The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-05-10
THE LATE RAILROAD ACCIDENT.

TIL. New York papers continue to be h'ieo
-,;,h The details of this terrible catas'rophe'-
Th.,e has been nothing like II, all agree 10
.;,.s the first rail was laid on the first
rsilroad. The accident on the RICHMOND ana
ps,e,.burg-the collision on the Chicago
.ran the slaughter on the Baltimore and Ohio
,o.d sink into absolute insigni6cance, when
compared with this unparalleled massacre
As the catastrophe has no equal, so the care.
Iessness which brought il on is altogether
without example.
Prina facie, it would appear that the engi-
neer vas altogether to blame. There was a
red ball on the bridge, which could be seen a
long distance on the road, and which was al.
ways up when the drawbridge was down.
This, of course, served as signal that all
was right, and that it was safe to VENTURE
When the ball was dozen, that is, when it
could not be seen in its usual place, ii was I'M
derstood TO indicate that the drawbridge was
up, and that the cars must stop. On the pre-
sent occasion, the ball had been down-out of
sight-fer ten or fifteen minutes. 1t was the
duty of the engineer, knowing the concerted
signal, to have stopped the engine as soon as
he found that it was not visible. So far his
crminality appears TO be unmitgated.
But one circumstance is related, which, if
it be founded in fact, transfers the criminality
from him to those who employed him. He
was new hand, just appointed, and had not
been made aware of the existence of the sig
nal, or of what was meant by the appearance
or absence of the ball. Of course he did not
look out for it. tits horrible to think that the
lives of SO many human beings should have
been placed at the disposal of an engineer who
had received no more information upon a
subject fraught with so much danger to his
charge.
We take no delight in dwelling upon scenes
so horrible, in the detail and in the aggregate,
and we are we'll aware that scraps of morality
are out of season in view of such overwhel
ming calamity, Yet we cannot but express a
deep feeling for the unfortunate young physi-
Clans, who, on their way from the Medical
Convention, met with death SO sudden, so
unexpected, so terrible. But a few hours be-
fore, they had been actors in a scene of festivi-
ty of exceeding splendor. They had left it for
their homes, full of mirth and satisfaction, re-
volving, doubtless, plans of future usefulness,
and looking forward 10 the day when patient
study and hard labor should have raised them
to eminence among their brethren. We can
not but be reminded of that awful passage
the most impressive, to us, in a volume fraught
with the issues of life and death-"be We
fLaro lx, for
think not, the Son of Man cometh."
There is a vehement excitement in the city
of New York but what is the use Of it p
There is always excitement, for day, when
such things happen, no matter where they
happen. The press thunders, public meetings
denounce, juries try and acquit, and then all is
silent, until another semi-hecatomb is offered
up, to the bloody Moloch of the railway or the
steamboat. Nobody knows how to prevent
these things, though everybody can deplore
them after they have happened. 1t surely is
time that the whole country were taking some
steps to agree upon general plan of safety
for travelers-for travelling is far more unsafe
now, than it was when journeys were made on
horseback, through countries thionging with
highway robbers. There is all the difference
between the two modes that there was between
Alexander the Great and the robber. The
highwayman sometimes slew traveller who
was not willing to part with his purse. But
when he slew il was only individuals. The
steam engine massacres whole bodies of mep,
and it is no distinguishes of persons. Of course
we have no plan to propose, and if we had, it
would not be listened to. But there are
plenty of wise heads in the country. At least
if there are not, they overrate themselves very
much, for in every community may be found
at least dozen, who think they are qualified
for the Presidency. Let some one of them de-
wise scheme for preventing steamboat and
railroad accidents, and they will have done
mankind quite as much good as they could
accomplish in any other way.
RICHMOND.
Many persons are apt TO contras, the pro
gress of Richmond with the uroutb of o;,;os