbers, who were so muoh deferred that they were
afraid s proceed on their journey and preferred return.
ing to New York.
Tho spst whore he accident occurred is just outside
(sast) Of the village Of Norwalk some fortyfo miles
from New York. Tho Norwak river hsrs crossed BY
wooden bridge, there being draw over the channel
enable steamboats, sabeats to pass through From
al could learn from the survivors and Others the
amity was owing to the ignorance stupidity or rock
lesness Of the engineer in charge Of the train. Asteam
tsat passing through its way to New York; the
bridge was drawn to admit s passage usual signal was
gven-this consisting Of tho lowering Of ball. whish Al
ways stands elevated and vbls at mile distance whom
tho bridge rgh-but tho train whichdd not as usual
slack speed in coming through the village bore under
full pressure proceeding st tho rate Of thirty miles
hour until the danger seen when inevitable, and
locomotive tender, baggage and two passenger cars
precipiated into the depth beneath. gentleman
who was about passing under the arch in his boat drew
aside whom he heard the train dashing up and wit
meas to the horrible OF the passengers the
which fell into the river perhaps half dozen
only were saved the rest, nearly fifty in number,
we're offered hecAtomb to the Moock Of the railway
The engine driver recognizing the terrible reality Of
the peril jumped of the engine and escaped with broken
nd
masters followed his example, that al the servants Of
the company escaped witht er hves Ilearnsd In Nor.
walk that the engine driver arrested and taken in
charge BY the police Perhaps it good for him that
such measure was taken it might be hard for him
to escape the ncensed vengeance of the people, In.
deed Mr. Editor, don't know but it would have
good effect if tho engineers, switch tenders and of
the directors Of railroads occasionally made to
feel the force Of Lynch law am infosed that the
gne driver, whose have not heard was dismissed
by the company some two years snce Of an
accident which then occurred with the train under his
charge and that he has since been to California and had
been restored on but Wednesday last. And it his ex
that he did not understand the bridge signal
II this be 80, the directors should be made respon-
sible for his ignorance and punished as severely Is
he would be II he could have made no such plea but
had caused the calamity through sheer carelessness.
think too that the Legislature might do much for the
travelling public they would impose dsodand of one
two thousand dollars railroad psnes for each
life lost through careessness otherwise their roads,
Until that. or Lyuch law is put into practice fear Mr.
Editor, the community viii be stn liable tSsu.r b f.c.
by these terrible railroad sccash showing the cha
and worthy Of that Of four times in which have
been travelling the New Haven Railroad have
countered three serious accdents-one in April 1851,
when in which off the track, Bridge
port seriously pjuring many passengers In October
when into the canal at Windsor lock- killing
two persons and this last is the third time. H. G. H.
INTERESTING STATEMENTS By EYE WIT
NESSES-THE WAY THE ACCIDENT OC-
CURED.
We have received the following letter from Mr. James
A. Renaud OF Eorwa engineer of the steamboat Pacific
which plea between this city and Norwak also tho
hrmatory statement Of Capt Byxbee, Of the Pacific
NEW YORK, May q, 1858.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.,
SIR witnessed the terrible accident the Now
York and New Haven Railroad, which occurred at ten
O'Clock this morning The place where it happened is
called South Norwalk Village, where there is . draw
bridge across the Norwalk river. The dra bridge had
been raised to permit the passage of the steamboat
Pacific. 1 am the engineer Of that boat, and was on
board her at the time the accident occurred We had
got about thirty forty yards from the draw when
stood the guard, where could every thing that
happened The then coming full speed. The
draw wide open aud the ball down. This bail il
used for signal When 1t is up 1t signifies that all Is
right. The locomotive under such headway when it
rsn of that before it reached the water IL struck the
oIutYnent the opposite dea distance Of about siry
feet. The fender, baggage car and two mail came
next Two passenger went into the opening top
Of what had preceded them; the third broke in the
middle and half Of IL went down In this third
| we're killed outright and many hurt. How
many in all killed do not know but before left,
at twelve O'Clock noon between thirty and forty had
been taken out dead They horribly bruised and
manged One beautiful young girl about sixteen years
old had the back of her head knocked in There
child about four months old, and many other children
killed The engineer and fireman Of the train, when they
saw tie ball down. jumped off before the cars reached the
bridge.
When the of those in the ones screamed
terrHcay We put right back and rendered what assist
could People went to cutting the with axes
and taking out the dead Not that taken out of
the second car alive The excitement was intense
we're rushing down with quilts cover the dead;
others vany striving to restore to life the poor
| Tins as they were taken out.
We brought back few Of the passengers to this city,
| but most of them preferred to remain there
Very respectfully, yours,
| JAMES A. RENAUD,
| Engineer steamboat Pacific.
Most of the details stated above myself Witnessed,
and believe the above account to be strictly correct.
| S. 8. BYXBEE,
| Captain steamboat Pacidc.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE SCENE OF
| DISASTER
| TO THE EDITOR OF TIE NEW YORK HERALD.
NoRwArK, May 0, OK O'Clock, p. NJ.
up in the first after hearing of the murders
herein the O'Clock tralnand reached the station house
little after T. Ten miles below heard thatfoty nine
dead bodies had been taken from the water, and a.
members of my family and dear friends among the
passengers 1t with the most fearful apprehensons
that entered the oygue where the deadthe murdered
LAY in ranks, their faces cleaning horribly, lamps